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Agra is the one of the prominent destinations of the World
Tourism map with three heritage monuments - The Taj Mahal, Red
Fort & Fatehpur Sikri. It is more just a dacadent city of
graveyards and stones, but it is a vibrant centre of Culture,
Art and Religious philosphies that have enriched mankind and
shaped humen thought over
centuries.
A pleasant town with comparatively slow pace, Agra is known
for its superb inlay work on marble and soastone by craftsman
who are descendant of those who worked under the Mughals. The
city is also famous for its carpets, gold thread embroidery
and leather shoes.
Agra was once the capital of the Mughal empire and even today
it seems to linger in the past . Not surprising , for the
Mughal emperors with their passion for building, endowed the
city with some of the finest structures in the world . It is
very easy to slip away here through the centuries into the
grandeur and intrigues of the Mughal court .
Agra is an old city and it is said that its name was derived
from Agrabana, a forest that finds mention in the epic
Mahabharata.
In more recent times Agra came into prominence when Sikandar
Lodi made it his capital city in 1501 . The Lodi rule was to
end very soon and Agra passed into the possession of the
Mughals .
It was during the time of the third emperor Akbar that Agra
came into its own . He embarked on the construction of the
massive Agra Fort in 1565. Though Akbar was diverted into
building a new capital at Fatehpur sikri not far away.
Agra continued to retain its importance and Shah Jehan,
Akbar's garndson ornamented the city with that masterpiece of
Mughal architecture - the Taj Mahal and built several
other beautiful buildings within the Agra fort
Shopping in Agra
We all know Agra to be the most sought after tourist
destination in India, which boasts of the magnificent Taj
Mahal. But apart from its beautiful monuments, Agra is also
considered to be a great shopping experience. It is in fact a
shopper's paradise, especially for international tourists who
just don't tire of browsing through the numerous shops and
markets in Agra.
Agra is a great place to buy traditional artifacts and
handicrafts, which makes visitors flock these markets to carry
something home. One of the most popular items sold in the Agra
shops is the replica of the Taj Mahal. Anywhere you go in
Agra, these mini Taj Mahals occupy the place of pride in every
shop. In fact it is an item every visitor must include in his
shopping list.
The famous leather industry in Agra churns out some of the
most amazing leather products. So, if you want to replenish
your leather wardrobe, there is no better place than Agra. The
best places to shop in Agra include the Sadar Bazar, Kinaari
Bazaar and Munroe Road. The UP State Emporium Gangotri is also
a great place to buy some authentic souvenirs. Agra is also
known for some of its sweet delicacies especially the 'petha'
and the 'gazak'. Don't forget to try some of this delicious
stuff during your Agra tour.
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