Day 01
Sunrise at the Taj Mahal and Visit to Agra Fort
- Meet your tour guide at sunrise at the Jaypee Palace Hotel, before breakfast, and head to the famous Taj Mahal, the mausoleum of Empress Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved spouse of Shah Jahan, who died in 1630. The Taj complex comprises a forecourt, a lofty entrance, a charming formal Mughal garden with canals and a central tank with a series of fountains, the tomb proper, and an attached mosque on the west with its symmetrical counterpart on the east. The Taj is remarkable for its perfect proportions and rich pietra dura, with minute details executed with great skill. The building, often styled as "a dream in marble," is said to have taken at least 22 years (1631-1653) to build.
- Have lunch at the hotel and then visit the famous Agra Fort. Construction of the massive red sandstone Agra Fort on the bank of the Yamuna River was initiated by Emperor Akbar in 1565. However, additions were made until the reign of his grandson, Shah Jahan. In Akbar's time, the fort was principally a military structure, but during Shah Jahan's reign, it had partially become a palace. The fort's colossal double walls rise over 20 m in height and measure 2.12 km in circumference. They are encircled by a moat and contain a maze of buildings that form a small city within a city. Unfortunately, not all buildings are open to visitors, including the white marble Pearl Mosque, regarded by some as the most beautiful mosque in India.
(Visit to Taj View Point and souvenir shopping are optional.)
