Heritage Walk Old City of Agra
Tour Overview
Agra city was the capital of Mughal Empire for about 120 years. Mughal not only rule India but they also patronized art and culture. Even this city was also flourished before the Mughal Empire. In this tour package you will explore old part of the city of Agra on a walking tour.
This adventurous walking tour is like assault on your senses but i would rather say it’s worth assault. on this old city walking tour you will explore very old city spice market, Jama Masjid, Kinari (brocade border) bazaar, some of the very old temple of city, local food taste, horse cart/rickshaw ride etc.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS GUIDED WALKING TOUR WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION.
Detailed Itinerary of Heritage Walk Old City of Agra
Main Highlights of the walking are below:
1. Agra fort railway station
- This memorable Raj building was constructed in 1891 as a stopping-off point for colonial tourists visiting Agra’s monuments. Agra Fort Railway Station was also the first Railway Station of Agra and also one of the oldest in the country. It has French chateau-style slate-roofed platforms.
2. Jama Masjid (Friday mosque)
- A magnificently proportioned building in the heart of the historic town, the “Friday mosque” was sponsored by Shah Jahan’s favorite daughter, Jahanara Begum. This was built in 1648; the mosque’s sandstone and marble domes with their distinctive zigzag chevron pattern dominate this section of the town.
3. Vaidya Ramdutta Gali
- This old lane of Agra is dedicated to the memory of Vaidya Ramdutt Shrama, who used the knowledge of traditional herbal medicines & pulse reading of Ayurveda for treating chronic ailments of human body. Today his family descendants live & practice the ancestral knowledge for the service of the humanity in the same fashion.
4. Mankameshwar (temple of lord Shiva)
- It is one of the ancient temples devoted to Lord Shiva. It is said that the shivlinga covered by the silver metal was founded by lord shiva himself during Dwapara era, when krishna was born in mathura. For child krishna darshan shiva arrived from mount kailash and rested here.
5. Temple of Musicians Balcony
- Temple of Bihari Ji, which is another form of Lord Krishna was built by Mohanlal Ji Gotewale in the year 1880 and is commonly known as “Gotewalon ka Mandir” as the family is still involved in the traditional business of brocade borders for Saaris, dresses & Hand bags continuing the traditional family business. The temple is famous for its most beautifully ornately carved balcony.
6. Spice market (Rawat para)
- Rawat para is one of the oldest localities of the historic city of Agra. Most of the shops there are very old; some have been there since the Mughal period. Over the years the place has assumed a new identity as a wholesale market for grains, pulses, spices etc.
7. Patal Hanuman Temple
- The Temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman “The Monkey God” is known as patal Hanuman or Human of nether world, who rescued Lord Rama & his brother Lakshamana from the prison of demon king “Ahiravan” as the myth goes. The temple attracts thousands of devotees every day.
8. Jewelers Market (kinari bazaar)
- This is the old market of Agra where sellers used to sale Kinari (brocade border) of sari and ladies dresses in Gold and Silver. But now they make and sell Gold & silver jewelry. But market still know as kinari bazaar.
9. Local food Taste
- Now its time to taste authentic India food of Agra in a very old place which was Establish in 1840.
10. Rickshaw ride
- From the food tasting place we will take Rickshaw ride back to our car.
Drive back to Hotel
- Rickshaw drop us back to our car, and you will Drive back to Hotel
Tour Amenities
- Horse cart/Rickshaw ride during walking tour.
- Government approved tourist guide for walking tour
- Mineral Water bottles.
- Government approved tourist guide.
- Battery Bus/golf cart Ride at Taj Mahal.
- Horse cart ride/Rickshaw ride.
- Camera fee.
- Hotel in Agra.
- Lunch/dinner/drinks etc.
- Tipping for guide & driver.
- Anything which is not mentioned in include list.
Tour Cost: USD $25 Per Person (minimum 2 person)
Please send your detail on info@agraguide.com or whatsapp +91 98976186196 along with whatsapp no, Name, Date of visit, No of person, Pickup place/ hotel and payment detail.
Pay Advance $20
The Agra fort was built by one Hindu ruler called Badal Singh and Agra fort was earlier known as Badal garh, it was just a mud fort. Later on 3rd Mughal Emperor Akbar reconstructs the Agra Fort, that’s why we called this was built by Akbar. Reconstruction started in 1565 and it took 8 years to be complete. But some building inside the Agra fort is later edition by Shah Jahan, So all together Agra fort construction took 90 years. Shah Jahan love white marble while he was building the Taj Mahal he brought all white marble from Makrana. Which is considered hardest marble in the world. And he built some white marble building inside the Agra fort with the gold plated roof, gold is gone but now we have brass for an idea. He also built one beautiful tower with the Gems inlaid that was for the public appearance later on Shah Jahan was house arrest there by his son Aurangzeb. While Shah Jahan was house arrest in that tower he can see Taj Mahal from there. In the Agra fort we have so many beautiful building like Diwan-e-Aam, Diwan-e-Khas, Khas mahal, Jasmin tower, Anguri bagh, Jahangir Mahal, Golden pavilion etc.
Taj Mahal in Agra is the combination of 2 words. Taj means “crown” and Mahal means “Palace”, But as you know it’s not a living place it’s a mausoleum or a tomb of Mumtaz Mahal.
Taj Mahal in Agra was built by fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his loving wife Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal is the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal also known as building of eternal love. Shah Jahan he was the boy who born with the golden spoon, and he became men with the campaign taste who never compromise with quality.
Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal Emperor of India. He was the richest person of the world at that time like his Father Jahangir and his grandfather Akbar. Back then 27% GDP of the world was from India. If we considered all time inflation Shah Jahan was the richest person of the world ever.
Shah Jahan was husband of four beautiful wife (as per most of historians). Mumtaz was second and most beautiful wife she was Persian and Persian ladies are known for there spotless beauty.
Mumtaz was from a noble family. Her grand father Mirza Ghiyath Beg was the prime minister of Jahangir. Her Aunt Nur Jahan was 20th wife of Jahangir.
Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife. This is her tomb When Mumtaz died she was only 38 years old and she was delivering 14th child of Shah Jahan, only 7 children were survived 4 boys (Dara Shikoh, Shah Shuja, Aurangzeb and Murad Baksh) and 3 daughters (Jahanara Begum, Roshanara Begum and Gauhar Ara Begum).
She died in the child birth, but that baby survived she was Shah Jahan’s third daughter Gauhar Ara. Mumtaz died in June 1631 and Taj Mahal construction started after 6 months death of Mumtaz.
(One American author of Indian origin, Indu Sundaresan she wrote a wonderful book about Mumtaz death and Taj Mahal construction “Shadow Princess” (Taj Mahal Trilogy #3) that’s I would like to recommend you. It has 80% history and 20% Fiction)
Taj Mahal work stated in December 1631 and finished in 1653, it took 22 years to be complete main white Taj Mahal Mausoleum took 17 years and red sand stone structure took 5 years. More then 20 thousand workers were involved in the construction of Taj Mahal. 40 million Indian rupees that was the cost construction of the Taj Mahal then.
Then gold was about 1 Indian rupee per gram and today is about 3500 Rs per gram. So today’s Taj Mahal construction cost would be around 2 billion Us Dollars. This is just the construction cost of Taj Mahal historical value is much more like it priceless.
Taj Mahal become UNESCO world heritage site in 1983 but after 7th July 2007 (07/07/2007) this become first men made wonder of the world. So now Taj Mahal is first among seven men made wonder of the world.
Taj Mahal minarets are 2 degree diagonal towards the corner so if earthquake occur they will not fall over the Taj Mahal, they will fall outside.
Taj Mahal is the combination of 10 buildings and fusion of 4 architectures. Ustad Isa khan Afrandi was the Architect of Taj Mahal. For the Taj Mahal he brought idea from different buildings.
Taj Mahal is the combination of 10 Buildings
1. Taj Mahal main building concept got from 2nd Mughal Emperor Humayun’s tomb which is in Delhi.
2. Taj Mahal main gate (royal gate) concept from 3rd Mughal Emperor Akbar’s tomb which is in Agra.
3. Taj Mahal minarets (4 towers) concept from 4th Mughal Emperor Jahangir’s tomb which is in Lahore Pakistan.
4. Taj Mahal white marble and marble Inlay work concept was from Itmad ud daulah’s tomb which in Agra that is also know are “baby Taj Mahal” or “jewel box”.
5. Taj Mahal kiosk (chhatri) concept was from Mandu Fort which is in ?Dhar district of M.P state.
6. Taj Mahal Raised platform concept from previous dynasty Lodi dynasty.
7. Taj Mahal four garden concepts were from Persia (modern Iran) and called Paradise garden.
8. Taj Mahal facade and row of the fountain concept from Alhambra Granada.
9. Taj Mahal double dome concept was from great Mosque of Damascus Syria.
10. Taj Mahal Dado, Zali (screen) and wall relive carving are part of Hindu Architecture.
Taj Mahal is the the fusion of 4 Architecture
1. Hindu.
2. Persian.
3. Islamic.
4. Ottoman architecture.
White Marble
Taj Mahal basic structure in on bricks and Marble used as veneer (6 inch to 2 feet). For the Taj Mahal Shah Jahan brought all white marble from Makrana. Makrana marble is considered hardest and purest marble in the world, even it’s 10 times stronger then Italian marble Carrara. Carrara marble is porous, but Makrana marble is impervious. In India we have more then 100 types of the marble but Makrana marble is the best.
Red sandstone
Red color stone which was mainly used to built mosque and guest house in the Taj Mahal complex. This red sandstone was from 50 KM away of Agra.
Semi precious Gems Inlay on Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal is beautifully decorated with marble Inlay work. This art is also called pietra dure. Semi precious stones are use to inlay on the Taj Mahal.
List of semi precious stones used in Taj Mahal Inlay
About 28 different types of Gems stones are inlay on the Taj Mahal.
Like. Lapis lazuli, Jade, Malachite, Carnelian, Garnet, Black onyx, Blood stone, yellow Jasper, Gold sand Stone, Red Jasper, Sodalite, Rhodonite, Quartz, Topaz, white Jade, Turqoise, Oplite, Red Agate, Green Agate Etc.
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