My Agra's walk

My Agra’s walk (storytellersandeep)

Agra is a grand old city. It is 5,000 years old city. This city was called Agravan which meant first forest. Lord krishna was also born in one of these forests 5000 years before. But with the time it lost its glory and history.

In 1565, one king Akbar renamed this city Akbarabad. All merchants and commoners used to live in the north of the Agra fort.  This part of the city still survives. But most of the tourists do not reach at this part of the town due to ignorance. They see only hotels, monuments shopping arcades at fatehabad road.

This old part of Agra is very live and houses and havelis still have 60-70 years old architecture which is missing in New Agra.

Dr Ram Dutt Gali

Hindu Architecture

Hindu Architecture

Lotus designs 

Peacocks on the front wall of an Hindu House

Metal railing with designs of Hindu God and Goddess

I and my friend Harsh decided to go on a walk into these narrow streets of Agra’s historical importance. Harsh is a professional photographer and expert of clicking the beauty of  historical art which are unseen by others. Harsh has been hired by various travel organisations for assignments of photography at various tourist destinations. He and I generally work together on publishing trade stories and destinations. He is master of photography. 

Harsh Agarwal

These narrow streets are jewel of Agra’s architecture. People who are living in these houses are proud of this heritage but they are too busy in there daily life that no body knows about this historical jewels of Agra.

When we interacted with them then we came to know about lots of hidden and untold stories of Agra and her legacy. But now every body is running behind power of profit. No one has interest in preserving this architecture. 

Vaid Ram Dutt Gali

We started our journey from Vaid(Dr) Ramdutt Gali (narrow street). Now Dr. Ram dutt is no more but his descendants still give treatment to people through ancient medical science called Ayurveda. Dr, Ram dutt came to India during the time of partition. More than 70 families of this great doctor are still living in this narrow street. Ayurveda is ancient science of treating disease with medicines made from plants and trees. These medicines have no side effects on human body unlike English medicines. Indian sages invented this medical science thousands of years ago and it is still very famous in India.

Manka meshar(Lord Shiva) Temple

After discussing the legacy of this great Doctor with the people we reached Mankameshawar temple. This is 2,000 year old temple. But yes now lots of restoration is done over here. In ancient time temples were erected at a place where most magnetic waves were found. People were advised to go temple daily. Now ancient temple architecture is lost but tradition of doing worship of Lord Shiva is still same. In commoners Lord Shiva is God but in Yoga tradition Shiva is considered as a Guru(Teacher)  who introduced the science of Yoga and Meditation 15,000 years before.

Here we saw so many tiny shops which were selling tiny clothes for deity worship. Every Hindu make a small wooden temple at home and keeps the metal or stone statue of his favorite God and Goddess. This deity is also decorated as a human being and worshiper gives him or her bath every morning and changes his clothes. Those clothes can be bought from here. Hinduism allow there followers to believe in incarnation of supreme God which is formless. Hindu philosophy says, worship anyone and practice morals you will reach to that final destination which is same for everyone. 

There is no separate Hindu God, Muslim God and Christian God. Our ways of worshiping are different but goal is one.

Deity worship is for increasing concentration. Once you are strong enough to meditate on Supreme God (Formless) you can skip this step.

Musician Gallery

From here we came out in front of Musical gallery. This was the house of merchant who wanted to appoint musicians for him but he could afford them for 24 hours everyday. So he came up with an idea of making statues of musicians at his balcony. In this way he was served by musicians for 24 hours.  H h aha haha isn’t it funny and interesting.

From here we took right deep into narrow streets where the most beautiful designs on the entrance of the houses and shops were waiting for us to capture in our DSLR cameras. Our cameras never clicked such beautiful designs. Each design had a story to share with us.

                                                                      (India Tour Leader)

Narrow streets of old Agra

Hindusim is a religion which is deep into the heart of people and represented in the daily routine life too. The concept of Hinduism is minimum loss to nature. Such designs are  peacocks, parrots, elephants, flowers, trees, rivers and mountains.

Designs at entrance of Agra's house

Male Fairies at entrance of house

      

 

Chaube ji Ka fatak (Gate)

Here we are in front of Chaube ji Ka fatak(Gate) which was constructed by the King Akbar in 16^th century. Akbar’s chef used to live here. Mughal kitchen was open for 24 hours. And 100 of dishes were prepared in Mughal kitchen every day. Still these dishes can be tasted in Agra at different restaurants; two of my favorites are Indiana restaurant and Kesar Restaurent at Fatehabad road. You must try Mughlai food at anyone of these restaurants after this walk.

Akbari Maszid

  

From the right of this gate is Akbari maszid. . We spent quality time inside the mosque. This Maszid was commissioned  by Akbari Begum. She was the wife of one of the Jewel merchant(Jhauri). It is wrongly believed that this maszid was commissioned by King Akbar

Akbari Maszid ( Interior)

 This maszid(mosque) is very beautiful and has very peaceful environment. We also discussed about Islam with one attendant of the Maszid.  

You will come out of this mosque and will be surprised by seeing the picture of King George of England on the house of an Indian merchant.

A merchants' house with picture King George

Why Indian merchant’s had the image of King George?

Where was the patriotism of this merchant class of India?

Where they in favor of British rule? 

We will discuss it in our next article. 



(India Group Leader)