French
Deutsch
North Agra consists of the north bank of the Yamuna River, with views of the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort.
Get in
[edit | edit source]
By train
[edit | edit source]- 1 Yamuna Bridge NCR .
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Battis Khamba (बत्तीस खंबा Battīs Khambā, literally "32 pillars"). An octagonal three-storey tower topped by a chhatri.
- 2 Gyarah Sidhi (ग्यारह सीढ़ी Gyārah Sīṛhī, literally "eleven steps") (west of Mehtab Bagh). The 11-step structure is part of a medieval observatory dating back to the Mughal emperor Humayun.
- 3 Humayun Masjid (Kachpura Masjid). A former mosque in northern Agra, partly in shambles. As per one inscription, it was built in 937 AH (1530-31) during the rule of Humayun, although some claim that it was actually built in 1565 by Haji Begum, a wife of Akbar, in memory of her father. Regardless, the mosque is made of brick and limestone. Its façade bears five arches. A dome tops the central nave, and double-aisled wings on either side of it.
Gardens
[edit | edit source]
- 4 Aram Bagh (500 m N of the Chini Ka Roza). The first Mughal garden, built by the first Mughal emperor, Babur.
- 5 Mehtab Bagh (about 30 minutes from city centre by auto-rickshaw and will cost about ₹200), ☏ +91 562 251 0070. An octagonal pool is placed at the centre of the garden, which lets visitors see an amazing reflection of the Taj Mahal during moonlight, without the crowds of tourists. The garden was built in the 16th century by Emperor Babur, and it is also referred to as the "Moonlight Garden". Alternatively, there is the ADA Taj Mahal View Point to the right of the entrance: the view of the Taj is every bit as lovely (perhaps more so, since the barbed wire fence surrounding the gardens will be beneath you). ₹50 for Indians, ₹300 for foreigners. The ADA Taj Mahal View Point costs ₹200.
Memorials
[edit | edit source]
- 6 Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah. Empress Nur Jahan built the tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, 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. ₹300 for foreigners.
- 7 Chauburji (east of Itimad-ud-Daula). This was the temporary burial place of Babur. Later, his mortal remains were transferred to Kabul. It has four corner towers and follows the prototype of the nearby Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daula, but lacks the marble finish. It lies in ruins and is seldom visited by tourists.
- 8 Chini Ka Rauza. 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.