Agra fort, an immortal creation

The surrounding environment appeared like dozing under the red stone drape in sweltering midday, as we were approaching to the premises of Agra fort. The radiated heat from the gigantic structures could be felt even from the farthest part of the premises. The mammoth structure of Agra fort came into the sight like a heat erupting volcano. It was inexplicably very hot. Immediately after our vehicle stopped, we were thronged by the tourist guides, some of them were even child and still confident enough to escort us. It was a confusing situation as I overheard a thrown word from a tourist, “no more guides”.

Agra fort

                Leaving behind the group of tour guides, we started our walk towards the Agra fort. The UNESCO world heritage site of Agra fort was in front of us like an upright symbol of masculinity, power, courage and strength. The apparently silent premises of Agra fort was likely to wake up any time with the entry of the marching band of insidious soldiers, churning dust and displaying their blood stained swords. I was inundated by the interesting anecdotes of history associated with the fort, the history of transformation of Badalgarh fort of the Rajputs to the present Red fort of Agra of the Mughals. To me, it is a fascinating remainder of the jubilant kings and emperors who dared to enjoy the possession of the fort with their indomitable courage and with the power of their sword. Agra fort is a place, where time has written numerous history of invasion, stories of great warriors and paved their way to achieve immortality. To me Agra fort is a centre of power, an exciting example of Mughal architecture, a place where art and architecture got new dimensions under the patronage of great Mughal emperors, and a jail where a great emperor passed his last days looking towards his immortal creation.

Agra fort

The memorable journey through the palaces of the emperors came to an end with an approaching dusk. Afar from the Agra fort the Sun was slowly setting down like a huge fireball.

Agra fort

The resting emperor

Few kilometres away from the Taj Mahal it was a picture contrast at Sikandra, with no queue at the ticket counter or any tightened security at the entrance or without the overwhelming crowd of photo enthusiasts like the Taj Mahal the premises of the tomb of greatest mughal emperor at Sikandra looked like a palatial nest of eternal peace. Animals and birds in the premises of nicely maintained garden have added a natural look in the serenely imposing ambience.

Entrance of Sikandra,Agra

His long reign of nearly five decades forms the bright chapter of the Indian History during which the country made rapid progress in all walks of life. He introduced a new Divine faith (Din-i-Ilahi) combining the good points of all religions. The brave general and capable administrator of a huge empire, he was passionate for knowledge in spite of illiteracy, under his patronage art, architecture, literature attained new heights. He was Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar, greatest of the Mughal emperors and one of the ablest kings the world has ever seen.

Sikandra,Agra

Akbar`s lifetime was associated with interminable incidents and stories in Agra, he founded Fatehpur Sikri, refurbished the Agra fort. Prolific examples of composite architectural styles within the Agra fort, Fatehpur Sikri, were his brain child. Akbar himself initiated the work of his tomb at Sikandra in his life time. Akbar died in 1605 and was buried at Sikandra, Agra and the tomb was completed by his son Jehangir in 1612 as per the design of Akbar.

Inside Sikandra,Agra

Sikandra has many features to mesmerize the tourists. Right from the entrance gate, the calligraphic inscriptions in Persian were eye catching, the environment was definitely an exception among the other crowded monuments of Agra. Dome less structure of Sikandra tomb was built on red sandstone, and its top only was made of white marble, with its four marble minarets at the gate were placed by Jahangir, believed to have inspired by the architecture of Charminar, Hyderbad. In the spacious room of the actual tomb of Akbar, the building acoustic was extremely fascinating. We heard an effect of sound to fade away soothingly after getting nicely reverberated in the surrounding. Not sunk under the burden of prestigious title, the four hundred years old architecture, housing the tomb of the greatest mughal emperor will surely reign in the heart of history lovers for an endless century.

view of the tomb of Akbar,Sikandra,Agra