Agra
Situated on the banks of the Yamuna, Agra Fort was built by Emperor Akbar between 1565 and 1573. A deep moat, once filled with the water of the Yamuna, surrounds the fort.
Musamman Burj (in the fort)- This double storeyed octagonal tower has an unobstructed view of the Taj Mahal (on a clear day!). Unfortunately, when we were there, there was too much mist/fog. This was where Shah Jahan, imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb, spent the last eight years of his life. His body was taken by boat to the Taj Mahal and buried there.
Jami Masjid - This mosque was built by Shah Jahan’s favorite daughter, Jahanara, in 1648. The mosque’s sandstone and marble domes with their distinctive zigzag pattern dominate this section of the city. The eastern courtyard wing was demolished by the British in 1857.
Taj Mahal - One of the world’s most famous buildings, the Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, thought to have died from an infection after giving birth to her 14th child. The two photos below are i) the gateway to the Taj Mahal and ii) the Taj Mahal.
Mausoleum of Akbar - Located in Sikandra, about 5 km. from Agra. The emperor had commissioned his own tomb to be built while he was still alive. It was completed by his son Jehangir.
