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Monuments In Agra

Tajmahal

Agra is also a popular destination amongst shoppers. The Mughal antecedents of this region reflect itself in some of the finest handicrafts that are available here. The most important being marble .

Chini ka Rauza

The Chini ka Rauza is the Tomb of Afzal Khan who was a minister of Shah Jahan. It was built in 1639 AD. The high domed structure was originally covered with glazed tiles in glorious blue, green and yellow colors. The tomb is truly Persian in concept.

Agra Fort

The original `Red Fort'' (although that title has since been usurped by the more well-known fort in Delhi), the fort at Agra stands next to what is perhaps India''s best known monument, the Taj Mahal. More often than not, the Agra Fort is overshadowed by the pristine beauty of the Taj, but for those looking for something beyond romance, the Agra Fort is worth seeing. Akbar, the greatest empire-builder of the Mughals, commissioned the Agra Fort in 1565, and his grandson Shah Jahan, pulled down many of the original buildings and replaced them with marble ones, while Aurangzeb added the ramparts. The fort was for some time occupied by the British; today, much of it is with the Indian Army and is out of bounds for tourists The main point of entry for tourists to the Agra Fort is the Amar Singh Gate; the main entrance, the Delhi Gate, is now closed. Once past the gate, some of the fort''s most splendid architectural structures are on view: keep your camera ready. The first of these is the Diwan-e-Aam (the Hall of Public Audience), a pillared hall centred round a throne alcove of marble with a delicate pietra dura inlay of floral.

Diwan-I-khas

Diwan-I-khas (Hall of Private audience) was built between 1636 and 1637 AD to receive the important dignitaries. It is a small hall with double marble columns inlaid with the pietra dura decoration. There are two marble thrones in the front of the hall on the terrace. Below this terrace lies the grand courtyard called the Machchi Bhawan lies below the terrace, which was meant for the harem functions. On the opposite side stands the small mosque built by Aurangzeb for Shah JahanThe Diwan-I-Aam (Hall of Public audience) was constructed by Shah Jahan by replacing an earlier wooden structure. The arches are made of white lime polished to a smooth finish. The triple arched royal canopy has lavish ornamentation of the pietra dura work. The famous Peacock Throne of Shah Jahan was kept here. He met officials and commoners and listened to them over here.

Monuments in Gwalior

Gwalior Fort

Aroused on an isolated rocks with number of historic bulidings, likes the Gwalior Fort in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh , India. The fort was built by Raja Man Singh Tomar as a token of love for his wife. This 1000 years fort stands perpendicular and attains a maximum height of 342ft at the northern end. Its length measures 1.5 mile(2.4km) from north-east to south-west and breadth extends to 900yd(820m). The great Mughal Emperor Babur reputedly quote it as, "The pearl in the necklace of the forts of Hind". The fort covers a huge battlements that circles palace,massive water tanks and temples. Among the temples are the beautifuly adorned 'Sas Bahu Ka Mandir', Sikh Gurudwara, Jain Temple which has been also been praised as a mosque and the Teli-ka-Mandir. The massive fortress of the Gwalior fort signifies the manifold dynasties of Mughals, Tomars, Britishers and Scindias.This fort have seen the the life of the Buddhist saint Lord Buddha and anecdotes related to the spread of Buddhism. The Chinese dragons that have been crafted at the hilt of the pillars depicts the mutual trade between China and India.

Jaivilas Palace

Jai Vilas Palace has turned out to be a great landmark for Gwalior City. This magnificent palace currently serves as a residence to the Scindia Family. The Palace from both inside and outside gives us a peek into the luxurious lifestyle of royal people in India. The structure of Jai Vilas Palace is Italianate to which, Tuscan and Corinthian architectural style add extra grandeur. The Durbar hall inside the palace is the main attraction. There are two mammoth chandeliers on the ceiling of this spacious room that weigh a couple of tonnes. Before they were on the ceiling, 10 elephants were used to examine the strength of the roof. Other attraction of the palace are a silver train with cut glass wagons which served guests as it moved around on miniature rails on the table. The Scindia Museum also showcases swords worn by Aurangazeb and Shah Jehan, jeweled slippers of Chinkoo rani and many personal momentoes of Scindia Family. This 35-room museum is open on all days except on Mondays from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Sas Bahu Mandir

A 9th Century shrine, Saas-Bahu temple in the fort allures not only the devotees but also the tourists with its artistic value. As its name denotes, these temples are not dedicated to Sas (mother-in-law) and Bahu (daughter-in-law) but rather the short form of Shashtra Bahu, another name of Lord Vishnu. These temples situated adjacent to each other and the larger one is elaborately decorated with beautiful carvings and sculptures. The roof of the larger temple is adorned with a marvelous lotus carving which is very fascinating. These ancient temples display exceptional architectural brilliance and are a perfect destination for pious people.

Monuments in Lucknow

Lucknow Residency

The year 1857 will always be remembered in the records of history because of its dramatic sequence of events. 'The First War of Indian Independence' or the Sepoy Mutiny took place in 1857. Lucknow too became one of the seats of that uprising. The Residency was one of the main places of battlement during the siege of Lucknow. The mutineers laid the siege on The Residency in June that year. Almost every Europeans who resided in the city of Awadh took shelter in Residency. It is whispered that almost 3500 people sought shelter during the siege. The siege took place for more than 140 days. History of Lucknow Residency, Lucknow Lucknow Residency in Lucknow is essentially a group of buildings that were built in 1800 A.D by the then Nawab of Oudh, Nawab Saadat Ali Khan. It was mainly built in order to serve as the residence for the British Resident General who was a representative in the court of Nawab. Description of Lucknow Residency, Lucknow Lucknow Residency was rather a sleepy residence for decades but then came an event, which put it on the world map. The saga of the siege of 'The Residency' in Lucknow will go down in the history of India as a courageous attempt done by handful of men, women and children to frustrate the efforts of mutineers. The residence of the palace held together during the continuous gunfire that lasted for a month. The canon balls withered the walls of residency but the palace held unbelievably. Sir Henry Lawrence who bore the responsibility 3500 human lives undertook the defense and counter initiative. On the last day the siege brave hearts surrendered and fall. The reinforcement force rescued the palace in 5 months of time. In recent times the redbrick ruins of Lucknow's Lucknow Residency are peacefully bounded by lawns and flowerbeds, but thousands died during the month-long siege. The Residency has been maintained as it was at the time of the final relief, and the devastated walls are still scarred by cannon shot. Even since Independence, things have not changed. A menacing silence engulfs the ruins. The cemetery at the nearby ruined church has the graves of 2000 men, women and children, and that of Sir Henry Lawrence who died defending the empire. There is a worn epitaph near the grave of Sir Lawrence that reads "Here lays the son of Empire who tried to do his duty". Lucknow Residency in Lucknow is located near Gomti banks close to Begum Hazrat Mahal Park. You can visit the park at anytime of the year. Hire a cab or auto from the hotel or take a rickshaw to reach one of the major monuments in Lucknow.

Bara Imambara

Lucknow, that capital of Uttar Pradesh, exudes charm and aristocratic sophistication. The splendid city is made famous by a number of magnificent monuments of historical import. The city of Nawabs, as it is popularly referred to, is known for its beautiful parks, gardens and other magnificent structures among which the Bara Imambara deserves special mention. The Bara Imambara in Lucknow also called the Asafai Imambara is an elegant edifice. Counted among the few most popular monuments in Lucknow, the Bara Imambara in Lucknow enjoys the distinction of being the world's largest arched room devoid of any pillars. History of Bara Imambara, Lucknow Lucknow's Bara Imambara is said to the venue where the Nawabs held their public hearings. The construction of Bara Imambara can be traced back to 1784 and is credited to Nawab Asaf-ud-Daulla. The monument has been designed by one Kifayat-ullah who is said to be a kin of the illustrious architect of Taj Mahal. The Nawab commissioned the building of the Bara Imambara in Lucknow as a part of the famine relief programme. Description of Bara Imambara, Lucknow Lucknow's Bara Imambara has a grand central hall that has already won many appreciations as one of the largest vaulted galleries in the world. A close look at the structure of the monument will reveal many unique features and elements in terms of the architecture. The construction of the halls and the use of vaults are reminiscent of the Islamic influence. The great hall of the Imambara can be approached through dual triple-arched gateways that are brilliant exemplifications of superior architecture. The way the hall has been constructed without any extraneous support of wood, iron or stone beams, is a source of wonder for many. Bara Imambara, Lucknow has an amazing maze of corridors and labyrinthine passages hidden in between the walls that are almost 20 feet in width. The upper floor, popularly known as the Bhulbhulaiya, is one of the major draws for the tourists. Once you get mired in this labyrinth, it is next to impossible to come out of it without the assistance of an expert guide. Some passages lead to dead ends while the others proceed towards precipitous drops. Some passageways will lead you to either entry or exit points. The imposing structure of Bara Imambara is an impressive amalgam of simplicity of style, symmetry and proportion.

Clock Tower

The clock tower in Lucknow was built between 1880 and 1887. Description of Clock Tower, Lucknow Lucknow Clock Tower is located very near to the Rumi Darwaza. Built in 1881 by the British, this 67 m-high clock tower on the river Gomti is said to the tallest clock tower in India. The tower features European style artwork. The part of the clock is built of pure gunmetal and the pendulum hangs 14 feet. The dial of this clock is shaped like a 12-petalled flower and has bells around it. Tourists while tours to Lucknow visit this famous clock tower which stands rising high in the sky. This is one of the most towering monuments in Lucknow.

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