Before my trip I had read a few articles about Agra and I found out that it was considered a very dirty city, but to be honest I didn’t expect it to be so dirty. For me it is almost unbelievable that the dirtiest city I have visited so far is the home of the imposing Taj Mahal.

Surprisingly, Agra or the Emperors’ City, as it is called, means more than this gorgeous monument. Beyond the poverty, the dirtiness and the chaos, Agra is a pleasant surprise when it comes to beautiful tourist attractions. Situated on the banks of the Yamuna River, the city of Agra shelters a few lovely places which really deserve to be visited:

1.The gorgeous Taj Mahal is definitely the most remarkable tourist attraction you can visit in Agra. This white marble monument is considered the jewel of the city and also a symbol of love. Behind its impressive architecture, the Taj Mahal hides an emotional story. It is said that Shah Jahan built this impressive monument to serve as the resting place of his beloved wife. Mumtaz Mahal died at only 38 years old, while she was giving birth to their 14^th child.

Building this monument was a difficult process, but driven by his strong love and investing a lot of time and effort, Shah Jahan managed to finish one of the most remarkable buildings in the world. The elaborate architecture of the Taj Mahal is completed by a few gardens and green areas, which seem to place this edifice in a perfect scenery. In 1666, this oasis of peace became the resting place of its creator.

2.Situated along the Yamuna River, opposite the Taj Mahal, the Mehtab Bagh or the Moonlight Garden is a great place to go for a walk and admire the Taj Mahal. The Mehtab Bagh is laid out in a perfect symmetry and alignment with the Taj Mahal and it was built as an ideal place for admiring this gorgeous monument.

Built by the Emperor Babur in the early 1500s, the garden is embellished with beautiful white walkways, large water fountains and airy pavilions filled with colorful fruit trees. According to the legend this is the place where Shah Jahan wanted to build another monument similar to the Taj Mahal, to serve as his tomb. Unfortunately, he didn’t fulfill his wish and the Mehtab Bagh remained only an ideal place to admire the beautiful Taj Mahal. It is said that during sunrise and sunset, the Taj Mahal looks at its best.

3.The Agra Fort or the Red Fort of Agra is another beautiful place you should explore during your stay in this city. The Agra Fort was built by the Mogul Emperor Akbar in the 16^th century, as a military strategic point and a royal residence. Made of red sandstone and built in a semicircular shape, this massive fort served as the seat of government and the stronghold of the Mogul Dynasty. This walled city shelters a few impressive palaces, mosques, halls and gardens built in both red sandstone and white marble.

Situated on the opposite bank of the Yamuna River, this is the place from where Shah Jahan enjoyed seeing the Taj Mahal for the last time. He was imprisoned here by his son Aurangzeb, who offered him the privilege of admiring his masterpiece every day. It is actually believed that Shah Jahan died in one of the towers of the fort while he was looking at the imposing Taj Mahal.

4.The tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daula (I’timad-Ud-Daulah), also called the Baby Taj Mahal, is the first tomb built in India and made entirely of white marble. This mausoleum was built by Nur Jahan to serve as the resting place of her father, Mirza Ghiyas Beg. Surrounded by four Persian gardens designed in a rectangular shape, this memorial combines both Persian and Indian architectural motifs. Octagonal towers, arched entrances, marble lattice screens, open-pillared dome pavilions are just a few of the elements of this fusion.

Even though the size of the tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daula cannot be compared to the one of the Taj Mahal, this mausoleum is considered a source of inspiration for the architect of the famous Taj Mahal. Embellished with flowers, trees and fruit, the central hall shelters the tombs of Mirza and his wife.

5.Built during the second half of the 16^th century by the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri is a deserted red sandstone city. Situated almost 40 kilometers away of Agra, this fortress was the capital of the Mogul Empire for about 10 years. Considered an architectural jewel, this complex consists of a few monuments, temples and mosques which are surrounded by beautiful gardens. The fusion between the red of the buildings and the green of the gardens creates a very nice combination of colors.

The city came to be known as Fatehpur Sikri or the City of Victory after Akbar’s victorious campaign in 1573. Even though this ancient city was originally built on the bank of a lake which doesn’t exist today, the place is not less beautiful and it really deserves to be visited. More than this, a mysterious vibe which can be felt inside the city seems to shroud the entire place in mystery.

All things considered, even though the gorgeous Taj Mahal is indeed the most beautiful place in Agra, it is not the only tourist attraction which deserves to be visited. Besides this masterpiece, Agra shelters a few other lovely places which really deserve to be on anyone’s trip list.

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Situated almost 40 kilometers away from Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, a mysterious deserted red sandstone city, is one of the places which gave me the feeling that I traveled back in time.

Despite the fact that the vibe of this place is really special, the story it hides is even more interesting. According to the legend the Emperor Akbar visited the old village of Sikri to see the Sufi Saint Shaikh Salim Chishti, who had the gift of helping people fulfill their wishes. Akbar also wanted to have an heir to the throne and the saint predicted the birth of his son.

When the prophecy came true, Akbar rebuilt the village of Sikri and moved the political capital of the Mogul Empire here. Shortly after this reconstruction, the emperor changed the name of the new city in Fatehpur Sikri or the City of Victory, to mark a victorious campaign. This fortress was the capital of the empire for more than 10 years.

The reason why the city was abandoned is still a mystery today, but it is believed that after Akbar’s death, the lake which used to supply the city with water dried up. In this situation the population might have been forced to abandon the city.

Nowadays, Fatehpur Sikri shelters a few monuments, temples and palaces which are surrounded by beautiful gardens.  It is said that the emperor had three wives and that he built a palace for each of them. His wives were of different religions and this is why he built three edifices, a Hindu, a Muslim and a Christian one. The symbol of the entire city is the Jama Masjid, a beautiful mosque which is still used today.

There are a lot of other beautiful places in the city which really deserve to be visited, but you don’t have to take my words for granted. Take a look at the following pictures and convince yourself that this place is worth visiting.

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Designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, a Persian architect, and embellished with a lot of Indo-Persian architectural motifs, Humayun’s Tomb is a perfect example of Mogul architecture.

It houses the mortal remains of Humayun, the second Mogul Emperor of India. After his death, it was his widow, Bega Begum, who wanted this place to be built, in order to serve as the emperor’s resting place. She wanted the monument to be really impressive and opulent. Surrounded by a few beautiful gardens, this outstanding monument is the first garden-tomb built in India and also one of the most famous tourist attractions in Delhi.

A really interesting aspect is the fact that Humayun’s Tomb is considered to be a source of inspiration for Shah Jahan, the founder of the marvelous Taj Mahal. It will be an interesting experience to plunge into the history of this place and admire its beautiful architectural style. Nowadays, Humayun’s Tomb is also the resting place of other mogul emperors.

As a bonus, you will also have the opportunity to explore Isa Khan’s Garden Tomb, which is a similar monument situated nearby.

If I haven’t convinced you to visit this place so far, take a look at the following pictures and decide whether you add it to your trip list or not.

The gate of Isa Khan’s Garden Tomb

Isa Khan’s Garden Tomb

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After I came back from India, a lot of people asked me if I liked this country and my answer was simple. India is both fascinating and shocking, but overall my trip there was a great experience. When you say India, you say fabulous tourist attractions, but also poverty and fraud.

Considered the seventh largest country in the world, India is home to more than a billion people. It is also a country defined by contrasts such as beauty and ugliness, wealth and poverty. I must confess that I discovered a dirty, chaotic and vibrant India, which was fascinating in terms of culture and traditions, but also disappointing when it comes to living conditions. The moment you realize how many people live in improper conditions, you start appreciating what you have even more.

India has a real problem when it comes to food and drinking water. It was a shock for me to see a lot of people gathered around a tanker who were trying to fill plastic containers with drinking water.

Water recycling is a common practice in India and I was very surprised to find out that even the water from the hotel showers was recycled and then used to water the gardens and the green areas.

Despite these aspects, they always smile and their attitude should be an example for the rest of us. Indians are very hospitable and annoyingly friendly, and they are really fascinated by the white tourists who cross their threshold. They believe that the whiter your skin is, the better you are. It is the only country I have visited so far, where the locals were desperate to take pictures of us.

Another interesting aspect about India is the fact that time seems to pass very slowly. You have the feeling that a day has more hours and an hour has more minutes. India reminded me of my grandmother who used to tell me that time was passing slowly in her youth.

India is the country of spices and even if I must confess that I didn’t like Indian food, it was interesting to taste different spices and flavors. Anise, butter chicken masala and tandoori chicken masala are among the ones which I really liked.

There are other interesting aspects which are worth mentioning about India, but I would like to start talking about the fascinating tourist attractions this country has to offer.

First of all, in case you decide to visit India, my advice is to choose an organized tour with a professional local guide who will be able to give you plenty of interesting information about their culture, history, traditions and tourist attractions. My trip itinerary was planned around the Golden Triangle and it included the most beautiful and interesting tourist attractions in this area.

I started my Indian adventure in Delhi, the capital of the country, where I have spent a few days. The city is really vibrant and crowded and it displays a strong contrast between the poor and the rich areas. Even if the sudden passing from a rich area to a poor one is really surprising and confusing, the city has a lot to offer when it comes to beautiful and interesting tourist attractions.

You should admire every corner of Qutub Complex, a beautiful complex which displays a few ruins and also the tallest tower in India.

Considered the symbol of the Baha’i Faith, the wonderful Lotus Temple is another beautiful place which should be visited.

Built in the Indo-Persian style, Humayun’s Tomb is an outstanding monument which reminds of the marvelous Taj Mahal.

You should feel the energy of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, which is one of the most prominent Sikh houses of worship.

The imposing India Gate, the House of the Parliament, the impressive Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Red Fort are other beautiful attractions in Delhi which are worth visiting.

Mahatma Gandhi Complex which includes a museum and a memorial called Raj Ghat is another place which deserves your attention.

Displaying an impressive architecture, the Jama Masjid which is one of the largest mosques in Asia is one of my favorite places in Delhi.

Enjoying a rickshaw ride through the Old Delhi is indeed a mandatory experience in case you want to discover the authentic vibe of the city.

The narrow alleys of Chandni Chowk shelter a few markets where you can buy a variety of goods. The Spice Market is one of the most interesting in the area.

My favorite place in Delhi is the Swaminarayan Akshardham Complex, which shelters a unique and modern Hindu Temple.

As well as Delhi, Jaipur is equally vibrant and chaotic and it has a lot to offer. Any visit to Jaipur should start and end in the local bazaar, where you can find different goods at low prices, especially if you are a good negotiator. You should drive a hard bargain because Indians usually charge ten times more for every product.

During the few days spent in Jaipur, I had the chance to visit a few lovely tourist attractions which in my opinion should also be on your trip list.

One of them is the City Palace, which is a grandiose complex of exquisite palaces, gardens and courtyards.

A visit to the Astronomical Observatory (Jantar Mantar) will be an interesting experience.

You should also admire the outside of Hawa Mahal, which is another interesting building.

The beautiful Jal Mahal which floats in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake is indeed a great view to enjoy.

My favorite place in the area of Jaipur is the fabulous Amber Fort, which is a complex of ruins situated on the Aravalli Hills.

Reaching the top of the fortress on an elephant will perfectly complete the experience of discovering the beautiful courtyards, halls and walls.

My last days in India were dedicated to Agra, the most authentic Indian city. Agra shelters the imposing Taj Mahal which has fully conquered my heart.

Standing in front of this marvelous building and admiring its beauty and grandeur is indeed an unforgettable experience.

You can also admire the image of the Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh, which is a complex of gardens situated nearby.

Admiring Agra Fort, which is the seat and the stronghold of Mughal Empire will also be a great experience.

A visit to Itmad-Ud-Daula, which is the first tomb in India made entirely of white marble, will perfectly complete your experience in Agra. This place is also called Baby Taj Mahal because its architecture is quite similar to the marvelous Taj Mahal.

Situated close to Agra, Fatehpur Sikri is a deserted red sandstone city which will be a feast for your eyes in case you decide to visit it.

These are the most beautiful and interesting tourist attractions which can be admired in the Golden Triangle of India. Taking into account the good and the bad aspects, India is a country that deserves to be discovered because it offers a really unique blend of experiences.

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