Agra is synonymous with the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort and millions of visitors flock to these historical monuments to witness them up close. These monuments loom large in the public imagination, sometimes to the detriment of other interesting and no less beautiful monuments and gardens.
Here's a selection of five underrated Mughal-era constructions that are also worth a visit.
Translated as 'moonlight garden' it was built by the emperor Babar in the 1530s and was constructed according to the charbagh layout. It is north of the Taj Mahal on the opposite side of the Yamuna River. The square-shaped complex is 300m x 300m and the emperor Shah Jahan found it to be the best place to drink in the beauty of the Taj Mahal. On clear moonlit nights the reflection of the Taj Mahal in the waters of the park is a breathtaking sight. The garden today blooms with floral plants, medicinal herbs and fruit trees.
Perhaps the most well-loved Mughal emperor, Akbar was buried in a mausoleum which was completed in 1613. Built by the succeeding emperor Jahangir, the deep red sandstone is etched with white marble and the architecture is on par with the grandeur of Mughal architecture. The tomb is in Sikandra on the northwest outskirts of Agra. The tomb of his favourite wife Mariam-uz-Zamani, also known as Jodha Bai, is 1km away from his tomb. The panel designs are geometric, floral and calligraphic and there are four gateways in the tomb. Akbar is buried on the hall of the first floor. It is also the final resting place of his two daughters, Shakr-un-Nissa Begum and Aram Banu Begum.
Built from 1623-1627 the Tomb of Mariam-uz-Zamani has three tombstones: her grave in the underground mortuary chamber, a cenotaph above it and another cenotaph on the terrace. The ground floor has some 40 chambers and the facades feature red sandstone panels and a chhajja. The tomb is identical both in the front and rear, which is in contrast to other Mughal-era structures where the back entrance was a dummy entryway. The intricate decorative engravings on the main complex of the tomb are a testament to the high-quality of craftsmanship that were the mark of the Mughals.
This was built by the Jesuit order in 1600 and was the first Roman Catholic Church of the Mughal empire. Akbar is famed for blending various faiths and participating in religious festivals so it should come as no surprise that this church was built during his time. It was demolished by Shah Jahan in 1635 but was rebuilt a year later after he pardoned the Jesuits for their infractions against Islam. After the church was looted in 1761, it was rebuilt once again in 1769.
The Itmad-ud-Daulah was built by Nur Jahan, the wife of Jahangir, in memory of her father Mirzā Ghiyās Beg. His title meant ‘pillar of the government’. The tomb is popularly known as the 'baby Taj' and served as a precursor to the original one. It was built from 1622-1628 and features beautiful carvings and paintings. Originally a red sandstone building it was redesigned into a creation of white marble, which was sourced from Rajasthan. Visitors will find a plethora of semi-precious stone decorations inlaid in the architecture: cornelian, jasper, lapis lazuli and onyx, to name a few. The tomb has a small garden around its perimeter.