Great Agra - Sleepy Fatehpur Shikri


Taj Mahal 
Taken in the evening from the Entrance Gate

Agra, once the Capital of the Great Kingdom in South Asia. The Shah Jahan built a great Tomb which become the most famous and precious legacy in the world. He also built one of the most improtan fort in the world called Red Fort. Though Agra is not capital anymore but it is still famous and one of the most visited city in the world (due to the 2 most famous heritage site in the world).



The Entrance Gate of The Agra "Red" Fort 


The "Family" Wing



Here the King can see his beloved Wife's Tomb - TAJ MAHAL

 Indian - Agra Women


 Taj Mahal seen from Agra Fort

Royal Court in Court of Public Audience 
Agra Fort

Hall of Public audience
Where the King meet his people for any civil and state business
You can see the symmetric and the perfection of the architecture work
Agra Fort


 Taj Mahal in the Afternoon from Southern Side

 Taj Mahal

 Taj Mahal from Eastern Site


 The Centre of the Taj Mahal 
(Interior)

 The Interior of the Centre of the TAJ MAHAL





Lotus become the symbol and trademark in the Mughal architecture like the one shown on the Taj Mahal wall
Taj Mahal - Agra

As Muslim, The King put the Moon face heavenward on top of the Dome of The Great Taj Mahal (Finial). But you can also see it is like the symbol of shiva (trident shape) - this is the prove that Islam and Hindu culture (not religion) blend together in harmony at that time.




AlQuran inscription on the outer wall of Taj Mahal 

 Taj Mahal From Eastern Side



The Masjid at the eastern side of Taj Mahal


Southern Gate of Taj Mahal Complex
Darwaza i Aruza


The gate at Fatehpur Sikri Fort


Hall of Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri - The Abandon / Ghost Capital City
20 km from Agra



The Interior of the Ceiling in the Fatehpur Sikri Fort
The details is amazing!

Jama Masjid
Fatehpur Sikri


Jama Masjid
Fatehpur Sikri


Tomb of Salim Chrishti
Fatehpur Sikri


Fatehpur Sikri
(Tomb of Salim Chrishti and Jama Masjid)

The High Gate to the Royal Palace of Fatehpur Sikri
Buland Darwaza
(Stable is located next to the gate)
 Fatehpur Sikri - The Abandon / Ghost Capital City
20 km from Agra


Once I arrived in India (Delhi International Airport), the first thing in my mind was to go straight to Rajashtan as it has so many precious cultural, tradition, heritage, and the most important historic site in the world, you name it from the famous rajashtan ethnic food, dance, festival,  royal culture, to the great Taj Mahal;  and the most important, it is the dream of my life!! I had to rest for one night as I arrived in the Delhi International airport at the midnight. I had to prepare myself as the next day, me and my cousin would go to Culture and Food Adventure in India !! The next day the driver that we booked came at early morning as the trip would take 7.5 hour to Agra. In Agra, We stayed in the 3 star hotel recommended by Trip advisor, I just couldn't believe that the hotel was full of tourist like us ! On the way to the city, I saw so many contrast between poor who has very expensive cars and the very poor who has to sit in the middle of the road beg for money or food. The food basically is spicy and has strange flavour, but It was interesting experience :-) Once we reached Agra, we went to the famous Red Fort, where the Shah Jahan live and even imprisoned by his son!! Inside, you will see the fort was well built and divided into Military part and palace or royal residence part. The fort is surrounded by the big pit to restrict the movement of the offender. The whole fort is fortified by Red Brick that is why we call the fort, Red Fort ! You can see the Famous Taj Mahal from the Palace here. The king also had Big Pond as Fishing is one of his favourite hobbies which is changed into garden right now. There is also quite sophisticated Water system that ensure the water is distributed effectively throughout the fort compound. The next day, I went to the Taj Mahal. This is one of the best moment in my life !! As described before, Taj Mahal is the Tomb of the beloved wife of the great Shah Jahan, one of the Mughal Emperor, who also built the Tomb of his grandfather in Babur Garden, Afghanistan. The main building was built from marble with semi precious stones and gems, but, most of them were looted by the british and Indian rebel, which is so pity. The most prominent semi precious stone in the building is lapis lazuli, the famous precious gem from Afghanistan! Due to heavy polution and decreased of water from the river, the foundation of the minaret and some part of the Building in Taj Mahal complex was cracked and tilted. Some sources predict that the building won't survive for next 10 year if no preventive measure is initiated. By looking for all the mughal architecture in various countries in south asia, we can assume that the Mughal Empire was so great as it stretched from Afghanistan to Bangladesh (The whole south asia was under Mughal Empire). At the end of our stay in Agra, on the way to Jaipur, we stopped by in the  famous but abandoned, city of Fatehpur also known as Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri is one of the most preserved Mughal legacy in India. Fatehpur was built by King Akbar (The father of Shah Jahan Emperor) and was abandoned prior its completion due to the scarcity of water and the unstable location due to the rebel and turmoil. The king moved his capital city to Lahore and then moved back to Agra where his son built the Great Taj Mahal.
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