Thousands of years of a fairly turbulent history
have left their mark on India, and perhaps the most prominent
reminders of the country's past are the many forts and palaces
which lie scattered across India. Moated and turreted, thickly
walled and exquisitely decorated with mirror and marble, pietra
dura and paint, these citadels have fulfilled functions ranging
from the purely practical to the unabashedly ornamental. And
best of all, they still stand- proud and imposing, forts and
palaces which figure right up there at the top of any tourist
itinerary. A tribute to India's history, a peek into its past-
a sight not to be missed.
Agra Fort
 The
original `Red Fort' (although that title has since been usurped
by the more well-known fort in Delhi), the fort at Agra stands
next to what is perhaps India's best known monument, the Taj
Mahal. More often than not, the Agra Fort is overshadowed by
the pristine beauty of the Taj, but for those looking for something
beyond romance, the Agra Fort is worth seeing.
The main point of entry for tourists to the Agra Fort is the
Amar Singh Gate; the main entrance, the Delhi Gate, is now closed.
Once past the gate, some of the fort's most splendid architectural
structures are on view: keep your camera ready. The first of
these is the Diwan-e-Aam (the Hall of Public Audience), a pillared
hall centred round a throne alcove of marble with a delicate
pietra dura inlay of floral motifs.
Like the Diwan-e-Aam, the Diwan-e-Khas, where the emperor held
audience with visiting dignitaries, is also splendid. Built
in 1635, it had two thrones on the terrace, one in white marble
and one in black slate. Emperor Shah Jahan is believed to have
used the marble throne for repose, and the slate throne to watch
elephant fights in the courtyard.
Places Of Interest:
Amar Singh Gate, Diwan-e-Aam (the Hall of Public Audience),
Nagina Masjid, The Sheesh Mahal (the Palace of Mirrors), Musamman
Burj, Khas Mahal.
Best Season: November to March.
Festivals: Taj Mahotsav (Feb 18-27),
Sharadotsav (October).
Reach -
By Air: Domestic flights link it
to Delhi, Khajuraho and Varanasi.
By Rail: Trains from a number of
cities arrive at Agra's six railway stations (of which Agra
Cantonment is the largest, receiving trains from Southern India,
Delhi, Gwalior and Jhansi, among others). For those coming from
Delhi, the Shatabdi Express (which arrives in Agra at 9 am and
returns at 8.15 pm) is very convenient..
By Road: Mathura-56 kms, Delhi-203
kms, Gwalior-118 kms, Jaipur-237 kms and several other major
cities. UPSRTC and private buses ply to and from Agra and other
cities, using the Idgah Bus Stand as the main terminus.
Amer Fort
 Exotic.
Fascinating. Historic, amazing, colourful- all are soubriquets
applied with (more often than not) gay abandon to the many Indian
cities that form part of the average traveller's itinerary.
But one city, at least, where these appellations are singularly
appropriate is the `Pink City' of Jaipur. A strikingly beautiful
city, historic and interesting, dominated by the imposing 16th
century Amer Fort, a brooding bastion of pavilions and palaces,
looking down over Jaipur. Amer (or Amber) was once the capital
of the Kachhwaha rulers of the state of Dundhar, all of seven
hundred years before the city of Jaipur came into existence.
The Amer Fort itself owes its construction to three rulers:
Raja Man Singh, Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Jai Singh- and
took a full two centuries to build, much of it having been made
in the 1500s. Looking at the splendour of the fortress, one
can well imagine why it took so long to complete: it is, to
put it simply, exquisite. The citadel rises above the waters
of the Maotha Lake, and although a motorable road leads to the
main gate of Amer, the touristier alternative is to ride an
elephant up to the gate. Once inside, you'll get the chance
to see one of India's best-preserved medieval citadels, a stunning
complex of gardens, temples, pavilions and courtyards. The Amer
Fort is, in roughly equal proportions, a pleasure-palace, a
former centre of administration and a military stronghold- all
worth seeing.
The fort's first courtyard is a wide expanse, dominated by
two buildings- the pillared red sandstone Diwan-e-Aam (the Hall
of Public Audience) and the intricately painted double-storeyed
Ganesh Pol gate. Beyond these lies a series of pillared corridors,
centring around a typical Mughal `charbagh' garden, bounded
on one side by Sukh Niwas and on the other by Jas Mandir, a
lovely piece of architecture which combines Rajput and Mughal
features: delicate mirror work, stucco, paint and carving (look
out, especially, for the exquisitely carved jaalis or screens).
The Amer Fort's piece de resistance, though, is the exquisite
Sheesh Mahal- the Mirror Palace- which is, as you'd imagine,
liberally mirrored. Patterned mosaics, coloured glass and mirror
decorate the Sheesh Mahal from floor to ceiling, creating a
palace of almost unbelievable beauty. Fountains and waterways,
gardens and courtyards spread out across the rest of the fort,
the ramparts of which actually weave their way into the mountains
for miles around.
Best Season: October to March.
Festivals: Elephant & Gangaur
Festivals (tail end of March).
Reach -
By Air: Domestic airport has regular
flights to and from all across India.
By Rail: Connected to Delhi, Mumbai,
Kolkata, and a host of other cities in Rajasthan, Gujarat and
other nearby states.
By Road: Buses (regular as well
as deluxe and air-conditioned) are operated from neighbouring
states.
Golconda Fort
 Considered
one of India's most outstanding citadels, the 13th century Golconda
Fort was built by the Kakatiya kings and later switched hands
and came into the possession of the Bahmani dynasty. Still later,
the Qutb Shahi dynasty took over, and it is to them- and more
specifically Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah- that the Golconda Fort
owes much of its present grandeur. During the late 17th century,
the fort was besieged by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, who finally
gained control of it. The Golconda Fort is impressive all the
way: it stands, magnificent and majestic, atop a 120 mt high
granite hill.
The path up to the fort was once a bustling market that sold
everything from carpets to precious stones- especially diamonds
and pearls. The path's deserted these days- except for tour
groups- but the fort's as imposing as ever. Make your way up
the road and you'll come to a colossal gate, its outside studded
with long iron spikes, to deter invading armies from battering
it down.
Once you get past the gate, you'll come to the remarkable portico
known as the Balahisar Gate. The Gate is spectacular not for
its decoration or proportions, but for its amazing acoustics-
a feature you can check for yourself by clapping your hands;
supposedly even this can be heard at the Durbar Hall which stands
at the summit of the hill.
Also worth having a look at are the royal Nagina Gardens, the
Bodyguards' Barracks, and the three water tanks, all of 12 mt
deep, which once formed part of an intricate water system in
the fort. The crowning glory (quite literally) of the Fort is,
however, the Durbar Hall, which stands atop a hill overlooking
the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. It's approached
by a thousand-step stairway, and if you can summon up the energy
to accomplish the climb, you will be rewarded with a great view
of the cities below- including (on a clear day) the famous Charminar
itself.
Outside the fort, about a kilometer to the north, are the tombs
of the Qutb Shahi kings, distinctive buildings topped with bulbous
white domes. Also near the fort are the Taramathi Gana Mandir
and the Premamathi Nritya Mandir, the two palaces where the
sisters Taramathi and Premamathi, the king's favourites, lived.
In close proximity to the palaces is the Kala Mandir, where
the two women danced daily for the king's pleasure.
Best Season: October to February.
Reach -
By Air: Hyderabad's local airport
receives flights from all across India, with regular connections
to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and other major destinations;
in addition, there are flights to and from the Middle East.
By Rail: Hyderabad's three railway
stations at Kacheguda, Hyderabad (Nampally) and Secunderabad
are major junctions on the South and West Zone sectors of Indian
Railways' network, and receive a large number of trains from
all parts of India.
By Road: Well Connected with road
with allneighbouring states..
How to plan your tours:
Explore India, we offer tours packages and holidays guide to
all tourist destinations of India. For more tour options mail
us at info@easytravelindia.com
|
North India 
