My Solo Trip To The Mughal Kingdom - Agra

Tripoto
11th Dec 2016
Photo of My Solo Trip To The Mughal Kingdom - Agra by Abdul Rahuman
Day 1

As Agra is my first destination of the 7 day solo backpacking to North India, I had my itinerary pre-planned with me. But weather had its own plan and started playing along. Still I was able to manage the itinerary a little bit and accommodate. I planned to reach Agra by morning 8.30 AM. But because of the fog, It got delayed by 5 hours.

On the way to Agra Fort, I had a glimpse of the beautiful jama masjid. I entered Agra Fort through the Shahjahani Gate which was built during the shahjahan's reign. This fort was used from the period of Akbar to Shahjahan. The fort has a numerous courtyards, towers, private halls and chambers of the mughal architecture.

The important ones worth seeing are:

1) Jahangir's bath tub

2) Jehangiri Mahal

3) Khas Mahal

4) Diwan-i-Khas

5) Diwan-i-Aam

Don't forget to have a glimpse of the Taj Mahal from Agra Fort.

Agra Fort

Photo of Agra Fort, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India by Abdul Rahuman

Shahjahani Gate

Photo of Agra Fort, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India by Abdul Rahuman

The Khas Mahal

Photo of Agra Fort, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India by Abdul Rahuman

The name says it all. No words needed. The heaven on earth!

There are three gates to enter the taj - The West gate, The East Gate and The South gate. The grand gate called Darwaza-i-Rauza is the entrance to the taj. Whichever gate you come from, you have to cross the Darwaza-i-Rauza to enter the taj. That feel when you see the mausoleum for the first time through the gate was mesmerising. And it took another half an hour to enter the mausoleum after standing in a long queue.

Adjacent sides of the Taj lies a mosque and a guest house. On the other side of the river yamuna was the Mehtab Bagh. Since the scintillation was going on in one of the minarets, couldn't have a full view of the whole Taj. Do check whether scintillation work is going on when you plan for Agra.

Taj Mahal

Photo of Taj Mahal, Dharmapuri, Tajganj, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India by Abdul Rahuman

As I come out of the Taj, the dusk approached and checked-in to my backpacker hostel. Then I strolled on to the Sadar Bazaar. You can buy leather shoes and taste all kinds of savouries in a gully in Sadar Bazaar. And you must try the restaurant Mama's Franky House. I loved the Lucknowi Biriyani and Lacha Paratha over there.

Mama's Franky House

Photo of Sadar Bazaar, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India by Abdul Rahuman
Day 2

In the morning I headed to Itmad-ud-Daula (also called the baby taj). The tomb built by Nur Jahan, the wife of Jahangir in the memory of her father during 1600's. It was made of red stand stone and white marbles. It is a quite less crowded monument. You can spend half-an-hour or around to visit the whole mausoleum.

Itmad-ud-Daula

Photo of Itmad-ud-Daula, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India by Abdul Rahuman

After the baby taj, I got a bus to Fatehpur Sikri which is 36 Km's from Agra on the way to bharathpur in Rajasthan. It was the capital of mughal kingdom during the Akbar reign. Akbar built this Fatehpur city to celebrate the victory against chithoor and ranthambore. As in other mughal architecture's, the Fatehpur Sikri Fort complex also has the grand gate "Buland Darwaza".

Inside the fort lies other typical mughal elements such as Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas. The fort was a blend of Hindu, Jain and Muslim architecture. There is a tomb inside the complex built on the memory of Sufi saint salim Christ. It is in his memory, Akbar moved the capital from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri. And there is a jama masjid inside in which people do prayers even today. The Fort complex is the only remains in Fatehpur Sikri as most of the monuments are abandoned.

Buland Darwaza

Photo of Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh, India by Abdul Rahuman

Fort Complex

Photo of Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh, India by Abdul Rahuman

Jama Masjid

Photo of Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh, India by Abdul Rahuman

Tomb of Sufi Saint Salim Christi

Photo of Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh, India by Abdul Rahuman

With Fatehpur Sikri, I ended my first destination of the 7 day solo backpacking trip. Though I missed some more places due to my late arrival to Agra and the fog, I was totally immersed in the mughal architecture. Will include the ideal Agra itinerary in the following posts.

Till then,

Bon voyage!