Day 12
Agra sightseeing tour
In the very early morning, approximately around dawn hours, you will be taken by Agra tour guide to Taj Mahal. The time of sunrise has been purposefully chosen so that you could see the Taj Mahal when it looks most stunning and beautiful. From Agra hotel to Taj Mahal, you will be taken on a horse carriage. Taj Mahal’s construction started in the year 1631 and took approximately 22 years to build it. An epitome of love, it made use of the services of 22,000 laborers and 1,000 elephants. It was built entirely out of white Makrana marble. Built by Shah Jahan and dedicated to Mumtaz Mahal (wife of Shah Jahan) is an Islamic tomb and located on the bank of River Yamuna.
Visit the world famous Taj Mahal, then come back to hotel for breakfast. Relax, refresh and move on to visit Old Fort and Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula, Akbar's Tomb in Sikandara. Agra Fort is built alongside the Yamuna River and stretches almost 2.5 km. It consists of a wall built in red sandstone and several buildings inside. The wall has 2 gates, the Delhi Gate and the Amar Singh Gate. Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula houses the magnificent mausoleum of Ghias Beg, father of the Mughal Empress Noor Jehan. The main tomb is made of pure white marble, with each façade composed of three arches with beautiful trellis screens, so delicately carved that they appear to be made of ivory. Akbar's Tomb in Sikandara is in a pyramid shape and consists of five storeys. The building is unique in its departure from Islamic architectural tradition, for it has no domed roof. The walled garden enclosure is laid out in the Char Bagh style with the mausoleum at the center.
After sightseeing of famous monuments of Agra, you can either return to hotel or enjoy Mohabbat-e-Taj show by Kalakriti (optional). Overnight stay is planned in Agra hotel.