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If we talk about one city in India that people visit just to see the most beautiful and famous attraction that celebrates love, history and culture, then it will be Agra. As one of the prime tourist destination of Uttar Pradesh, Agra allures visitors from all around the world. Agra’s Taj Mahal is counted amongst one of the Seven Wonders of the World and its relevance in Indian tourist circuit is well known.
Agra has been mentioned in Indian mythic texts such as Maharbharata, but this city rose to prominence in 1504 during the rise of Delhi Sultanate under Sikandar Lodi. Agra state was a part of this empire until Mughals captured it and it soon became their capital.
The Mughal period is considered the golden age for Agra’s history. Then known as Akbarabad, the city became a prime venue for the early emperors to experiment with their architectural style. Agra was the capital of Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan who ruled their kingdom from this city. Before they shifted their capital to Delhi, the city of Agra flourished and became a centre of Mughal cultural expansion.
Agra Fort, Taj Mahal, the incomplete black Taj Mahal, Akbar’s Tomb, and Mehtab Bagh are some of the prime spots that are popular and are visited by lakhs of tourists on a yearly basis. Apart from these monuments, petha is Agra special dessert sold in every corner of the city. Agra is also famous for marble works and miniature paintings and a number of souvenirs are available for visitors to buy and carry back home.
Agra tourist places are some of the best preserved monuments in India. These attractions deserve all the attention that they receive. Every traveller wanting to explore India should plan a trip to Agra, Uttar Pradesh at-least once in their lifetime.
| Agra: A Quick View of the state | |
| Official Language | Hindi, Awadhi, Urdu |
| Dial Code | 0562 |
| Population | 1.59 Million (as of 2018) |
| Currency | Indian Rupee (INR) |
| Time Zone | UTC+05:30 (IST) |
| Area | 87 square km |
As they say ‘Agra ka Taj Mahal nahi dekha to kya dekha’ (if you haven’t seen Agra’s Taj Mahal then what have you seen in this world?). The city is famous because of this elegant and spectacular marble monument that stands as a dedication of love. But apart from Taj Mahal, the city possesses awe inspiring attractions that guarantee a quality time and a peek into the life of the Mughal rulers, their love stories and struggle for power and fame. Here are some of the must visit gems of Agra tourism.
Travel Tip: You should always keep Agra India map so that you are easily able to locate important landmarks.
One of the seven wonders of the world, Taj Mahal is a glorious monument dedicated to a beautiful love story. Taj Mahal is on the top of the list of Agra’s famous places as it beckons a large number of tourists. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built this edifice in the memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is a mesmerising monument designed using white colour marble which gives the building a very distinct appearance. Persian and Mughal style of architecture have been featured primarily in the main building and the minarets. Visitors simply cannot stop themselves from admiring the beauty of the exterior and interior that are one of its kinds in the world. Taj Mahal is also one of the best places to visit in Agra in night as it is open during the full moon nights for visitors who wish to catch a glimpse of the monument glowing under the stunning natural lighting.
This 16th century structure is made of red sandstone because of which it is also known as Red Fort. The walls of the fort cover almost two kilometres of the area and the interiors house many different unique buildings that are designed in different styles of Indian architecture. Two of the most beautiful palaces include Jahangir Palace and Khas Palace. Agra Fort is truly splendid but the views of Taj Mahal from the building’s jharokhas are one of the reasons why it is a must during a well planned Agra tour.
Travel tip – Hiring a guide will help you understand different interesting facts about Agra and the monuments along with the stories associated with it.
Originally known as Masjid Jahan Numa, Jama Masjid is the finest examples of Mughal craftsmanship. It took six years to construct Jama Masjid and the structure reflects Indo Persian and Islamic styles of carvings and patterns. It is believed that several stones used in the construction were a gift or donation from the nobles who were a part of the royal court. Learning Agra’s history and its political relevance in Mughal era is incomplete without spending some time to admire this marvelous structure. No wonder, Jama Masjid is one of the most popular places to see in Agra.
This red sandstone building is one of the most admired historical places in Agra. Itmad-ud-Daulah’s tomb provides a glimpse into the era when Mughal architecture and cultural outlook were at its peak. The primary designs in the interiors of the tomb resemble Taj Mahal’s decors. Because of this reason, it is also known as the Mini Taj Mahal among the tourists. Apart from the main building, there are a number of gorgeous structures scattered outside the complex. Its location on the banks of Yamuna River and a striking garden adorning the structure gives it a very picturesque view.
Akbar’s Tomb is among the most important Agra India points of interest. This architectural wonder is situated on the grounds of Sikandra, another of the important tourist places near Agra. Building process for the exquisite monument started in the year 1600 and Akbar himself commissioned the project. The complex where Akbar’s tomb resides is spread in an area of 116 acres and red sandstone was used in the construction. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, minarets and other public buildings makes it one of the best places to visit in Agra.
Fatehpur Sikri is a lovely little settlement that is an integral part of Mughal history and its grandeur. The city was founded by Akbar who ruled his kingdom keeping this place as the capital for many years. Today, Fatehpur Sikri is one of the most amazing places to visit near Agra. The fortified town is bedecked with colourful gardens, harems, decorative mosques, resplendent palaces, magnificent gates and many beautiful residential and public structures.
Suggestion – With help of Agra city map on Google, you’ll be able to drive between both places without any chances of getting lost.
Two hours from Agra, Bharatpur is a treat to visit especially in the winters. This bird sanctuary is home to many domestic and migratory birds that migrate all the way from Russia and Siberia. Bharatpur is also one of the must visit places near Agra especially for the nature lovers. Travellers, who keep two or three days for their Agra trip, must include it in their itinerary and witness the enchanting natural beauty and ambience of the place.
If you want to indulge in shopping or enjoy the taste of some of the famous Agra foods then Sadar Bazar is where you should head to. Sadar Bazar is an important business area of the city where one can buy several souvenirs including miniature Taj Mahals, precious stones and post cards. Wooden handicraft items are also sold here and are a highlight of the market. Sadar Bazar is one of the Agra’s best places and favourite among the foodies who come here to enjoy different varieties of chat, biryani and chicken frankie.
Agra weather oscillates in extreme directions due to it being on the Indian plains. The summers are extremely hot and humid with the temperature often soaring upto 40 degrees in the afternoon.
The monsoon season often results in flooding of the town and is not the recommended time to visit Agra India.
Winters are very cold and the months of January and December experiences thick, dense fog along with low temperatures up to 10 to 12 degrees.
Hence, the best time to plan your Agra travels is between February to March and September to mid November. The weather during these months is moderate and provides ample opportunities to explore important places in Agra.
The best way to reach Agra is by rail and road. Agra is very close to New Delhi and most of the tourists usually visit the city on a day trip. It takes 3 hours to reach Agra by road and an equal time is consumed when commuting by train.
Agra has its own airport but has limited flights available as the runaway is used by Indian air force. Agra airport is also away from the city and hence not preferred by the travellers. Delhi and Lucknow are closest to Agra, UP. A majority of tourists visiting Agra usually land in Delhi because of the connectivity and many international flights arriving and departing on a frequent basis.
From Delhi, NH2, also known as Delhi Agra expressway, connects both cities on a superfast route. It takes 3 hours to travel to Agra from Delhi and many local travel companies organize one day Agra sightseeing trips that include Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Mehtab Bagh and a few more attractions. These sightseeing trips also includes Fatehpur Sikri but this way you get less time to enjoy all the places properly. Delhi to Agra Taj Mahal tour packages are very popular and it depends on the preferences of a traveller concerning the number of days and budget they have in hand.
One can hire a car, or book bus tickets that leave from Delhi Anand Vihar ISBT at every half an hour. Two days in Agra will showcase all the important landmarks in a very comfortable way.
Agra is also connected to Gwalior, Lucknow and Jaipur and private cabs as well as buses ply from these cities.
Agra has a decent connectivity of trains and it is easy to find one travelling from long distances like Bangalore and Chennai. Most of the trains on Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Chennai routes stop at Agra station or Agra Fort Railway Station. There are several short distance trains from Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Gwalior including Shatabdi and super luxury coaches. Agra has five operational railway stations that include Agra Cantt, Agra Fort Station, Raja Ki Mandi, Agra City (not operational), and Idgah station.
Best way to enjoy travelling between one tourist location of the city to another is by hiring a private car for an entire day. These cars are arranged by the hotel management or travel companies who have their own contacts and it saves precious time searching for a ride.
The city has presence of auto-rickshaws and battery operated vehicles. Since Taj Agra is a green zone, only battery vehicles and camels are used to reach the monument’s ticketing counter. Ride booking apps also provide an easy way to book a car or auto-rickshaw on a genuine rate. Many private agencies arrange guided tours and travel in Agra and some reliable ones are also present online.
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