Fateh Pur Sikri

Fateh Pur Sikri was ever erected before or can be erected again. This magnificent town once the capital of Mughal Empire still stands majestically, almost untouched by the passage of time.

Building Of The Victory Town
Akbar, built this city in honour of Sheikh Salim Chishti, who had rightly predicted the birth of the son of the childless emperor. Akbar's first son was born in 1569 A.D. and was named as Salim in honour of Sheikh Salim Chishti.On Akbar's return from a pilgrimage to Ajmer he stayed in Sikri village where Khanqah of Sheikh Salim was located he announced his decision to erect a new city in Sikri. After Akbar's conquest of Gujarat in June 1573,the place was named as Fateh Pur "a Victory Town".

He had planned this city as his capital but shortage of water compelled him to abandon the city. After this within 20 years, the capital of Mughals was shifted to Lahore. Fatehpur Sikri was built during 1571 and 1585. Today this ghost city has a population of about 30,000. This deserted city has retained the structures and due efforts of the Archaeological department much of the city has been preserved as it was built.

Sikandra

Four kilometers from Agra is the mausoleum of Akbar. Construction of this beautiful monument was started by Akbar himself. This structure is a perfect blend of Hindu, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, Jain motifs. But Akbar died before his mausoleum could be completed and his son Jehangir completed it.
Jehangir made many modifications in the original plan of the building. The structure gives an excellent idea as to how the Moghal art was developing. From the Humayun's tomb in Delhi to Akbar's Tomb in Sikandra finally to the Taj Mahal.
Sikandra is named after Sikander Lodhi. The tomb has three-storey-minarets on its four corners. These minarets are built in red sandstone with stunning inlay work of marble.
And of course langur monkeys wait on the walkways to be fed. The mausoleum is surrounded by a beautiful garden. The Baradi palace in the gardens was built by Sikander Lodhi. On the road from Sikandra to Agra are several tombs and two 'Kos Minars' or mile stones.

The Mausoleum A broad paved causeaway leads to the tomb, which has five storeys and is in the shape of a truncated pyramid. The main tomb has a unique square design which is unparalleled by all other Mughal buildings.

Ground Floor The ground floor has spacious cloisters on all the four sides except in the middle of the southern side. The cloisters are divided by the numerous bays by massive piers and arches. Each bay measures 22 feet square. A vestibule, which has been ornamented very profusely with exquisite carvings, occupies the centre of the southern side, aritstic paintings and inlay work in geometric and floral designs.the tombstone of Akbar is placed in the middle of this room. Akbar's daughters, Shakrul Nisha Begum and Aram Bano are also entombed in this floor.

Second Storey The second storey has an arcaded verandah on each side, which is composed of 23 bays. The use of an ornamental arch and square pillar has brought about a unique composition.

Third And Fourth Storeys These storeys are smaller in size than the ones below it. They have an identical arrangement of arches supported on pillars and chhatris attached on he exterior to each facade.

Fifth Storey The fifth storey is entirely in white marble as against the lower storeys, which are finished in red stone.

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal stands in the city of Agra, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, on the banks of the Yamuna River. It was built in the memory of the beautiful Arjumand Bano Begum, who won the heart of a Mughal prince. She was married at 21 to Emperor Jahangir's third son Prince Khurram and stayed loyally by his side through good times and bad; in the luxurious royal palaces of Agra as well as the transient tents of war camps  And More Details ..

Kalinjar 

Kalinjar in the Basnda district of Uttar Pradesh has an ancient fort which rises above agricultural countryside. This mighty fort crowning a hill has been the scene of historic battles, for 'Lord of Kalinjar' was a coveted title.

The origins of this stronghold are enmeshed in myths which link it to the legendary Kind Bharata, as well as Lord Shiva. Historically, the fort is associated with the Chandella rulers of Bundelkhand. A polished stone at the entrance of the Neelkanth Temple proclaims the Chandella lineage.

Kalinjar was a Chandella stronghold from the 9th to the 15th Centuries, and strategically important till the time of the Mughals. During these centuries the fort was attacked by Mohammad Ghaznavi in 1019 and 1022 and by Qutb ud din Aibak who in 1203 defeated the last Chandela ruler Parmadideva. The Mughal emperor Humayun attacked the fort, but it was Akbar who finally conquered it in 1569. He gifted it to Birbal, one of the "nine jewels" of his court. From Birbal it passed into the hands of Chhatrasal, the legendary Bundela leader and thence to Hardev Shah of Panna before falling into British hands in 1812.

The town of Kalinjar was also encircled by ramparts pierced by four gateways. Of these three remain - Kamta Dwar, Panna Dwar and Rewa Dwar. The entrance to the fort is at the foot of the hill. To the right of the path is the Rathore Mahal, built by Akbar in 1583. The steep and stony path to the fort is marked by seven gates - the Alamgir Darwaza, Ganesh Dwar, Chauburji Darwaza, Budha Bhadra Darwaza, Hanuman Dwar, Lal Darwaza and Bara Darwaza. Fine sculpted figures lend their names to these portals.

The crest of the hill opens up to a mile long plateau where armies once assembled. In this area are the remains of the Raja and Rani Mahal, Chhatris, shrines and sati pillars. Raja Aman Singh's palace is marked by a courtyard bordered by two rows of peacock arches. The palace has been converted into a site museum by the Archaeological Survey of India. Stone relics from the site and other rare sculptures found in the fort area, including numerous Shiva images, Ganesh and other Vaishnavite deities are preserved inside the palace building.

Among places of interest within the fort are Sita Sej, a small cave with a stone bed and pillow once used by hermits; the Patal Ganga or underground Ganga which is a reservoir cut in the rock; the Pandu Kund, where water trickles from horizontal striations in the rocks; the Budha - Budhi taal, whose waters possess great healing powers believed to cure leprosy; the Gajantak Shiva image popularly known as Manduk Bhairon and Bhairvi carved on the rock face ; and the Koti Tirth a large water reservoir, are among important places of pilgrimage at Kalinjar.

Kalinjar's holiest shrine is the Neelkanth's Temple built by Parmardideva. The way to the shrine is marked by weathered inscriptions and marvellous carved images of shiva, Kala Bhairon, Ganesha and Hanuman.

Above the temple is the rock - cut Swarga Rohan Kund, In a niche by this stands a colossal 18-armed figure of Kal-Bhairav. Ornamented with a garland of skulls, this 24ft high image represents the fearsome aspect of Lord Shiva. The Vankhandeshwar Mahdev Temple at the source of the Shivasari Ganga is also of considerable importance.

Bada Imambara

Built like a fort, this huge and elegant building is also called the Asafai Imambara. This building was built in a famine relief program in 1784 by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daulla.

The structure took six years to be completed. Just as we enter the building there is a hall almost fifty meters long and 17 meters wide.

The architecture of this 15 meter high room is very unique and unparalleled. Here the Nawabs used to hold there ' Darbar ' or their public hearings. It is said that this hall is the world's largest arched room without any pillars. The upper part of this building is in shape of honey bees comb and is surrounded by the famous 'Bhul Bhulliya'. This has got numerous steps and there are 489 doorless galleries which are similar in appearance. People get lost in these galleries.

The largest of these mazed rooms and galleries has a speciality that even when a paper is torn on one of the end, it is heard on the other end. In the courtyard of Bara Imambara is the Shahi Masjid which stands tall on a platform, non muslims are not allowed here. Just besides the Shahi Masjid is the bottomless well. The Bara Imambara also has the tomb of Asaf-Ud-Daulla.

This suspended Iron bridge was built in 1939 and has been a major attraction among the tourists to Rishikesh. It is said that Lakshman crossed Ganga on jute ropes between the place where this bridge is built.

The Ganges appears very panaromic from the bridge. One can enjoy the picturesque surroundings and the cool breeze from the River while standing on the bridge. If you feel like feeding the fish in the Ganges, take a boat and cross the river.

The boat ride makes the bridge appear more gorgeous. Close to Lakshman Juhla is the Ram Jhula- This suspended bridge was recently built between Shivanand Ashram and Swarg Ashram. It is similar to the Lakshman Jhula. Ram Jhula is also known as Shivanand Jhula.

Lucknow University sprawling over a huge area of 90 acres made a modest beginning in 1864 as Canning High School, at the behest of the elite class of Lucknow . It was started in one of the palaces of Kaiserbagh Complex.

In 1905, Canning College acquired land in Badshah Bagh, in which the grand university building was completed in 1911. The University was earlier affiliated to Calcutta and Allahabad Universities. It was finally accorded independent status in 1922.

There is evident in the buildings of the campus, a unique amalgam of traditional style and the modern style of architecture. There are typical multiple domes, arched doorways, high ceilings and wooden staircase in the original halls on one hand, while on the other, one can see the modern multi-storeyed buildings.

The campus is dotted with tall, green ashoka trees to such an extent that the entire clearing in the centre of the campus is known as Ashok Vatika. The new campus is an impressive concrete and glass structure.

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