Agra

Having been the capital of the Mughals, Agra boasts of a rich culture and heritage which reflects in all its aspects, whether in the style of architecture or the current culture of the place. The language and lifestyle has obviously changed with time but the spirit of the place and its regality, which is the bequest of the Mughal era, still remains in essence.

Three generations of the most dynamic dynasties in the country were responsible for creating the city that is the pride of our country and probably the envy of others. The most famous and definitely the most dominant attraction in Agra is the Taj Mahal, for obvious reasons, but there is a lot more that adds to the charm of the city. It is a city where Mughal Emperors lived out their dreams in their creations and each one has to his credit some unique monument that would be difficult to recreate now even with the best technology available. Each Emperor left his mark on this city, be it the first Mughal Emperor Babur, who laid the foundation for the first Persian gardens on the banks of the River Yamuna; or Akbar, his grandson, who created a whole new city called Fatehpur Sikri and built his own mausoleum at Sikandra besides adding unique features to the Red fort; or Shah Jehan, who built mosques and palaces with gem-inlaid white marble and gave us the one monument that has inspired and bewildered generations of poets and painters and every other person - the precious Taj Mahal.

Agra epitomises the high point of Mughal architectural achievement with its heritage and cultural splendor and in this respect even overshadows Delhi which was the capital of various kings and emperors for over a thousand years.