Dear LG Community,
I’m excited to start a series on a topic I’m passionate about : Heritage of India. This series is based on my recent heritage tour of Agra under the guidance of popular historian Sohail Hashmi.
The 10th part of this series is about one of the oldest resting places of earliest Christian settlers. Many of them were buried under beautiful Mughal style tombs. It is collectively known as Roman Catholic Cemetary.
History :
The land is believed to have been granted by Jahangir. It was initially used by Armeinans, Persians, Portuguese and Latin traders. The oldest tombstone dates back to 1611.
Interesting points to note :
- Marty’s Chapel - Armenian Merchants constructed the Chapel around which 34 Catholic priests were buried
- Self proclaimed ambassador of Queen Elizabeth 1, John Mildenhall holds the unique position of being the only Britisher to have seen Akbar and is also the first Bririsher to be buried in India in 1614, is buried here
- Father Anthony Gobelsberger and Andrew Stroble, the famous astronomers who helped Raja Jai Singh to build Jantar Mantar in Jaipur are buried here
- Several members of the royal Bourbon family of France are buried here
- Tomb of Walter Reinhardt Sombre aka Samru, wife of Begum Samru lies here. Begum Samru went on to build one of the most beautiful churches in North India
Details of the graves inside Marty’s Chapel
Grave of John Mildenhall
Noticed a very strange grave and I was unable to solve the mystery. Please share in the comments if you noticed the strangeness of it.
Accessibility :
There are no specific timings to visit the cemetary inside which the Red Taj Mahal is situated. If the caretaker is inside, he lets visitors in to look around the place. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and carry a bottle of water.
How to reach Agra :
- By Road : Agra is well-connected by road, notably via the Yamuna Expressway from Delhi, which offers a smooth and quick journey. You can travel by private car, taxi, or numerous bus services from surrounding cities.
- By Air: Agra has its own airport, Kheria Airport (AGR), which is primarily a military base but offers limited commercial flights, mainly connecting to Delhi. Many travelers opt to fly to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and then travel to Agra by road.
Recommended Stay Option :
- Hotel Maple Ridge
I stayed at this hotel, it is pocket friendly and easily accessible by Metro, centrally located.
Link to my previous posts in this series :
