5 historical places to visit in Agra on your next trip

Sitting on the banks of the River Yamuna, Agra is a little more than 200 kms from Delhi. The Hindu epic Mahabharata alludes to it as 'Agraban', a portion of Braj Bhoomi, the land where Lord Krishna was born. The earliest written history of Agra, nonetheless, is its foundation by a local king in 1475. It developed into an imperative force focus under the Delhi Sultan Sikandar Lodhi, who moved his capital from Delhi in 1504. Agra achieved full magnificence in the Mughal period when Babur captured it in 1526. Babur's grandson, the Emperor Akbar, who was an incredible builder constructed the Agra Fort in 1565 and the city developed around the core of the fort. If you stay in Delhi, then Agra is the best place to go for weekend to experience history. Even Delhi to Agra distance by train can be covered under 90 minutes by the train. Here are some of the best historical places to visit in Agra.

1. Fatehpur Sikri: The city was the capital of Mughals from 1571-1585. Taking inspiration from states of India like Gujarat and Bengal, best of structural practices were used by the craftsmen for the construction of buildings. The city consists of various illustrious buildings like Jama Masjid and Tomb of Salim Chishti.

2. Sheesh Mahal: Also called as Glass Palace, it is arranged close to the Muthamman Burj just underneath the Diwan-i-Khas lobby. Constructed by Shah Jahan around 1630s, the mahal was utilized for regal showers. The brilliant mirrors give an excellent impact when lit up. The mortar work done on the boards of external walls portray 'bundle of flowers' in blend with glass mosaic work.

3. Agra Fort: An UNESCO world legacy site, Agra Fort is situated at only 2.5 kilometers from Taj Mahal. Site of the 1857 rebellion which brought about the end of the British East India Company's rule in India, it took 8 years to be constructed by more than 4,000 developers. It is the same fortification where Shah Jahan was kept as prisoner in his last days by his own child Aurangzeb. Visit it to witness the history at its closest.

4. Tomb of Itimad-ul-Daulah: Depicted as the "Gem Box", the landmark is also known as "Baby Taj", on account of its likeness to Taj Mahal. Situated on the banks of Yamuna, the tomb is built of red sandstone with marble. Much the same as Taj Mahal, Tomb of Itimad-ul-Daulah is also made of white marble. Visit it to witness the structural excellence of the mughals.

1. Buland Darwaza: The name Buland Darwaza actually implies heavenly gate in Urdu and the height of the structure is 54 meters. It was constructed 1601, by the Emperor Akbar to honor his triumph over Gujarat. The design of the gate is one of a kind and the craftsmanship is splendid. Buland Darwaza is produced using red sandstone with cut marble and stone trims.

If you want to visit Agra then don't worry about the Delhi to Agra distance by train as the train drops you at Agra railway station in just 90 minutes starting from Delhi.