Taj Mahal
Built in1631 by fifth Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, this undying symbol of love, Taj Mahal in India will offer you the true the essence of beauty, elegance and wonder. To fulfill the dying wish of the beloved wife Arjumand Bano Begum alias Mumtaz Mahal, the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built this wonderful tomb. Built over a period of 22 years (1631 - 1653), approximately 20000 artisans involved in the process of making of this eternal beauty.


Agra Fort
Construction of the massive Agra Fort was begun by Emperor Akbar in 1565, and additions were made up until the time of his grandson, Shah Jahan. While in Akbar's time the fort was principally a military structure, by Shah Jahan's time it had become partially a palace.

There are many fascinating buildings within the massive walls which stretch for 2.5km, surrounded by a moat over 10 metres wide. Inside, the fort is really a city within a city. Not all of the buildings are open to visitors, and Shah Jahan's beautiful marble Moti Masjid (known as the Pearl Mosque for its perfect proportions) is, unfortunately, closed.

Diwan-I-Am
The Hall of Public Audiences was also built by Shah Jahan and replaced an earlier wooden structure. Shah Jahan's predecessors had a hand in the hall's construction, but the throne room, with its typical inlaid marble work, indisputably bears Shah Jahan's influence. Here he sat to meet officials or listen to petitioners. Beside the Diwan-I-Am are the small Nagina Masjid or Gem Mosque and the Ladies' Bazaar where merchants came to display and sell goods to the ladies of the Mughal court.

Diwan-I-Khas
The Hall of Private Audiences was also built by Shah Jahan between 1636 and 1637. Here the emperor would meet important dignitaries or foreign ambassadors. The hall consists of two rooms connected by three arches. The famous Peacock Throne was kept before being moved to Delhi by Aurangzeb. It was later carted off to Iran and its remains are now in Tehran.

Octagonal Tower
The Musamman Burj, or Octagonal Tower, stands close to the Diwan-I-Khas and the small, private Mina Masjid. Also known as the Saman Burj, this tower was built by Shah Jahan for Mumtaj Mahal and is another of his finely designed buildings. It was here, with its views along the Yamuna to the Taj that Shah Jahan died in 1666, after seven years' imprisonment.

Jehangir's Palace
Akbar is believed to have built this palace, the largest private residence in the fort, for his son. The palace is also interesting for its blend of Hindu and central Asian architectural styles-a contrast to the unique Mughal style, which had developed by the time of Shah Jahan.



Other Buildings
Shah Jahan's Khas Mahal is a beautifully white marble structure used as a private palace. The rooms underneath it were intended as a cool retreat from the summer heat. The Shish Mahal or Mirror Palace is reputed to have been the harem dressing room and its walls are inlaid with tiny mirrors. The Anguri bagh was simply a small, formal Mughal garden. It stood in front of the Khas Mahal. The Delhi Gate and Hathi Pol, or Elephant Gate are now closed.

In front of the Jahangir's Palace is the Hauz-I- Jehangri , a huge 'bath' carved out of a single block of stone. The Amar Singh Gate takes its name from a Maharaja of Jodhpur who was killed beside the gate, along with his followers, after a brawl in the Diwan-I-Am in 1644.