Ram Bagh in Agra
Location:It is located about five kilometers northeast of the Taj Mahal in Agra.
Significance:
The Ram Bagh is the oldest Mughal Garden in India, originally built by the Mughal Emperor Babur in 1528 A.D. It is also known as Bagh-i Nur Afshan 'Light-Scattering Garden', Aalsi Bagh and 'Lazy Garden'. According to legendery story, Emperor Akbar proposed to his third wife, who was a gardener here.
View of Ram Bag
Structure:
Ram Bagh, the garden of Babur is hot and dry. Emperor Babur, in search of peace and coolness designed Ram Bagh (garden of tranquility). The garden represents Paradise on earth in which canals and pathways divide the garden to signify the Islamic ideal of a heaven. The Ram Bagh gives an example of a variant of the charbagh in which water flows down. Two viewing pavilions face the Jumna River and incorporate a subterranean 'tahkhana' which was used during the hot summers to provide relief to visitors. The garden has multiple water courses and fountains.
History:
Originally from Afghanistan, Babur was a great lover of gardens and introduced this type of garden to the largely governed Hindu society in India, and his successors garnished his theme as far as the design of the garden was concerned. It is essentially because of the differing religious and symbolic meanings that the ground of the Persian gardens has not changed dramatically.
It's said that Jahangir waited in the garden in early March 1621 for the astrologically auspicious hour for him to enter Agra after he took the Fort of Kangra. The preserved, surviving architecture dates to his reign and demonstrates the skill of his wife Nur Jahan as a garden designer
Other Places to Visit in Agra:
Some other tourist attractions in Agra are as a mentioned below:
- Taj Mahal :
Agra is famous for the white marble structure Taj Mahal. The architectural brilliance of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces are a vivid reminder of the architectural designs of the capital in the 16th and early 17th centuries.
Tajmahal in Agra
- Agra Fort :
It was built by the great Emperor Akbar in 1565 A.D. Within the fort are a number of wonderful buildings, including the Moti Masjid, Diwane-I-Aam, Diwani-I-Khas and Musanman Burj, where the Emperor Shah Jahan died in imprisonment beside Jahangirs place, Khaas Mahal and the Sheesh Mahal.
- Itmad - Ud Daula :
To the north of the fort and across the river Yamuna are quite a few fine examples of Mughal architecture. The Itmad -Ud -Daula designed by the Empress Noor Jehan as a memorial to her father Mirza Ghiyas Beg , is beautifully ornamented structure with pietra dura inlay and lattice work marble screens.
- Sikandara:
Sikandra, a suburb of Agra, only 13 km away from the Agra Fort. This was the last resting place of the Mughal Emperor, Akbar.
- Fatehpur Sikri:
Light- hearted palaces and imposing gateways were built in red sandstoneS within this fortified city only to be abandoned a few years later. Among its many architectural games are the places for his queens - Mariyam, Jodha Bai and his Turkish sultana, built in varying styles, each perfect in itself.
By Air :
Kheria Airport is 6 km away from Agra. From the International Airport at Delhi, Agra is 220km.
By Rail :
It is well connected with all parts of India. Important trains for Agra are: 2001/2002 Shatabdi Exp (Delhi -Bhopal); 2179/2180, Taj Exp(H. Nizamuddin-Agra/Gwalior); 2615/2616 G.I. Exp (Delhi-Madras); 4677/4678, Jhelum Exp (Jammu tawi-Pune); 847771/ 8478, Kalinga Utkal Exp.
By Road :
Some important road distances from Agra are Delhi-204km, Bharatpur-57 km, lucknow-369km, Mathura-54km, Nainital-353km, varanasi-605km and Khajuraho-400km.
Banks :
Andhra Bank, Sadar Bazar,
State Bank of India, Main branch Chhipitola Mahatma Gandhi marg,
Punjab National Bank, Shahziabad Mandi, Near Nand talkies.
Central bank of India, Bharow Bazar, Belanganj