Shatabdi Exp. 0610 = 0815 Agra – Delhi 210 Kms / 04 Hrs
Early morning transfer to New Delhi Railway station to connect your Express train for Agra {Seating in A/C Chair Car}. Upon arrival at Agra we drive straight to visit the Agra Fort – A construction of the massive red sandstone, the Agra Fort on the bank of the Yamuna River was begun by Emperor Akbar in 1565, though additions were made up until the rule of his grandson, Shah Jahan Followed by the visit of Itmad Ud Daulah – also known as the Baby Taj. Later Lunch at the Mount of Taj Khema – Overlooking Taj Mahal & finally ending your sightseeing at Taj Mahal a Poetry in Love. After Visit Carry on to the city center for a visit to Marble Factory to witness the minute carvings of precious & semi-precious stones along with manufacturing & carving on small replicas of Taj Mahal. Possibility to do shopping of the memorabilia to remember the visit to the famous city of Taj..Later leave by surface for Delhi. Upon arrival at Delhi transfer to hotel. Overnight.
Agra – one of the great Mughal cities of South Asia, with minor interruptions, Agra alternated with Delhi as the capital of their Empire. Little is known about it before the Muslim conquest. Sikander Lodi seized it from a rebellious governor and made it his capital in 1501. He died in Agra but is buried in Delhi. Agra was Babur’s capital and he is believed to have laid out a pleasure garden on the east bank of the Yamuna. He also saw Akbar’s new capital at Fatehpur Sikri, describing a route lined all the way with stalls and markets. Akbar moved his capital again to Lahore, before running to Agra in 1599, where he spent the last 6 years of his life. Jahangir left Agra for Kashmir in 1618 and never returned. Despite modifying the Red Fort and building the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan too moved away to his new city Shah Jahanabad in Delhi from 1638-50, though he returned to spend his last days in Agra as his son Aurangzeb’s prisoner. Aurangzeb, the last of the Great Mughals, moved the seat of government permanently to Delhi. In the 18th century, it suffered at the hands of the Jats, was taken, lost and retaken by the Marathas who, in turn, were ousted by the British in 1803. It was the center of much fighting in the Mutiny and was the administrative center of the North-West Provinces and Oudh until that too was transferred to Allahabad in 1877.
Agra Fort (Red Fort) – construction of the massive red sandstone Agra Fort on the bank of the Yamuna River was begun by Emperor Akbar in 1565, though additions were made up until the rule of his grandson, Shah Jahan.
Itmad-Ud-Daulah was built by Empress Noorjahan (wife of Emperor Jehangir) between 1622-1628 A.D. in memory of her father, Mirza Ghiyas Beg. It took seven years to build this mausoleum. Mirza Ghiyas Beg, a Persian by birth, came to India during the reign of Emperor Akbar. Akbar’s son Jehangir married his daughter Noorjahan and made him the Prime Minister, giving him the title of Itmad-Ud-Daulah, which means “Reliance of The State”. Itmad-Ud-Daulah is the first building made of marble in India. It is also the first building in which marble inlay work (pietra dura) is the main element in the scheme of decoration. It is a superb architectural composition, unique in design, most elegant in the finish and is known to be the inspiration for the Taj Mahal – therefore it is often called “Baby Taj”.
Taj Mahal – is described as the most extravagant monument ever built for love. It was constructed by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, whose death in childbirth in 1631 left the emperor so heartbroken that his hair is said to have turned gray overnight. Construction of the Taj began in the same year and was not completed until 1653