Virtual Tour...

Introduction........

On this day June 22 2021 I watched virtual tour of Delhi's iconic monuments. I got inspired from shrimati  Chitra S, Assistant professor Sree Narayana Training College Nedunganda Varkala of today's webinar session.It is difficult for us to visit these places now because of this pandemic covid-19. But this video made my day and also they gave me relaxation to my mental health. By this Virtual tour I got so many experiences about the monuments.

Agra, an old heritage city on the bank of the river Yamuna, finds mention in the Epic Mahabharata as Agravan. Ptolemy, the famous 2nd Century Geographer, marked it as Agra on the World map. It is generally accepted that Sultan Sikandra Lodi, the Ruler of Delhi Sultanate founded it in the year 1504 AD but the golden age of the city began with Mughal rulers after 1526 AD. It was then known as Akbarabad and remained the capital of the Mughal Empire under Emperor Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan, Agra’s significance as a political center ended with the transfer of the capital to Delhi  by Emperor Shah Jahan, but its architectural wealth has secured its place on the International map. So let's sit back and enjoy the virtual tour of 7 iconic monuments of Agra. 

Let's start with......... 😇

* Taj Mahal

* Agra fort

* Fatehpur Sikri

* Akbar's Tomb

* Jama Masjid

* Mehtab Bagh

* Ram Bagh

TAJ MAHAL

“The embodiment of all things pure”, said Rudyard Kipling on Taj Mahal’s beauty and that is no wordplay as the Taj is undoubtedly a pure epitome of beauty. It is an immortal poem in white marble and is the finest expression of love of an emperor for his queen. Located on a bank of River Yamuna, it was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife and Queen Mumtaz Mahal in 1631, who died giving birth to his child and whose last wish to her husband was “to build such a tomb in her memory which the world has never seen before.” It took over 17 years, 22000 workers and 1000 elephants to build the wonderful mausoleum.

The Taj Mahal is one of the three World Heritage Sites in India. Set in a serene Mughal Garden the monument stands on a raised marble platform, with its back towards Yamuna River. The four sides of the Taj Mahal show a perfect symmetry and feature impressive vaulted arches embellished with Pietra Dura scrollwork, and verses from the Quran in calligraphy using inlaid jasper. This architectural masterpiece is one of the most frequented places in India by photographers and foreign tourists. The Taj Mahal looks as immaculate today as when it was first built, leaving the onlookers mesmerized.

AGRA FORT

A massive red-sandstone fort located on the banks of River Yamuna was built under the commission of Emperor Akbar in 1565 and was further built by his grandson Shah Jahan. The fort, semi-circular on plan, is surrounded by a 21.4 m high fortification wall. The fort was built primarily as a military structure; parts of it are still reserved under Indian Army. Shah Jahan transformed it into a palace, later it became his gilded prison for eight years after his son Aurangzeb seized power in 1658. The fort houses a maze of buildings, including vast underground sections. The Amar Singh Gate to the south is the sole entry point. A path leads straight from here up to the large Moti Masjid. Just before this is the open Diwan-e-Aam, where Shah Jahan listened to people’s petitions or issues. A small staircase just to the left of Diwan-e-Aam throne leads up to a large courtyard. To the left is a beautiful white marble Nagina Masjid. Other places to see within the Fort are: Diwan-e-Khas - which once housed Shah Jahan’s legendary Peacock throne and the diamond Koh-I-Noor, Shish Mahal- a palace with walls inlaid with tiny mirrors, and Khas Mahal - the white octagonal tower and palace. In the South of the fort, there is a huge red-sandstone Jahangir’s Palace, built by Akbar probably for his son Jahangir.

AKBAR'S TOMB

Located in the western periphery of the city, the red-sandstone and marble tomb was built by Emperor Akbar, which was later completed by his son Jahangir. Its interior is covered with exquisite calligraphy that reflects the tenets of Din-e-Ilahi, a religious movement started by Emperor Akbar based on the fusion of primarily Hinduism and Islam including other religions as well. Sikandra is the resting place of the Mughal emperor Akbar and his grave lies here in a dark chamber. The outlying garden which is laid out in the Char Bagh style is yet another attraction of the place.

JAMA MASJID

The Jama Masjid is one of the Largest Mosque built by the Mughals in India. This Masjid houses a rectangular open forecourt constructed in 1648 A.D by Shah Jahan's daughter, Jahanara Begum. The architecture of this monument is done beautifully while imbibing the Iranian architecture and is built using red sandstone and white marble .The construction of Jama Masjid required some 5,000 workers and was completed in a time period of 6 years.

MEHTAB BAGH

Mehtab Bagh is located on the left Bank of River Yamuna opposite to the Taj Mahal. This park is originally built by Emperor Babur as the last series of the 11 parks on the Yamuna’s bank.The garden complex, square in shape, measures about 300 by 300 metres (980 ft × 980 ft) and is perfectly aligned with the Taj Mahal on the opposite bank.The excavation has revealed a huge octagonal tank at center and a gateway at the northern wall.This is now one of the best places to view the great mausoleum.

RAM BAGH

Ram Bagh is one of the earliest Mughal gardens, believed to be laid out by Mughal Emperor Babur, the founder of Mughal Dynasty. The Garden is located just 3 KMs away from the Tomb of Itmad-Ud_Daula and 500 meters away from the Chini ka Rauza. It is Agra’s oldest garden which was established in 1528, and is an oasis in the thick of a bustling market. It is said that Babur was temporarily buried here before being taken to Kabul in Afghanistan. It was established by Babur and was later renovated by Noor Jahan, wife of Jahangir.

Conclusion...... 

The monument visit  is based on the curriculum Vita. I visited all of the ionic monuments mentioned above.