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| Fatehpur Sikri |
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The first person who referred Agra by its modern name was Ptolemy.Though
the heritage of Agra city is linked with the Mughal dynasty, numerous other rulers also contributed to the rich past of this
city. Modern Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodhi (Lodhi dynasty; Delhi Sultanate) in the 16th century. Babar (founder of the
Mughal dynasty) also stayed for sometime in Agra and introduced the concept of square Persian-styled gardens here. Emperor
Akbar built the Agra fort and Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. Fatehpur Sikri remained his capital for around fifteen years after
which the city was left isolated in mysterious circumstances. Jahangir beautified Agra with palaces and gardens despite spending
most of his time in Kashmir with which he was passionately attached.
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Looking up, you can notice a number of bright paper kites
that flutter, dip and swerve in the cloudless sky. If it is a festival then the numbers can be uncountable. In Agra people
still fly kites. There are kite-flights every Sunday and heavy bets are sometimes placed on the outcome.
As you approaches
the city, you can notice kites stuck in trees or dangling from electric wires; but there are always others soaring up to take
their places.
| Agra Fort Entrance |
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Agra came to its own when Shahjahan ascended to the throne of Mughal
Empire. He marked the zenith of Mughal architecture, when he built the Taj in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. In
his later years, Shahjahan shifted his capital to the new city of Shahjahanabad in Delhi and ruled from there. Shahjahan was
dethroned in 1658 by his son, Aurangzeb who imprisoned him in the Agra Fort. Aurangzeb shifted the capital back to Agra till
his death. After the death of Aurangzeb, Mughal Empire could not touch its peak and many regional kingdoms emerged. The post-Mughal
era of Agra saw the rule of the Jats, Marathas and finally the British taking over the city.
| Entrance to Fatehpur Sikri Castle |
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| The Central court |
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Fatehpur Sikri:
The imperial city of the Mughal dynasty between 1571 and 1584, Fatehpur
Sikri was built by Mughal Emperor Akbar. The architectural grandeur of this deserted city cannot be described in words and
one can only experience the aura of its magnificent edifices by seeing them. Fatehpur Sikri is the most popular day excursion
from Agra, the city of Taj and capital of invincible Mughals for a long time.
| Sikandra, Tomb of Akbar |
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Sikandra:
Akbar's tomb in the former Lodi capital, is a grand affair, much under-rated
in comparison to the Taj Mahal. Akbar started building his mausoleum in the true Timurid tradition, but the actual monument
was completed by his son Jahangir. He pulled down most of the earlier structure and redesigned it according to his wishes
and the result is more than impressive. There is a huge gateway, Buland Darwaza, modeled on the famed victory gate at Fatehpur
Sikri, leads to the great garden enclosure. The decoration on the gateway is strikingly bold, with its large mosaic patterns.
The walled garden enclosure is laid out in the char bagh style with the mausoleum at the center.
| Agra Fort |
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Agra Fort: Agra Fort is another dimension to the city that attracts tourists in hordes. Built by Akbar in Red Sandstone when he
was through with the consolidation of his power after accession to power in 1654, Agra Fort worked both as a military strategic
point as well as the royal residence. Many of the palaces inside the fort were later added by next generations of Mughal Emperors
like Jahangir and Shahjahan.
Most of the buildings within the Agra Fort are a mixture of different architectural styles.
The assimilation of these different styles has given the buildings within the fort a distinctive look. For instance, the Jahangiri
Palace built by Akbar is a good blend of Islamic (Persian) and different local Hindu styles. Other buildings either have a
mixed style or conform predominantly to the Islamic style.
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