Agra Tourism & Travel - Know Before you Go!

Agra Tour & Travel Guide at WeAreHolidays

If the thought of a heady blend of romance, beauty and history intoxicates you, then come to Agra, the city that houses the world’s finest toast to love and beauty-- the Taj Mahal. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, this phenomenal monument is an architectural marvel that under the rising sun radiates like a golden dome and at dusk, cloaked in while under the silver moon weaves magic. There’s no mistaking the romance that sizzles in the air so if you are looking for a romantic interlude, a rendezvous with epitome of beauty and literature then come and explore the visceral charisma that the Taj emanates! The lanes and by lanes of Agra city have captivated centuries of travelers, from classic radio to I-pod listeners! This old city has a hoary tradition with a mention in the Mahabharata where it is referred to as Agravana (the edge of the forest) and its reputed association with Rishi Angiras, when it was known as Arya Griha. The name Agra was first mentioned by Ptolemy. From a purely historical perspective, the city was actually a fortress town known as Badalgarh, which seems to have had a strategic importance during the Sultanate period. Sikandar Lodi made Agra his capital after recognizing that it was easier to defend than Delhi, and the city remained so during his son Ibrahim Lodi’s reign. However, It was during the Mughal period that Agra blossomed and got converted into a city of splendor and its glory was at its peak during the reign of Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jahan. Agra is the birth place of the greatest of Urdu poets, Mirza Ghalib and Mir Taqi and also the origin of Din-i-Elahi, a faith conceptualized and founded by Akbar the great himself. Located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Agra lies on the banks of river Yamuna. On the North it is bounded by Mathura and by Dhaulpur in the South. Firozabad and Bharatpur forms the boundary in the East and the West respectively. One of the threesome along with Delhi and Jaipur to form the golden triangle tourist destination, Agra is a beautiful award winning place set against extraordinary monuments and history.

The city of Agra spells great craftsmanship in marble and stone. Akbar laid the foundation of the modern day Agra city in 1558 and developed culture, art and commerce. From Babar who laid out the famous Aram Bagh (the garden of relaxation) to Akbar, who added towering ramparts to the Agra fort, to Jahangir who laid out many beautiful gardens around the palaces within the fortress, right up to Shah Jahan who gave the world's lovers, the Taj, the ultimate tribute to love on the banks of the River Yamuna, Agra flourished under the Mughals. The buildings and the monuments which belong to the period of 16th and 17th century were built in the contemporary Mughal style. Agra boasts of Mughal architecture at its best. For those who love beautiful architecture carved with spectacular sculpture and delicate inlay work, Agra is a mine of historical riches in the shape of monuments like the Bulund Darwaza. Known as Akbarabad during Akbar's reign, Agra became a centre of learning, culture and religious activity. He built its twin city, Fatehapur Sikri, and all three - the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort and Fatehapur Sikri have been declared UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Temples and Churches

Apart from these, Agra has for the spiritual minded many religious places such as Mangaleshwar Temple, which is quite famous and is located in the Gokal Pura area and well connected to the city by the Ramratan Road. Then there is Bageshwarnath Temple, which is 2 km away from the city centre and is located in the civil lines. St. John's Church, St. Mary's Church and St. Peter's Church are also important attractions and are centrally located.

Fatehpur Sikri

The town of Fatehpur Sikri is also known as the twin city of Agra and was initially supposed to be the capital of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This beautiful fortress is about 37 kms away from the town of Agra and was built during 1571 and 1585. Jama Masjid, located in Fatehpur Sikri is one of the largest of its kind in India built in AD 1571 and the famous Buland Darwaza is the main entrance to the mosque.

Agra Fort

Visiting the Agra Fort with its Pearl Mosque (Moti Masjid), Diwan-i-Aam (hall of public audience), Diwan-Khaas (hall of special audience), Sheesh Mahal (the hall of mirrors) and Jahangir's palace is an experience to remember all your life. This is a very vast monument on the banks of river Yamuna and the fort has a large number of palaces, mosques and gardens in its compound. Moti Masjid also known as Pearl Mosque is one such mosque and definitely worth catching a glimpse of.

Taj Mahal

Built on the banks of river Yamuna by Shah Jahan in the memory of his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal, Taj Mahal symbolizes eternal and undying love. A romantic destination for the young hearts, this beautiful monument is the ultimate culmination point of Indo-Persian architecture. From the quality of the marble (which is best appreciated on full moon nights) to the richness of the adornments and finesse of the inlay work on the walls, doors and tombs of Shah Jahan himself and of Mumtaz Mahal, the perfectly symmetrical Taj Mahal is an aesthete's dream come true. Except on Fridays when it is closed to the public, a visit to the Taj Mahal can be the icing on the cake of any holiday trip in India.

Sur Sarovar or Keetham Lake

The Sur Sarovar or Keetham Lake with its marvelous variety of aquatic life and water birds is an ideal spot for an edutainment trip if you have young members of the family with you. It is hardly 7 km from Sikandara and is located in the Surdas reserve forest.

Tombs

Death is glorified by the plethora of tombs in and around Agra's Sikandara, which is Akbar's tomb; Mariam's tomb (tomb of one of Akbar's wives); Itimad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, built by Empress Nur Jahan for her father, Mirza Ghiyas Beg, the Chief Minister of the Emperor Jahangir; the Chini ka Rauza dedicated to the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan, Allama Afzal Khal Mulla Shukrullah of Shiraz etc. Each of these is an excellent specimen of Mughal art and architecture.

You have numerous options with regard to eateries. Fast food joints, like Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Dominos, Cafe Coffee Day and Papa John’s are perfect for those looking to snatch a quick bite. On the other hand those who would like to relish some real Mughlai and Peshawari food can try Esphahan at Hotel Amar Vilas, Shish Mahal at Hotel Man Singh and Navaratna at the Mogul Sheraton. Mainland Chinese and Taiwanese food can be had at the Mandarin in Hotel Ashoka. Dasa Prakash for South Indian food and Olive Garden for continental are celebrated. Apart from these there are a number of rooftop restaurants and small tucked away eateries which are always well worth a try. While in Agra you really must try out their petha which is actually a sweetmeat made of pumpkin boiled in sugar syrup, gajjak which a sweet sesame seed biscuit as well as their salty mixture called dalmoth. If out with the family and looking for a less pricey Indian meal, ordering a thaali is always a good idea. With luck you might find places which offer you Punjabi or Bengali food.

The semi-arid climate with its mild winters and hot, dry summers ensures that you can visit the city at whatever time of the year suits you. The monsoons are unlike the rest of the country and you don’ need to carry raincoats and galoshes if you want to enjoy the lushness of the monsoons there, particularly the sight of the rain-drenched Taj Mahal. Winter, spring and late monsoons are the best time to visit the place. Light clothing, except in winter when you need woolens, is recommended wear. However, be cautious about it not being too skimpy to avoid offending local sensibilities. If you intend to put up at one of the places where they offer special kinds of entertainment, it makes sense to carry at least one set of formals.

Getting to Agra is easy enough with excellent air, rail and road connectivity. So if you are planning a family getaway, a freaking out spree with friends or a trip with your beloved, Agra promises you a memorable, comfortable and hassle free journey.

Air

Agra Airport is about 12.5 km from city center. It is a well networked city and so you can catch flights from most parts of the country to Agra.

Road

There are many road options for reaching Agra. Whether you choose to hire a car or take a bus, many national highways like NH2, NH3, NH11, NH25 etc pass through it. The state run bus services of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana come to Agra apart from a number of private bus operators whose buses terminate variously at the Idgah bus terminus, ISBT, Taj Depot or the Ford Depot. Day Excursion: You can leave New Delhi early in the morning by hired vehicle and reach Agra in time for breakfast unless you get caught in some traffic snarl, which is less likely early in the morning. You can see all the sights around Agra, savor the local tastes and smells, do a spot of shopping and return at night to New Delhi or carry on to Jaipur to enjoy the blend of historicity and ethnicity of Rajasthan the next day.

Rail

Agra boasts of not one but seven railway stations! In fact, the Agra Fort railway station is one of the oldest in the country. The main railway station of the city, Agra Cantt Station, is criss-crossed by railway lines coming from New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and other parts of the country. It is just 200 km south of India's capital Delhi. Getting to Agra from Gwalior and New Delhi is easy, given that there are almost 20 trains from these places to Agra daily. It is also serviced by the super-luxury trains Palace-on-Wheels and the Royal Rajasthan-on-Wheels as it is part of the "golden triangle" of Delhi-Jaipur-Agra. Don' miss out on this superb royal experience!

For those who love to shop till they drop, Agra is a shopper's paradise. Apart from malls on highways and shopping galleries in hotels, you really should visit the Sadar Bazaar in Agra Cantonment, the Choubeji ka Fatak and the Kinari Bazaar to find authentic pieces of kundan jewelry in gold and silver as well as inlaid marble mementoes. The black soil used in creating terra cotta products give them a distinctive look and water pitchers made of them cool water as well as the refrigerators. The open air emporium Shilpagram is actually a crafts village devoted to showcasing Agra' rich heritage of handicrafts. Agra has always been notable for its leather goods and one should seize the opportunity to buy those leather accessories and even garments that you have yearned for. From stylish handbags to footwear to belts and jackets, the leather industry in Agra has flourished since the Mughal period. If you are on a business-cum-pleasure trip, remember some of the biggest manufacturers, exporters and sellers of leather goods are based in Agra. The trade centre of the city is the Sanjay Market, while electronic items abound in the Shah Market. While you are about it, you should at least look at some of the classiest samples of Zari Zardosi work created no where else in the world but here. Locally made garments have their unique stamp for which reason the apparel industry thrives in this place. If you carry home specimens of Agra's handicrafts like pietra dura, marble inlay and carpet weaving, they can lend your rooms that ethnic touch of class which is so difficult to come by.

Agra and its surrounding areas bristle with places of interest. For the devout, pilgrimages to places like the tomb of Sheikh Salim-ud-din Chishti in Fatehapur Sikri and to the nearby towns of Mathura and Vrindavan can form the high point of a trip to Agra. Nature lovers can take a trip to Bharatpur to see its bird sanctuary. Gwalior and Jhansi with their many historical associations and places of historic interest are easily reachable from Agra should you decide to make it your base for exploring inland India. Their forts were thought to be impregnable and the local landscape is enthralling.