Sikandra Travel Guide

  South Gateway façade decorations, Feb...
by MM212
 
  • South Gateway façade decorations, Feb 2009
      South Gateway façade decorations, Feb...
    by MM212
  • Mariam Zamani's mausoleum - Feb 09
      Mariam Zamani's mausoleum - Feb 09
    by MM212
  • Blue and yellow tiles of Kanch Mahal - Feb 2009
      Blue and yellow tiles of Kanch Mahal -...
    by MM212
  • Kanch Mahal's façade - Feb 2009
      Kanch Mahal's façade - Feb 2009
    by MM212
  • Pointed arch of Kanch Mahal - Feb 09
      Pointed arch of Kanch Mahal - Feb 09
    by MM212
 

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Things to Do  

Kanch Mahal

Kanch Mahal, Sikandra

 MM212 Says:  Located a short distance east of the main entrance into the Mausoleum of Emperor Akbar, this small but elegant palace is known as Kanch Mahal. It was completed in 1619 AD by Emperor Jehangir (Akbar's son) as a hunting lodge for the imperial women. Built from red and yellow... 

Akbar's Tomb

Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra

 MM212 Says:  Built in 1605 by the great Mughal Emperor as his own mausoleum, Akbar's Tomb is a masterpiece of Mughal-period architecture. Akbar died before the completion of the tomb, but the last of the construction was overseen by his son Emperor Jahangir. It was considered eclectic in... 

Akbar's Tomb - Central Mausoleum

Akbar's Tomb - Central Mausoleum, Sikandra

 MM212 Says:  Unlike any mausoleum in the Indian subcontinent, the Central Mausoleum of Akbar's Tomb is in the shape of a tiered pyramid. It is also unique in that it contains no central dome or minarets (aside from those at the South Gate). The first four levels are built in red... 

Gurudwara Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur

Gurudwara Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur, Sikandra

 MM212 Says:  This multi-domed structure is a Sikh temple dedicated to Guru Tegh Bahadur. It is also sometimes referred to as Gurudwara ka Taal and is an important pilgrimage site. It was built at the location where the Guru surrendered to the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, in Sikandra, near... 

Akbar's Tomb - Gardens

Akbar's Tomb - Gardens, Sikandra

 MM212 Says:  Beautifully landscaped, the gardens of Akbar's Tomb are kept as they would have been upon completion in 1614. Herds of deer and troops of monkeys roam the lawns, while a variety of birds take stop for a rest, also as they would have in the 17th century. The garden itself... 

Akbar's Tomb - Mausoleum Interior

Akbar's Tomb - Mausoleum Interior, Sikandra

 MM212 Says:  The interior of the mausoleum of Akbar is one of the most beautifully and elaborately decorated I have seen in India (the Taj Mahal's interior, by comparison, is a bit of a letdown due to the lack of rich ornamentation). The walls and vaulted ceilings of the interior,... 

Akbar's Tomb - South Gate

Akbar's Tomb - South Gate, Sikandra

 MM212 Says:  A masterpiece and a monument in itself, the South Gate of Akbar's tomb is the most exquisite Mughal gateway ever built. It is the main - and only - entrance into the complex and is thus the grandest and most adorned among the four gate structures (the other three are... 

Akbar's Tomb - East Gate

Akbar's Tomb - East Gate, Sikandra

 MM212 Says:  The East Gate is similar to the West Gate both in purpose (i.e. to provide symmetry rather than an entry point) and design, but contains slightly less decorations. The same superb inlaid geometric and floral motifs cover the façade around the iwan arch, but the interior of... 

Akbar's Tomb - West Gate

Akbar's Tomb - West Gate, Sikandra

 MM212 Says:  The West Gate is more of a pavilion (baradari) to provide symmetry in architecture, rather than an actual gate. It is similar in design to the East Gate, though more richly decorated. Both are dominated by a large central iwan arch, which rises higher than the rest of the... 

Mariam Zamani's Tomb

Mariam Zamani's Tomb, Sikandra

 MM212 Says:  This ruined red brick structure is the mausoleum of Mariam Zamani, built by her son the Mughal Emperor Jehangir upon her death in 1623. She was the wife of Emperor Akbar, whose grand mausoleum lies just to the north of her own. Unlike Akbar's tomb, hers is in a rather bad... 

Akbar's Tomb - North Gate

Akbar's Tomb - North Gate, Sikandra

 MM212 Says:  Time was unkind to the North Gate, the only ruined structure in Akbar's Tomb. It likely resembled the East and West Gates, with a large iwan arch and richly decorated façade. 

Other gatehouses

Other gatehouses, Sikandra

 Willettsworld Says:  The tomb of Akbar has four gateways facing four different directions, with southern gateway as the main entrance and other three built just for the ornamental purposes. The northern gateway was struck by lightning some years ago and is in ruins now. It was built in red... 

Deer and monkeys!

Deer and monkeys!, Sikandra

 Willettsworld Says:  These are Langurs, black-faced monkeys that have found a safe haven in the beautiful gardens surrounding the mausoleum. They were so tame and just sitting there with their feet up that you could get within just a few feet of them. I took some photo's of them before an Indian... 

Interior detail and tomb

Interior detail and tomb, Sikandra

 Willettsworld Says:  Located centrally in the square plan, at the junction of four causeways dividing the garden into four quarters, the main tomb building has five storeys built in the shape of a truncated pyramid. It stands on a high stone platform. The vestibule leading to the Akbar's tomb is... 

Main gatehouse

Main gatehouse, Sikandra

 Willettsworld Says:  The main gatehouse lies at the southern end of the complex and is fairly dramatic as it features 4 tall white marble minarets on the four corners. All of these minarets are built in four tiers that diminish in diameter to the top and are crowned by chhatri. This... 

Akbar's mausoleum

Akbar's mausoleum, Sikandra

 Willettsworld Says:  Akbar started building his own mausoleum, near Agra, that was to be a perfect blend of Hindu, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist and Jain designs and motifs, bespeaking of his religious tolerance and secular views. However, he could not complete it and died. Thus, his son Jehangir... 

Feed the monkeys

Feed the monkeys, Sikandra

 grets Says:  Local children will sell you a bag of nuts so that you can feed some of the many monkeys that roam the site. They are very tame and will eat out of your hand. 

Akbar the Great

Akbar the Great, Sikandra

 grets Says:  Akbar the Great was born 1542 and ruled from 1556 until his death in 1605. He was generally considered the true founder of the Mughal Empire and was one of the greatest rulers in Indian history. Check the web site below for much more information about Akbar. 

Transportation  

Auto rickshaw

Auto rickshaw, Sikandra

 Willettsworld Says:  This is my lazy auto-rickshaw driver taking a nap outside the tomb at Sikandra. I took a tour with him from near the fort in Agra to Sikandra via the large mosque (Jama Masjid) and back again for Rs200 which, considering that Sikandra is some 20km away from Agra, was, I... 

Tourist Traps  

Making money

Making money, Sikandra

 grets Says:  As well as selling monkey food to tourists (a practice where all involved benefit - the children make money, the monkeys get fed and the tourists enjoy feeding the animals), local children will also pose for photographs for a rupee or two. The only problem is that they... 

The Place

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The People

 
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 Local children will sell you a bag of nuts so that you can feed some of the many monkeys that roam the site. They are very tame and will eat out of your hand. 

 

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Top Sikandra Writers

1

Sikandra

grets profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in Sikandra. I'd love to share with you the 4 tips I've written, the 5 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

2

Akbar's mausoleum

Willettsworld profile photo

 Sikandra is about 20km north-west of Agra and is home to Akbar's mausoleum. Akbar started building his own mausoleum, that was to be a perfect blend of Hindu, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist and Jain... 

3

Sikandra

TomorrowsAngel profile photo

 Fatehpur Sikri, 37km west of Agra, is a magnificent deserted city, partly in ruins. However, the red sandstone imperial residence is so well preserved that it seems a though Akbar left but yesterday.... 

4

Sikandra

MM212 profile photo

 Named after its founder, the Delhi Sultan Sikandar Lodi, Sikandra lies about 8km north-west of Agra, on the road to Delhi. Originally it was a separate village used by emperors as a hunting base, but... 

5

The Tomb of the Great Emperor...

husain profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in Sikandra. I'd love to share with you the 0 tips I've written, the 3 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

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