Founded on both banks of the Yamuna River in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India, the city of Agra was also the capital of the Mughal Empire that reigned in the 1500s.
Known for hosting Mughal art masterpieces, especially the Taj Mahal, the city was the leading culture and arts center of the region during the time of Akbar Shah.
80% population of Agra, which is still an important center today, consists of Hindus, and the rest are Muslims.
One of India’s most popular touristicdestinations, Agra is visited by many travelers from all over the world.
Rich traditional crafts with a deep history continue to exist today.
The most famous of them is the inlay craftsmanship on marble and the work of parchin kari, whose value began to be known especially after the Taj Mahal.
The art, which is based on creating herbal shapes from small precious stones, has been passed down from generation to generation for 350 years.
Zardozi work, an embroidery made with gold and silver threads, is among the other eye-catching crafts that are characteristic of the city of Agra, such as Abhala Bharat, where mirrors of various shapes are fixed to the fabric by cross-stitching and beautiful leather products.
With regards to the must-see places in Agra, which carries the traces of a deep-rooted past and is experiencing its golden age today, the following destinations are important:
The Taj Mahal, which means “Crown of the Palace” in Persian and considered the most beautiful building a person can build, is a jewel of Muslim art and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of the universal masterpieces of the world heritage.
Built as a symbol of the great love that Babur Shah Jahan has for his wife, this building is a breathtaking structure completed in twenty-two years with twenty thousand workers and definitely deserves to be one of the seven wonders of the world.
Agra Fort was built by Mughal Emperor Akbar as a tribute to the splendor of the empire. Considered a masterpiece in terms of planning and design, Agra Castle manages not to be overshadowed by the Taj Mahal with its magnificent appearance.
Another structure built by Shah Jahan to his wife is the Musamman Burj Tower, which has a unique view from which the panoramic view of the famous Taj Mahal can be watched.
The Tomb of Sri Shiv Dayal Singh Seth, where the tomb of Huzur Soamiji Maharaj, the founder of the Radhaswami faith is located, is visited by thousands of believers every year.
Fatehpur Sikri, a municipality where traditional red sandstone mosques and palaces can be seen, is one of the places of historical importance for India.
Mehtab Bagh, known as the last of the 11 pleasure gardens built on the banks of the Yamuna River during the Mughal empire, is important in terms of being an excavation site that spreads over 300 square meters and hosts a very beautiful view.
In the walls of the Tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah, a shrine built of white marble, precious stones such as topaz and onyx were used. The tomb rises in the middle of a rather large and showy garden with a waterway around it.
Sadar Bazar, where you can buy India’s famous examples of leather craftsmanship and taste street delicacies from the region’s cuisine, is an extremely local place besides being a tourist market. Sadar Bazar, where grocery and market shopping are held, is also one of the first addresses of gift hand products.