EDUCATIONAL TOUR REPORT:-

AGRA AND JAIPUR

TAJ MAHAL:-

The Taj Mahal in Agra India is considered one of the best examples of Mughal architecture in
India. The history of the Taj Mahal is one of the great love stories of the world.

The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan ruled from 1628 to 1658 and was married to Arjumand
Bano Begum in 1612 A.D. He called his wife Mumtaz Mahal or Crown of the Palace,
because she was so precious to him. Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan had 14 children and the
queen accompanied Shah Jahan everywhere, even on military campaigns. It was on one of
these campaigns, in Burhanpur in central India, that Mumtaz Mahal died in 1631, shortly
after giving birth to her 14th child. Her dying wish to Shah Jahan was that he should "build a
tomb in her memory such as the world had never seen before." The history of the Taj Mahal
begins with Mumtaz Mahal's tragic end.

Shah Jahan fulfilled her wish, creating the most beautiful mausoleum the world had ever
seen. Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb. He spent the last years of his life under
house arrest in the Agra Fort. He used to spend his time looking across the Yamuna River at
the beautiful tomb he had built for his beloved empress, waiting for the day they could be
united again. After Shah Jahan's death in 1666 A.D., he too was laid to rest beside his
beloved Mumtaz Mahal. Their real tombs are in a
basement of the Taj Mahal. The two ornately decorated
tombs on the ground floor, sheltered by the dome of
the Taj Mahal are part of the stylistic design of this
beautiful monument in Agra India. The history of the
Taj Mahal is the history of the steadfast love of a
Mughal Emperor for his Queen.

It took 22 years for the Taj Mahal to be completed. A

huge labor force of 20,000 workers led by Muhammed
Hanif, the head of the masons and the Persian architect Ustad Isa or Ustad Ahmad Lahauri,
were employed in its construction. Finished in 1648, the Taj Mahal cost the Mughal
exchequer 32 million rupees. The Taj Mahal has been described by the poet Sir Edwin
Arnold, as"Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an
emperor's love wrought in living stones."

The aesthetic beauty of this beautiful mausoleum is enhanced by the romantic story that
inspired its construction. Tourists come from around the world come to Agra, to feel the aura
of eternal love that surrounds the Taj Mahal. The history of the Taj Mahal is a love story that
transcends time and continues to be retold each day to the tourists who visit the Taj Mahal in
Agra India.

History of Agra Fort

Agra Fort- The History Akbar, king at 14, began consolidating his empire and, as an assertion
of his power built the fort in Agra between 1565 and 1571, coeval with the construction of
Humayun's tomb in Delhi. The Agra fort retains the irregular outline of the demolished mud-
wall fort of the Lodis. The lofty battlements o the new fort cast its protective shadow over the
far stretching mansions of court that nobles and princes built along the riverfront. The
magnificent towers, bastions and ramparts and majestic gateways symbolized the confidence
and power of the third Mughal emperor, Akbar.

The fort contains splendid palaces both in red sandstone and white marble built by two
generations of prolific builders Akbar and later Jehangir and Shahjahan. Of the nearly 500
Akbari buildings built in the Bengal and Gujarati traditions only a few have survived, arrayed
in a band on the riverfront.

The fort is auricular in shape and its colossal double walls rise 20 m in height and measure
2.5 m in circumference. The fort is encircled by a fetid moat. The lofty battlements of the
Agra fort cast its protective shadow over the far stretching mansions of nobles and princes
built along the riverfront. The magnificent towers, bastions and ramparts and majestic
gateways symbolized the confidence and power of the third Mughal emperor.
Agra Fort - Monuments Inside

Jahangiri Mahal

Undoubtedly, the most noteworthy building inside Agra

Fort is the Jahangiri Mahal (Jahangir's Palace), which was
the principal zenana palace (palace for women belonging
to the royal household), used mainly by the Rajput wives
of Akbar. A splendid gateway leads to an interior
courtyard surrounded by grand halls covered with profuse carvings on stone, heavily
fashioned brackets, piers, and crossbeams. One can still spot remnants of decoration in gold
and blue done in the prevalent Persian style. Jahangiri Mahal mixes Transoxanian (Central
Asian) features, such as the verandah on the east front with its high slender columns (a
translation into stone of the timber iwan of vernacular Transoxanian architecture), with
courtyard halls styled in the broader Gujarat-Malwa-Rajasthan tradition as it had been passed
onto the Mughals by the early 16th-century architecture of Raja Man Singh of Gwalior. This
exotic medley and adventurous eclecticism suggests a daring approach in architecture. The
typically Gujarati brackets-fabulously carved animal and floral motifs-register a dominating
effect on the few Islamic features such as the verandah on the eastern front with exquisitely
slender pillars facing the riverfront. Jahangiri Mahal is the most important building of the
Akbari period in the Agra Fort.

Khas Mahal and Sheesh Mahal

Top of Form
Bottom of Form

Both Jahangir (Akbar's son) and Shahjahan (Akbar's grandson) were enamored of the
sensuous effect of white marble; in their quest to make buildings of marble, they demolished
many of Akbar's red sandstone structures.In the Khas Mahal enclosure (built by Shahjahan),
later Mughal architecture comes of age. The Khas Mahal is
an airy edifice, overlooking the specially laid Angoori Bagh
(grape garden; a simple formal Mughal garden). Windows
closed with jali (intricately perforated decorative stone
screens) present fabulous view of the riverfront.The two
copper-roofed pavilions built in the Bengali traditions were
meant for prominent ladies of the harem. On three sides of
this garden are residential quarters of women.Sheesh
Mahal(mirror palace) or the royal hammam (bath) is decorated with myriad glass pieces and a
central fountain.

Musamman Burj

Musamman Burj is the most romantic, ornamental pavilion wherein lived two most beautiful
and powerful Mughal queens-Nurjahan and Mumtaz Mahal. The quality of pietra dura
decoration is fabulous and perfect. Here Shahjahan spent his last few years as a captive held
by Aurangzeb. Shahjahan languished and dies looking at the Taj Mahal.

Diwan-I-khas

Diwan-I-khas(Hall of Private audience) is a small hall with double marble columns inlaid
with pietra dura decoration. Shahjahan built the structure between 1636 and 1637 and it is
where the emperor used to receive the important dignitaries. On the terrace, in front of this
hall, are two marble thrones. The black throne belongs to Jehangir who, as Prince Salim in
rebellion against Akbar at Allahabad, had ordered it for himself. Below this terrace lies the
grand courtyard of Machchi Bhawan, meant for the harem functions. On another side stands a
small mosque built for Shahjahan by Aurangzeb.

Diwan-I-Aam

Diwan-I-Aam (Hall of Public audience) was again a building constructed by Shahjahan who
replaced an earlier wooden structure.The arches are covered with white lime polished to a
smooth finish. The triple arched royal canopy has lavish pietra dura ornamentation Here was
kept the famous Peacock Throne ordered by Shahjahan. He met officials and commoners and
listened to the petitioners in the Diwan-I-Aam.
Moti Masjid

Further north stands the Moti Masjid (pearl mosque), its three domes in white marble raising
their heads over the red sandstone wall. Moti Masjid is known for its sheer grandeur and
perfect proportions.

Fatehpur Sikri - The Architectural Style

At Sikri, the various royal palaces have been built in

Gujarati and Rajasthani architectural styles, using ornate
columns, fanciful jali work (intricately perforated
decorative stone screens), sumptuous carving, and surface
ornamentation. Most of the buildings located inside
Fatehpur Sikri are a unique blend of architectural
traditions flourishing at that time in India. These small
palaces are largely a sequence of connected rectangular courtyards; these are aligned with the
polar axes and so have to be grouped in a staggered formation across, the top of the narrow
diagonal ridge. The overwhelmingly Hindu architectural vocabulary, however, cannot
conceal the Islamic norms followed in the large-scale planning that is supposed to have
derived from Arab and Central Asia tent compartments!

Fatehpur Sikri - Monuments Within

Diwan-I-Aam
 Top of Form
http://w w w .tajhu TajHub.com tour w w w .tajhub.com http://w w w .goog

`nine gateways on the way to the palace complex, Diwani-I-Aam, or the hall of public
audience appears first. It is a huge rectangular walled-in courtyard where petitions were
heard, proclamations made, embassies received and entertainment programs held. The royal
balcony, set within a frame of jail screens, appears on the western front. In front of the royal
seat, a stone hook is still found embedded in the ground. As per tradition, Akbar's pet
elephant Hiran was tied to this hook to crush to death under its feet the head of the guilty. If it
refused to obey thrice, the victim was freed.

Diwan-I-Khas

The royal enclosure lies behind the Diwan-I-Aam. At the northern corner stands a small but
grand single-storey structure of Diwan-I-Khas with the most magnificently sculptured and
most photographed stone column at the center of the hall. It bursts forth into a set of 36
closely set vaulted and pendulous brackets supporting a circular platform from which radiate
four passages. Is it really the famous Ibadat-Khana where Akbar initiated religious discourses
amongst diverse religious groups-Hindu, Muslim, Jain, and Jesuit etc?

Panch Mahal

Panch Mahal, a five storeyed pavilion, stands on the western line of the courtyard. This is the
badgir, the Persian wind tower for ladies of the harem. The jail screens between the 176
differently carved pillars have disappeared. Once these screens provided purdah (cover) to
queens and princess on the top terraces enjoying the cool breezes and watching splendid
views of Sikri fortifications and the town nestling at the foot of the ridge. In the courtyard
Akbar played pachisi (checker board) with dancing girls as live pieces.

Jami Masjid

The mosque at Sikri was the first structure to be built in 1571. The exterior is modest but the
interior carries the most gorgeous ornamentation in the floral arabesques and ingenious
geometrical patterns in brown, red, turquoise, black and white. The spacious courtyard adds a
stately charm to the place. It could accommodate ten thousand men at prayer. Akbar was so
enthusiastic about this mosque that he occasionally swept the floor and gave azan (call for
prayer). On June 26, 1579, Akbar even read the khutba himself, a great innovation, earlier
attempted only the Timur and Mirza Ulugh Beg.

Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti

In 1580-81 eighty years after the saint died in 1572, Akbar built the tomb in red sandstone. In
1606, Qutubuddin Khan Koka, on orders from Jehangir, covered the edifice in white marble.
Much later in 1866, a district magistrate of Agra replaced the plaster dome with white
marble. The magnificence of the splendid jail screens
carved out of huge marble slabs shows a rare perfection of
craftsmanship. The dramatic serpentine brackets
supporting the wide chajja on all four sides of the edifice
have an amazing grace. The real grave lies in an
undisturbed repose in the crypt, closed to visitors. Women
devotees longing for a child come here and tie a colored
thread to the jails. In a gesture of thankfulness they come
back when their wish is granted.

Buland Darwaza

Buland Darwaza, the colossal triumphal arch, was built in 1575 on the southern wall of the
courtyard. It celebrates Akbar's conquest of Gujarat. The towering portal has the height of
176 feet from ground level and 134 feet over the top step. The grand recessed central arch is
the most magnificent of its kind in the entire range of Mughal architecture in India. Modest
ornamentation with calligraphy contains a famous line: The world is but a bridge: Pass over
but build no houses on it. The Buland Darwaza commands the landscape for miles.

Palaces in the Harem

Abdul Fazl, Akbar's historian, mentions that the royal harem had nearly 5000 wives. The
queens always brought with them a great entourage of maids and dancers. The queen mother
and princess had innumerable slave girls as their attendants. The member of concubines,
families of courtiers away on royal duty, and dancing girls was always on the rise. The harem
included not only the chief wives but all women inmates. Haresara (female quarters) occupies
the largest central area in the royal enclosure at Sikri.

Jodha Bai's palace belonged to Harkha, the Amber princess and mother of Jehangir, and the
other Rajput wives from Bikaner, Marwar, Jaisalmer, Merta and Durgapur and their
companions. No wife of Akbar was called Jodha Bai. One of Jehangir's wives was so called.
This is a high-walled edifice, guarded by a grand gateway leading to a spectacular courtyard.
With double storeyed pavilions at the center of colonnades on all four sides, this place has
some striking Hindu architectural features like ornamental columns, bells and chain motifs,
heavy brackets and niches on the wall for the deities worshipped by Rajput ladies.The other
smaller but beautiful palace belonged to Akbar's mother, Hamida Banu Begun, widow of
Humayun. She was the most respected lady of the harem with the title Mariam-Makani. This
palace is also called Sunehra Makan (golden house) because of the golden paint on the faded
murals.

The third palace in the harem quarters belonged to Akbar's two senior wives: Ruqayya Sultan
Begum (who brought up Jahangir's son Khurram later called Shahjahan), and Salima Sultan
Begum-widow of Bairam Khan. Maybe here lived Birbal's daughter who was married to
Akbar hence its present name, Birbal Mahal. Surely no male could have been allowed to stay
within the corner of the Sikri ridge.
 ITIMAD-UD-DAULAH:-

Itmad-ud daulah, one of the most beautiful of Mughal tombs, stands across the river Yamuna
from the Taj Mahal, nearly one and a half kilometers up-stream. Belonging to the age of
Jahangir, it contains cenotaphs of Mirza Ghiyas and Asmat Begum, parents of the powerful
Mughal Empress Nurjahan queen of Jahangir, an exceptional beauty and an astute
administrator. Mirza Ghiyas had left Persian in sheer penury in search of better prospects at
the Mughal court. He benefited much from the influence of his daughter who he had once
abandoned in the desert. Akbar offered him a good rank and privileges. Jahangir made him
his prime minister with the title Itmad-ud-daulah (Pillar of the State). Nurjahan’s brother Asaf
Khan later became prime minister of Shahjahan. This Persian family formed at the Mughal
court giving the grand Mughals two most celebrated queens-Nurjahan and Mumtaz Mahal
(Lady of the Taj), daughter of Asaf Khan.

The tomb of Itmad-ud-daulah was built during 1622-28. Standing at the center of a high-
walled charbagh laid out in the typically Persian style, this 540 feet square plot has four
gatways in red sandstone. The eastern gate is for entrance and the northern and southern
gateways for symmetry. The western end has a double-storeyed pavilion with a gallery
overlooking the river. Laid out during the lifetime of Mirza Ghaiyas, the garden was the
pleasure haunt of his family. The channels dividing the garden have four sections with
flagged pathways and parterres for cultivating flower beds. Roses, tulips, iris, lilies and
narcissus-reminiscent of the Persian spring, were grown here. Cypresses were planted near
the walls to retain an unobstructed, full view of the tomb in the center.

The square tomb, only 70 feet in diameter, is a small structure with octagonal corner towers
which are circular in form above the terrace and topped by circular chattris (kiosks). The
stunted and stout look of the towers and the experimental design of the chattris strike a
slightly discordant note does the rood pavilion which looks inconsequential. The main
structure has three openings on each side. The central arch provides entry and and the two
flanking arches are closed with exquisitely crafted trellis screen. The board chajja (eave) and
the brackets provide the architectural balance and allow for light and shade on the outer
walls. The central chamber contains cenotaphs of Asmat Begum at the central and of Mirza
Ghiyas to her right. The same symmetrical arrangement stands repeated in the upper pavilion,
this reappearing at the Taj. In both cases, the wife predeceased the husband that could
perhaps account for this deviation from the normal symmetry. In the absence of any screen
surrounding the cenotaphs, this arrangement is less pronounced here than it is at the Taj. Also
resting in one of the corner rooms is Ladli Begum, Nurjahan’s daughter by her first marriage.

The tomb of Itmad-ud-daulah has always been much admired for the most exquisite surface
decoration of outer walls with pieces of precious and semi-precious stones in colour,
providing the fist example of such splendid ornamentation in geometrical, floral and
conventional patterns. Elegant execution of designs in subdued hues of stones considerably
reduce the dazzle of the white marble and the aesthetic restraint in decoration which is
profuse but not overdone can be clearly seen. The stones were chosen for their texture so that
the mosaics felt like an architecture of Braille!
The relatively diminutive size of the tomb was dictated by the small size of the pre-existent
garden. If it gives the impression of a gem within a casket or an enlarged precious object, it is
because the tomb was originally intended to be built entirely in silver, a plan wisely
abandoned in favour of white marble.

Nurjahan settled for a small but most exquisite architecture in miniature covered with the
most prolific decoration in pietra dura, first of its kind on such a scale and a tremendous
improvement on similar decoration done on red sandstone at the entrance gateway of Akbar’s
tomb at Sikandra, which had been supervised by Jahangir. Itmad-ud-daulah’s ornamentation
makes the tomb suggestive less a tomb than of a reliquary. It is simply marvelous, too
exquisite for words-a fitting tribute to the memory of her parents.

JAIPUR :-

Hawa Mahal :-
Hawa Mahal, or the "Palace of Winds", is a
palace in Jaipur, India. It was built in 1799
by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, and
designed by Lal Chand Usta. It forms part of
the City Palace and extends the Zenana or
women's chambers, the chambers of the
harem. Its original intention was to allow
royal ladies to observe everyday life in the
street below without being seen.
It has five stories and is constructed of red
and pink sandstone, highlighted with white
quick lime. The side facing the street outside
the palace complex has 953 small windows,
and the breeze (hawa) which circulates
through these windows gives the palace its
name, and keeps it cool even in hot months.

The entrance opens onto a courtyard with a double-storied building on three sides, and one on
the eastern wing with three more stories, which is just one room wide. There are no stairs to
reach the upper floors, only ramps.
This five storeyed pyramid structure was designed by Lal Chand Ustad who dedicated his
work to Lord Krishna and Radha. The pyramid shape of the Mahal gives it an appearance of
the crown that adorned the head of Lord Krishna. The Mahal stands on a podium and is fifty
feet high. The thickness, however, is less than even a foot. The entrance is through the City
Palace from where doors open into a commodious courtyard with double storeyed buildings
covering three sides. The building today houses an Archaeological Museum. The upper two
storeys have just a single room. There are no stairs to reach the upper floors. Rather, there are
ramps meant for carrying the palanquin of the royal ladies.

The entire structure is made up of 953 small casements each with small lattice worked pink
window, small balconies and arched roofs with hanging cornices. Cool breezes enter through
the window and keep the inner atmosphere extremely pleasant and airy.

Visitors will be surprised to notice that in sharp contrast to its rich exteriors, the interiors of
the Hawa Mahal is strikingly simple. However, it is from here that visitors can have some of
the finest views of the modern city of Jaipur.

Amber Fort
Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan, India and one of the most
popular tourist destinations around the globe. The city of Jaipur is
popularly known as the Pink City. There are many attractions in
the beautiful Pink City – Jaipur, Rajasthan, India including
magnificent forts and palaces which all are worth visiting.

But no one can think about a complete tour of Jaipur City without
taking an excursion trip for Amber to visit grand Amber Fort also known as Amer Fort.
Amber is located just at a distance of 11 km from the city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Amber
Fort was the old fort of the Kachhwaha clan of Amber and used to be as the capital till it was
moved to Jaipur.

Man Singh I started the construction of the Amber Fort in the year of 1592 and his
descendant Jai Singh I finished the construction. The Amber Fort is located at hill atop. The
Amber Fort is built with white marble and red sandstone and gives an attention-grabbing look
because of Maota Lake in the foreground.

One can clear enchanting reflection of imposing Amber Fort on the lake. The Amber Fort is
an excellent example of Hindu and Muslim style of ornamentation. On the walls of the
Amber Fort one can see beautiful paintings showing various hunting scenes. The walls are
decorated with a lot of work, intricate carvings and minute mirror work.

Some major attractions of Amber Fort which are worth seeing are Old Amber Palace, Shila
Mata Temple, Diwan-i-Am or Hall of Public Audience, Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private
Audience), Sukh Niwas, Jai Mandir & Jas Mandir, and Ganesh Pol & Suhaag Mandir.

The structure which is known today as Amber Fort was initially a palace complex within the
original fort of Amber that is today known as Jaigarh Fort. Connected to Amber via fortified
passages, Jaigarh Fort is located on a hill above the Amber complex, and is constructed of red
sandstone and white marble. It overlooks Maotha Lake, and was reputed to be the treasure
vault of the Kacchwaha rulers.
Like the entire fort complex, Amber Fort is also constructed of white and red sandstone. The
Fort is unique in that its outside, an imposing and rugged defensive structure, is markedly
different from its inside, an ornate, lavish interior influenced by both Hindu and Muslim
(Mughal) styles of ornamentation. The walls of the interior of the fort are covered with
murals, frescoes, and paintings depicting various scenes from daily life. Other walls are
covered with intricate carvings, mosaic, and minute mirror work.

Amber Fort is divided into four sections. Each is accessible via large staircases from a central
location, or from a broad pathway leading to each of the sections. The pathways are currently
used to transport tourists via an elephant ride. The main entrance of Amber Fort, Surajpol,
leads to the Jaleb chowk, the main courtyard of the Fort where the staircase to the palace is
located. In ancient times, Jaleb Chowk was the area where returning armies were paraded
back home.

Just prior to the palace entrance is a narrow staircase leading to the Kali Temple, also known
as the Shila Devi Temple, made popular for its enormous silver lions. The origins and
purpose of these large lions is still unknown. The Kali Temple is known for its silver doors
with raised reliefs. According to legends, Maharaja Man Singh I had worshiped Kali for a
victory over the rulers of Bengal. The legend says that Kali appeared in the Maharaja's dream
and ordered him to recover her statue from the Jessore seabed (now in Bangladesh) and place
it in an appropriate temple. The accuracy of the legend has not been verified. However, it is
said that the Maharaja recovered the statue from the bed of the sea and created the temple. A
tourist curiosity is an image of Ganesha at the temple entrance, carved entirely from a single
piece of coral.

City Palace Jaipur

Location: Next to the renowned Hawa Mahal
Built by: Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh
A blend of Rajasthani and Mughal
Highlights:
Architecture
You can easily reach City Palace by taking
How to reach:
local Buses, Rickshaws and Taxis

City Palace forms one of the most famous tourist

attractions and a major landmark in Jaipur. The
beautiful palace was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai
Singh during his reign. Among the various forts and
palaces of Jaipur, City Palace stands apart, with its
outstanding art and architecture. City Palace complex
covers a huge area, which is divided into a series of
gardens, courtyards and buildings. Initially, Raja Jai
Singh built the outer wall occupying a huge area. The
additional grand buildings were constructed later by
the succeeding rulers.

A part of the exquisite Palace still makes home for the former Maharaja/ King. The premises
consists several buildings like Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Mukut Mahal, Maharani's
Palace, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum. One would come across the
Mubarak Mahal, as one enters the first square. Mubarak Mahal was built by Sawai Madho
Singh in the 19th century to entertain his guests. Today, it has converted into a costume
gallery, which displays royal attires of the Kings.

After crossing the first square, a beautiful gateway welcomes to Diwan-I-Khas, a hall meant
for private audience. It has two sterling silver vessels on display and they are acclaimed to be
the world's largest silver vessel. These vessels were made for Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh
II to carry water from River Ganga to drink on his trip to England. Diwan-I-Aam, which was
meant for public audience, forms the other attraction of this courtyard. At present, it makes an
art gallery showcasing enthralling painted ceilings and rare ancient handwritten original
manuscripts of Hindu scriptures.

In the series, Maharani's Palace, which was meant for royal queens, has been converted into a
museum, showcasing weapons dated back to 15th century. Chandra Mahal is essentially
regarded as the best part, out of the whole tour to City Palace. It has seven stories and each
story is known by a different name. The topmost story is known as Mukut Mahal. The
wonderful architecture of this Palace with delicate paintings, mirror work on walls and floral
decorations, makes it a "must-see" for every visitor. In the present day, this palace serves as
the residence of ex-ruler.