The Buland Darwaza is approached by 42 steps. The Buland Darwaza is 53.63m high and 35 meters wide. Buland Darwaza is the highest gateway in the world and an astounding example of the Mughal architecture. The Buland Darwaza or the magnificence gateway is made of red and buff sandstone, decorated by carving and inlaying of white and black marble. An inscription on the central face of the Buland Darwaza throws light on Akbar's religious broad mindedness. Buland Darwaza or "high doo"',is a grand gateway constructed by Emperor Akbar to commemorate his victory over the King of Khandesh (Gujarat) in 1573. It is also known as the 'Gate of Magnificence'. This triumphal arch was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, when he defeated the king of Khandesh or Gujarat in 1573.

Akbar, the greatest empire-builder of the Mughals, commissioned the Agra Fort in 1565, and his grandson Shah Jahan, pulled down many of the original buildings and replaced them with marble ones, while Aurangzeb added the ramparts. The fort was for some time occupied by the British; today, much of it is with the Indian Army and is out of bounds for tourists. Though the principal structure was built by Akbar, many more additions were made by his grandsons. This massive fort is 2.5 kms long and is considered as the predecessor of the Delhi Red fort. The colossal walls are 20 feet high and the whole fort is encircled by a fetid moat.

Agra Fort is entered today at the south end, through a low outer wall and gate (shown here) built by Aurangzeb. Visitors then pass in succession through two of Akbar's gates, the Amar Singh and the Akbari, before finally gaining admittance to the fort proper. The original entrance to the fort was through the grander Delhi Gate in the west wall.

Taj Mahal means "Crown Palace" and is in fact the most beautiful tomb in the world. The marble wonder is the largest and the most extravagant mausoleum built for the sake of love by a person. The grandeur & glory of Taj has reached every corner of the world. This timeless piece of art has been the inspiration for many artists and architects, ever since its creation. Its very difficult to adequately convey the legend in a picture or write in a piece of paper.

Taj Mahal, this is a mausoleum of the King Shah Jahan’s beloved wife Mumtaj Mahal. The construction of Taj Mahal was begun in 1630 and took 23 years to complete in the year 1653. Made up of white marble, Taj Mahal Agra changes its shades through out the day with the sun light. Taj Mahal in Agra is a symbol of a man’s ever lasting love for his wife. Now after three centuries since its construction, Taj Mahal has been seen by millions of people from all across the globe and it is still the most attractive monument in the world.

Fatehpur Sikri is one of the finest examples of Mughal architectural splendour at its height. Though the city is in ruins, it is a place to visit if one comes to Agra. Fatehpur Sikri served as the capital of the Mughal Empire between 1570 and 1586. But as abruptly as it had been built, it was abandoned due to the scarcity of water. A popular legend is attached to the city's conception.

Fatehpur Sikri is now a ghost city, popular among both tourists and archeologists. What you can see is magnificent ruins of the bygone era, some are in excellent state of preservation, and some are literally covered by shrubs and bushes.

Mahtab Bagh is situated on the sandy bank of Yamuna River just opposite the Taj Mahal mausoleum. The place is an ideal spot for it provides picturesque view of Taj Mahal. Mahtab Bagh Agra built in 1631 to 1635. The name Mehtab Bagh means 'Moon Lit Garden' and the same was testified by the beautiful reflection of Taj Mahal in the pool at night in Mahtab Bagh. The place has a history of its own.

The important attraction of Mehtab Bagh is Taj Mahal itself. The garden has been renovated by the Archaeological Survey according to the original plan. The place has been enriched with vegetation and at present more than 40 species of plants bloom in the garden. The garden has been built in a typical Charbagh fashion.

Itmad Ud Daulah tomb houses the body of Mirza Ghiyas Beg, the father of Mughal Empress Noor Jahan who was Emperor Jahangir's wife. This beautiful tomb situated on the banks of the Yamuna is also known as the 'baby Taj'. Built around 1625 AD, the Itmad Ud Daulah Tomb, has many features that were later incorporated during the construction of the Taj Mahal. Interestingly, the carvings on this monument are said to be even better than that of the Taj.

The pure white and elaborately carved tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah conforms to the Islamic style of architecture. The use of arched entrances, octagonal shaped towers or minarets, use of exquisitely carved floral patterns, intricate marble-screen work and inlay work are all representative of the Islamic style.

Chini-ka-rauza is situated at a distance of less than one kilometer north of Itmad-ud-daulah on the same side of the Yamuna. It is built in 1635. Neglected and decaying, its soft brown stone is exposed to the elements and is now crumbling away into the riverbank. Topped with an Afghan-style bulbous dome, the dull earth-coloured tomb is a far cry from Nur Jahan's delicate work, but is distinctive as Agra's sole Persian construction. Parts of the walls are still covered with the coloured enamel tiles (chini) that once enhanced the whole of the exterior and gave the tomb its name, while traces of paintings and Islamic calligraphy can still be made out on the high domed ceiling. It is a rectangular structure, having beautiful title work in glazing colours, and is surrounded by a great bulbous dome.

The Rambagh Gardens in Agra has the distinction of being one of the first Mughal pleasure gardens in India. Laid out by Babur, the first Mughal Emperor, the Rambagh Gardens are located 3 km away from the Tomb of Itimad Ud Daulah and 500 meters away from the Chini ka Rauza. The Persian influence can be well discerned in the layout of the garden that was designed in such a way as to resemble paradise (in Islam the garden is considered to be a representation of Paradise).

Dayalbagh is a unique pilgrimage and tourist site in India. The memorial of Shiv Dayal Sahib the founder of the Radhasoami Satsang movement, who started this religious organization in 1861, is located in Dayalbagh, Agra. The Radhasoami movement combines elements from Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism and Buddhism.

The architecture of the Dayalbagh Gardens follows much of the same pattern of amalgamation of the traits of different religions like the Radhasoami Satsang movement itself. Thus, this beautiful memorial gives examples of different architectural styles such as those that can be found in temples, gurudwaras, viharas and mosques all across the country. Impressive at a height of around 110 feet, the memorial is built completely in white marble with majestic pillars.

The Taj Mahal garden according to the holy Koran is symbolic of paradise. As Islam was born in the arid region of Arabia, the vision of a lush green, well-laid out and watered garden came to be associated with life and paradise. In the course of time green became symbolic of Islam. Muslims also venerate water because it was scare in the Arabian Desert- the birthplace of Islam. According to Islam there are four rivers in paradise one each of water, milk, wine and honey. The concept of these four rivers flowing through the garden of paradise led to the Charbagh style of garden planning.

The Taj Mahal Garden has a central pool starting from the entrance to the mausoleum. The pool is provided with fountains and the watercourses are laid in a way so as to divide the entire area into four sections. Each section has 16 flower beds and represents a unique feature according to Muslim faith. There are as such 64 flower beds in the garden.

Popularly also known as the Jami Masjid, the Jama Masjid in Agra is perhaps the largest mosque in India. It was constructed in 1571 A.D. during the reign of Emperor Akbar and is one of the most sacred sites in Fatehpur Sikri. The fact the ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri was built around the Jama Masjid, which speaks volumes about its importance. To the right of the mosque is the Jammat Khana hall and then the Zenana Rauza, or the tomb of the women of the royal household.

Within the mosque complex you will find the shrine of the Sufi religious leader Sheikh Salim Chisti. The lattice marble screens of the tomb are amazing in their workmanship. The tomb was earlier built in red sandstone and parts of the original structure can also be seen.

The Mangleshwar Temple in Agra is reckoned among the most celebrated religious sites of Agra. It is situated towards the western part of the Agra city center in the Gokal Pura area. This temple is very lavishly bedecked during festivities and exemplifies the religious diversity in Agra. Truly speaking, a visit during Hindu festivities will bring in spotlight the Hindu style of worship. The entire ambience of the temple acquires a gorgeous, animated and colorful look.

The entire ambience of the temple acquires a gorgeous, animated and colorful look. If you are also interested in paying Agra Mangleshwar Temple a visit and basking in its architectural splendor and religious importance then do come here. It is very near to the central railway line. This rail line connects the northern and southern regions of the Agra city. You can also come here by Ramratan Road.

The Taj Mahal Museum forms a part of the Taj Mahal Complex. The museum is located towards the west of the Taj Mahal. The museum is popular as it houses the records and plans of construction of the great mausoleum.

The museum comprises of three galleries in addition to the main hall and has on display various exhibits relating mostly to the construction of the Taj Mahal and to the period of its builders. Totally 121 antiquities are on display, which are broadly categorized as Mughal miniature paintings, manuscripts, government decrees, specimen of calligraphy, arms, utensils, plans and drawings of Taj Complex, paintings, specimen inlay work, marble pillars, etc.

This is the first notable building that the visitor sees on his right hand side at the end of a spacious lawn, as one enters through the Amar Singh Gate and emerges out of the passage. Situated north of the gate at the end of a spacious lawn, the Jehangir's palace was built by Akbar as women's quarters and is the only building that survives among his original palace buildings.

Built by Akbar as a residence for his son Jehangir, the palace is the largest private residence in the fort, a superb blend of Hindu and Central Asian architectural styles. This is the first notable building that the visitor sees on his right hand side at the end of a spacious lawn, as one enters through the Amar Singh Gate and emerges out of the passage. It was built by Akbar as women's quarters and is the only building that survives among his original palace buildings. It is built of stone & is simply decorated on the exterior.

Jodh Bai was the Hindu mother of Jahangir and the daughter of the Maharaja of Jaipur (Amber). This large palace is a blend of Muslim and Hindu architecture. It has a large courtyard, which surrounds a central garden. Jodha Bai's palace is the largest and most important part of Imperial Harem, having all facilities, provisions and safeguards. The name Jodha Bai palace is a misnomer in itself. It is most widely accepted that the building was for Raniwas or Zenani-Dyodhi.

The palace building consists of a rectangular block measuring 231'8"x215' in dimension, with a single magnificent gateway on eastern side, which was protected by guard rooms, having triangular ceiling and other apartments. Several Hindu motifs have been used in the building, which confirms that occupant of the building was a Hindu lady.

Guru a taal is a religious place for Sikhs.It is said that one of the ten gurus of Sikhs visited this place.Originally it used to be a an artificial lake built during Jehangir's reign to conserve rain water.Boasting elaborate stone carvings and 8 towers of the 12 original towers, this gurudwara beckons travelers from far and away to bask in its glory.

Guru Ka Taal is the most revered place of the Sikh's located in Agra. The place is said to be visited by four of the ten gurus of the Sikhs. The gurudwara has been built over the stop where Guru Tegh Bahadur offered his arrest to the Mughal king Aurangzeb. The splendid gurudwara which stands in the precincts of Sikandra is due to the noble contributions and efforts of Sant Sadhu Singh Mauni during 1970's. The place is an important pilgrim place for Sikhs and every year thousands of devotees flock into the Agra city. For these people the land out there is blessed.

Moti Masjid, the mosque, is contained in the Agra Fort Complex. The complex situated in the vicinity of Yamuna river is one of the most frequently visited places. Situated towards the east of the city center the place is easily accessible. Moti Masjid, Agra is also known as the Pearl Mosque. It was built inside the Agra fort in 1654 during the reign of Shah Jahan (1627-1558). It was built as a military establishment principally by Akbar in the year 1565. During Shah Jahan's time, the red sandstone fort at Agra was partially converted into a palace.