Vrindavan, Mathura and Agra - A quick visit to the cities of love

[laluks]

Day 2, September 12 2009 Continued

Agra Fort

Khas Mahal and Anguri Bagh

Anguri Bagh is the garden on the courtyards of the large harem quarters.





See the garden. Shish Mahal is to the right in the picture.





See the garden.




Muthamman Burj to the left, Khas Mahal in the centre and Mina Masjid to the right as seen from Anguri Bagh.




Some closeups!!




The unused fountain





A peep into Diwan-i-Khas from Anguri Bagh





See this a trap door.


You walk straight on to a deep pit!!





Ghaznin Gate, kept near Jahangir's Palace.





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[laluks]

Day 2, September 12 2009 Continued

Agra Fort

Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audiences)

This area was used by Shah Jahan for listening to the grievences of the public.




















There is a throne room where the emperor sat while listening.






The grave of John Colvin is in the same place as Diwan-i-Am. He was a lieutenant governer who died in the Fort during thee 1857 Uprising.




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[laluks]

Day 2, September 12 2009 Continued

Agra Fort

Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audiences)
This area was reserved for important people. The Peacock throne was here until it was move to Delhi by Aurangazeb and later to Iran by Nadir Shah.












Takht-i-Jahangir
A huge balck slab as a throne with some inscriptions on the edge.






Nagina Masjid (Gem Mosque) - mosque for the ladies of the court.






Below this mosque is the Ladies bazar where they bought goods.



Mina Masjid





Muthamman Burj and Taj Mahal as seen from Diwan-i-Khas





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[laluks]

Day 2, September 12 2009 Continued

Agra Fort

Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) is out of bounds to visitors. This mosque was built by Shah Jahan.Three marble domes over the red sandstone walls looks beautiful and symmetrical.





This mosque is to the right of Diwan-i-Am.





How I wish I could visit this place when I learned about Shah Jahan and Akbar's times in history lessons in school. I was struggling to understand what was written in those books. One visit here and everything unfolds to you. Probably now I can use this log to show my kids and clear a few doubts




With Moti Masjid I finished the tour of Agra Fort, and sat down in the garden to make notes and take some rest. While I rested there were these little fellows around me enjoying their day. They were very busy in their activities that watching them and understand what they are upto will make you sit there for ever.







Legend says that the three lines on them came when Rama patted them for their help in building the bridge to Lanka. These little ones used to wet their body in water and roll on the sand and then they dusted the sand on to the foundations of the bridge. Rama thanked and appreciated them by patting them on their back. From those days these little one has got the three lines-the finger marks left by Rama - on them.


Well I did not have that luxury to watch them forever, I left the fort by 11:45AM to the next destination.


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[laluks]

Day 2, September 12 2009 Continued

After visiting Agra Fort, I went to the other bank of the Yamuna. I crossed a bridge and saw Ram Bagh on the left of the bridge. From there I peeped to see that it was just another garden. So skipped it and went directly to Mehtab Bagh, for which we had to take a right turn after the bridge. I reached Mehtab Bagh by 12:15PM

Mahtab Bagh (The Moon Garden).



This garden is on the banks of river Yamuna, and on the other bank you have the Taj. You'll get a peaceful view of the Taj from here, sometimes you can capture the reflection of Taj on the Yamuna.






Garden as such is just another green area, nothing in particular.


Locals believe that Shah Jahan wanted to build an identical Taj in Black stone here. But seems his son demolished that and put his building spree to rest, and imprisoned him. There are certain ruins there, but whether the Kala Taj theory is true, I do not know!!








Finished with Mehtab Bagh by 12:30PM and went to the next destination which is on this way back to the bridge which I crossed to reach the other bank.



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[khoj]

Originally Posted by laluks

With only buildings to see and history to read, I guess everybody lost interest

Why do you say that, maybe we are all too spellbound to say anything. Every one may not leave a comment but for some of us it is the only chance of seeing and learning about places we may otherwise never see or hear about.

I discovered this thread on Thursday and after reaching page 3 was left wanting for more so I looked around and was up almost until the first light on Thu/Fri night reading your "swifted Bisle..Kemmangundi" thread from start to finish.

As for this thread itself, I have been to Agra twice and may go there again but honestly I do not think that I have ever OR would be able to explore Vrindavan/Mathura and Agra the way I have done over these 4 pages and I trust there is more to come. Keep up the good work.

[laluks]

Originally Posted by khoj

Why do you say that, maybe we are all too spellbound to say anything. Every one may not leave a comment but for some of us it is the only chance of seeing and learning about places we may otherwise never see or hear about.

I discovered this thread on Thursday and after reaching page 3 was left wanting for more so I looked around and was up almost until the first light on Thu/Fri night reading your "swifted Bisle..Kemmangundi" thread from start to finish.

As for this thread itself, I have been to Agra twice and may go there again but honestly I do not think that I have ever OR would be able to explore Vrindavan/Mathura and Agra the way I have done over these 4 pages and I trust there is more to come. Keep up the good work.

Thanks Khoj for the encouragement. Yet to come are Itimad ul Daulah, Akbar's Musoleum and Fatehpur Sikhri.

[laluks]

Day 2, September 12 2009 Continued

Itimad-Ud-Daulah

From Mehtab Bagh I reached here by 12:40PM. Its just two kilometers from there.

This is the tomb of Mirza Ghiyas Beg. He was the chief minister of Jahangir. Jahangir gave him the title Itimad-Ud-Daulah meaning Pillar of the state.

His daughter Nur Jahan married Jehangir. She built this tomb in similar style to the tomb she built for Jehangir in Lahore!!

This tomb is looked upon as a precursor to the Taj and is aptly nick named Baby Taj. This contains the tombs of Mirza Ghiyas and his wife Azmat begum.

Mumtaz, wife of Shah Jahan is also from this family.

The main building is in the centre with four symmetrical buildings on all sides. This is on the east bank of Yamuna.










See the amount of factories on the banks of Yamuna.





Itimad-Ud-Daulah is in an Islamic style of architecture. The absence of a dome and the use of a closed kiosk on the top is clearly noticeable.







Mirza Ghiyas was buried in a tomb that looks like a jewel box. This is the first tomb in India which is made entirely of white marble.






This is a must visit.
Finished Itimad-ud-Daulah by 13:00PM and with this I'd be leaving Agra town. I took the road to Sikhandra which is also on my way back to Delhi to see Akbars Musoleum. It is 10Km from the Agra town in the Delhi Agra NH.





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[ravibhat]

Majestic Lalu, having visited same places couple of months back this thread braught me that memory back. We really loved visiting North India everytime except where we didn't get south indian food LOL

Year after year I am delighted to see food of our taste is available which means more restaurants coming up.

Ravi.

[laluks]

Originally Posted by ravibhat

Majestic Lalu, having visited same places couple of months back this thread braught me that memory back. We really loved visiting North India everytime except where we didn't get south indian food LOL

Year after year I am delighted to see food of our taste is available which means more restaurants coming up.

Ravi.

Thanks Ravi.

Food - I personally do not know, since that was the last thing in my mind. I was happy with my chocolates and always ended up with a heavy Roti / Mutter paneer stuff for dinner

[laluks]

Day 2, September 12 2009 Continued

Akbar's Mausoleum (Sikhandra Fort)


This is at Sikhandra which is 10Km away from Agra Fort. I reached here by 13:30PM





Once you enter the gateway you get a big courtyard. At each corner there is a three story minaret built of red sandstone inlaid with marble works.









The tomb is made of sandstone and marble.












Akbar's tomb





Some works - closeups.












In these corridors the echo is quite surprising.


Stand in the middle and clap, you get 4 claps back if the intensity is less, else just one clap.


You whisper at a corner and you can hear at the other corner which is diagonally opposite. See a boy trying it.







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[laluks]

Day 2, September 12 2009 Continued

Akbar's Mausoleum (Sikhandra Fort)


The beautiful garden has a lot of deers.


























This ruins were near the parking lot






Finally left to Fatehpur Sikhri by 14:30PM




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[rawnak]

Sikandra used to have lot of Langoors, did u see any?
I went there 15 yrs back.

[laluks]

Originally Posted by rawnak

Sikandra used to have lot of Langoors, did u see any?
I went there 15 yrs back.

That black faced longh tailed ones? A few were there, but was either too fast or too much away for me to click :(

[laluks]

Day 2, September 12 2009 Continued

Fatehpur Sikri


I reached Fatehpur Sikri by 15:30PM. You ahve to park the car and take a bus to the place.

The first impression I get was the place was filled with people who claim themselves to be guides, and the shop keepers. For the first 15 minutes after I stepped oujt of the car, I was not allowed to move an inch by them. I assertively tried warding them off, but these guys were not the one to let you go easily. Finally I got back into the car and decided I'll leave back - no point in this madness.

After a few more minutes like that, those guys got the message and left. I then took a bus ride to the place.

The scene there was no better. I got so fed up, that I had to push people away. They were so much in my private space. If I felt this, I cannot imagine the plight of a foriegn tourist at these places.

All the while I was visiting this fortified ghost city, the guides were pestering me with their offers. I began to think of them as ghosts, and headed firmly on my historic learning of the place. I must admit I could not enjoy it as much as Agra fort because of them, nor could I make my notes sitting in comfort there.




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