The prime destination in India is undoubtedly Agra, known all over the world as the city that houses Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the world. Agra is nestled in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, approximately 201 kilometers from the capital metropolis New Delhi. The greatest attraction of Agra is really the renowned Taj Mahal, the greatest testimony of Sha Jahan's eternal love to his wife, queen Mumtaz. This marvelous marble tomb is situated on the shores of the beautiful Yamuna and surrounded by gardens. This reminiscent of the Persian architecture has been the pride of Agra for centuries and it has been regarded as the first among the several extant historical monuments through the length and breadth of India.
Though Agra has little to offer, with its severe pollution, smog and litter that continually beset the city, travelers still tread the swarm of hawkers and touts amid the mosques, temples and palaces just to get the feel of being in the site of one of the wonders of the world. Besides Taj Mahal, Agra is also home to some of the finest edifices and structures of the world, which include the imposing Fort of Agra, the Jehangir's Palace, the Tomb of Itmad-ud-daulah and Akbar's Mausoleum.
Agra has also been linked to the epic Mahabharata and referred to as Arya Griha or the abode of the ferocious Aryans although it was the Mughal dynasty with its numerous rulers that contributed to the rich heritage of this city. History books will tell you that modern Agra was founded by the Lodhi dynasty under the Sultanate of Sikandar Lodhi in the 16th century.
A drive to Agra can be tedious with all the bouncing and lurching but one will be rewarded with the sight of a microcosm of India with its cows, farmers off to market, men pulling bike-powered rickshaws loaded to the top, camels pulling load and even dancing bears. Time will stand still around you when you are transported to those distant days when the streets reverberated with the sounds of prayers and the sound of the thousands who toiled unendingly to create this poem in marble.
