The sight of a white marble mausoleum, raised on a platform and graced by 4 minarets on each corner, reflected in the watercourse that runs through the ornamental gardens is an unrivaled tourist attraction in Agra. Taj Mahal, a symbol of undying love, has been summed up by Ghalib, the famous Urdu poet, as a rebuff of an ordinary man's love for his beloved, in whose memory he cannot build a monument of such magnificence.
Tourist Attractions in Agra Today, Taj Mahal is a major tourist attraction in Agra, and is open to all even on full moon nights, so that you can take your beloved by the hand and walk down the gardens as moon and its entourage of stars light your
path on your tour to Agra under the Golden Triangle Tours package arranged by Adventure Tours of India. Besides Taj Mahal,
there are plenty of tourist attractions in Agra that will keep your hands full on your tour to Agra. Built in massive red sandstones on the bank of Yamuna, The Agra Fort is another major tourist attraction in Agra. It is popular with tourists as a towering fort as well as for the many palaces and mosques build within its premises by Jahangir and Shah Jahan, after Emperor Akbar began its construction in 1565. Some of the prominent mosques within Agra's Red Fort include the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) and Nagina Masjid (Gem Mosque). Upgraded as a palace under Shah Jahan's reign, Agra Fort is famous for Jahangir's Palace, Khas Mahal and Shish Mahal (Mirror Palace). Other places to see at this tourist attraction Agra include Diwan-I-Khas, Diwan-I-Am, Ladies' Bazaar, Amar Singh Gate and Musamman Burj. Chini-Ka-Rauza (China Tomb) is another tourist attraction in Agra. A Persian style tomb, it is built of glazed tiles and is dedicated to the memory of Afzal Khan, prime minister in the court of Akbar. Itimad-ud-Daulah Tomb, built by empress Nur Jahan (Jahangir's wife) in memory of her father, wazir in the Mughal Emperor's court is another tourist attraction Agra that you can visit on your tour to Agra. Built from 1622 to 1628, the tomb makes use of pietra dura (the delicate marble work) that was later to become the hallmark of Taj Mahal. Tourist Attractions of Agra Another popular tourist attraction in Agra is the dome-shaped Jama Masjid, located near Itimad-ud-Daulah Tomb. Built by Shah Jahan in 1648 in the name of his daughter Jahanara, Jama Masjid is a distinct mosque for its minaret-less courts.
Akbar's mausoleum, built of red sandstone and marble, combines the motifs and styles of Hindu, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Christian architecture. Supervised by Akbar himself, it is a must see on your tour of tourist attractions in Agra. The Persian styled Mughal Gardens of Ram Bagh, Dayal Bagh and Soami Bagh are other tourist attractions in Agra that you can visit on your tour to Agra under the Golden Triangle Tours package offered by Adventure Tours of India. Excursions to nearby tourist attractions such as Fatehpur Sikri, Mathura, Patna Bird Sanctuary and Sur Sarovar are popular diversions on your tour of tourist attractions in Agra.
Other sights
* Sikandra, Akbar's Tomb (10 km north of Agra on the Agra Delhi highway). The tomb of Akbar lies here in the centre of
the large garden. Akbar started its construction himself but it was completed by his son, Jehangir who significantly modified
the original plans which accounts for the somewhat cluttered architectural lines of the tomb. Four red sandstone's gates lead
to the tomb complex: one is Muslim, one Hindu, one christian and one is Akbar's patent mixture. Akbar's mausoleum is open
from sunrise to sunset.
* Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb. Empress Nur Jehan built Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, sometimes called the Baby Taj, for her father,
Ghias-ud-Din Beg, the Chief Minister of Emperor Jahangir. Small in comparison to many other Mughal-era tombs, it is sometimes
described as a jewel box. Its garden layout and use of white marble, pietra dura, inlay designs and latticework presage many
elements of the Taj Mahal.
* Mariam's Tomb, west from Akbar's Tomb on Agra-Delhi highway. Constructed by Jahangir in the memory of his mother Mariam
Zammani a title bestowed upon her,. The grave is made of white marble. Though this building is in a ruined condition, yet it
has in its vicinity, a Christian Mission School and a church. It is also said; Akbar himself made that it in the memory of
his Christian wife.
* Jama Masjid. A large mosque attributed to Princess Jahanara Begum, built in 1648 during the reign of the father Shah
Jahan. Notable for its unusual dome and absence of minarets.
* Chini Ka Roza. A memorial dedicated to the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan, Allama Afzel Khal Mullah Shukrullah of Shiraz,
notable for its dome of blue glazed tiles.
Gardens
* Swami Bagh, 10 km north of Agra. The white marble samadhi of the Radah Soami religion is currently under construction.
It was started in 1904 and is nor expected to be completed until sometime next century. You can see pietra dura inlaid
marblework actulally being worked on. Soami Bagh is 2km north of Agra and can be reached by bus or cycle.
* Ram Bagh. The first Mughal gardens, built by the first Mughal Emperor Babar, 500 m North of the Chini Ka Rauza. Ram
Bagh Crossing.
* Mehtab Bagh, directly across the Yamuna River from the Taj Mahal. These botanical gardens give you an opportunity to
view the Taj at a remove from the crowds of tourists. The trip takes about 30 minutes from the center of town by autorickshaw
and will cost about Rs 200. Entrance to the park is Rs 100 for foreigners. Alternatively, walk past the entrance and straight
to the sandy banks of the river: the view of the Taj is every bit as lovely (perhaps more so, since the barbed wire fence
surrounding the gardens will be behind you), although you may have to deal with aggressive touts.
Temples
* Balkeshwar Temple - at Balkeshwar, at river side of Yamuna, it is a temple of Lord Shiva.
* Kailash Temple - at Sikandra, at the river Yamuna.It is Lord Shiva Temple.
* Mankameshwar Temple - at Rawatpara, near Agra Fort railway station.
* Prithvinath Temple - At Rajpur Chungi. On road to Shamsabad.
* Shyam Ji Maharaj Temple - At Bijlighar.
* Mahakal And Mahakali Temple - At Sikandra railway crossing on Sikandra Bodla road.
* Rawli Maharaj Temple - Very Old temple at Collectrate crossing, beside the railway track.
