Sikandra Tomb Trip Agra

Location :
The mausoleum of Akbar at Sikandara is just four kilometers from Agra. It can be easily reached from Agra in a very short span of time

About the Sikandra Tomb :

Akbar's mausoleum at Sikandara is a unique pyramidal tomb structure. The architectural specifications of the tomb shows that the structure is a perfect blend of Hindu, Islamic, Buddhist, and Jain motifs, thus reflecting the spirit of religious toleration, which Akbar practiced during his reign.

A remarkable feature of this multistoried building is the presence of three-storey-minarets on its four corners. These minarets are built in red sandstone with stunning inlay work of marble.

The mausoleum is surrounded by a beautiful garden, providing a tranquil ambience to the last abode of this great ruler.

Any tour to the medieval Indian city of Agra remains incomplete without visiting the mausoleum of one of India's most admired and popular rulers, Akbar the Great.

Arhitecture of Sikandra Tomb, Agra :

THE GARDEN:
The tomb stands in the center of a vast garden, which is enclosed by high walls on all sides. In the middles of each enclosing wall is a monumental gateway. The whole garden is divided into four equal quarters on the conventional charbhag plan. Each quarter is separated by a high terrace or raised path with a narrow shallow water channel running at the center. Each terrace has in the center, a tank with fountains.

GATEWAY:
Although there is only one entrance in use today there exist four red sandstone gates which lead to the mausoleum complex. The decoration on the gateways is strikingly bold, with large mosaic patterns set into it. The gateway's four minarets rising from the corners are particularly striking. Built of red sandstone, the minarets are inlaid with white marble polygonal patterns; the pleasing Proportions & Profuse surface ornamentation makes the gateways very impressive. These gateways reflect a curious hybrid of different styles of architecture - Hindu, Muslim Christian and a patent mixture of Akbar's typical style.

MAUSOLEUM :
A broad paved causeway lead 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.

Climate :

In summer, between March and June, the temperature soars up to 45°C during the day. Dry, searing winds heat up the ground and make it difficult to venture outdoors. Light cottons are the best clothing, except in winter, when light woollens are required. The temperature is around 28°C during the day, but can go down to 4°C at night.

How to Reach :

Air : Agra airport is 7 km from the city center and 3 km from Eidgah bus stand. Major airlines operate daily tourist shuttle flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Banglore.
Rail : The main railway station is the Agra Cantonment station that is well connected to Delhi, Varanasi and other cities of Utter Pradesh Rajasthan. Trains like Palace on Wheel, Shatabdi, Rajdhani, and Taj Express are the best choices if you want to reach Agra from Delhi.
Road : Eidgah bus stand is the main bus stand of Agra, from where one can catch buses for Delhi, Jaipur, Mathura and Fatehpur-Sikri etc.

Accomodation :

To cater to the huge number of tourists visiting Agra, the city has a large number of hotels to cater tourist of every hue -- 5 star, 4 star, 3 star and Deluxe Hotels. These hotels are famous for their traditional Indian hospitality and provide services which are at par with the best in the world.