AGRA :
Located about 204 km south of Delhi in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Agra
is one of the most famous tourist
spots of the country. The city, situated
on the west bank of river the Yamuna, is known world over as home to a wonder
of the world, Taj Mahal.
A part of the great northern Indian plains,
Agra has a tropical climate. Summers are extremely hot and the maximum temperature
can be as high as 45 degree Celsius, while winters are cold and foggy. The monsoon
season is marked by heavy rains and high humidity.
For most of the time
Agra alternated with Delhi as the capital of the Mughal Empire. As such one finds
many marvels of the Mughal architecture in and around the city, the most famous
of them being the
Taj Mahal. Besides the Taj, the
Agra Fort (also
called the Red Fort) makes an interesting sight. Other major attractions include
the tomb of
Mirza Ghiyas Beg, Jama Masjid, Akbar's tomb at Sikandra,
Rambagh, the
Mughal Garden and
Dayal Bagh Temple. Besides
the historical monuments, one can also explore Agra's rich heritage of handicrafts
in its markets.
The places around Agra also form interesting tourist
spots. The
Mathura-Vrindavan region forms an important pilgrimage place
for Hindus as it is closely associated with the birth and childhood of Lord Krishna,
an important deity in the Hindu religious pantheon.
Fatehpur Sikri presents
another marvel of the Mughal architecture and splendour. A trip to Agra remains
incomplete if one doesn't visit these places of interest surrounding it.
SANKASIA: Sankasia lies in central Uttar Pradesh, 47 km from Farrukhabad.
It is believed to be the place where Buddha, along with Brahma and Devraj Indra
descended after giving sermons to his mother in heaven.
At the spot
of descent stands a temple with a statue of the Buddha. The place is also known
for a temple dedicated to Bisari Devi and an excavated Ashokan Elephant Pillar.
There is also a colossal Shiva Linga here. A large fair is held at Sankasia
in the month of Shravan (July-August). The nearest airport is Agra.
