Agra Tour Guide Taj Mahal in Agra might leave no room for other tourist attractions in India to allure both domestic as well as international tourists. But do you know what else makes Agra one of the best and most visited tourist destinations in India? Well, the city offers the tourists an opportunity to travel back in the Mughal era. Agra, situated on the banks of the River Yamuna, boasts of many other architectural marvels and render exciting activities that make holidays in Agra wonderful in all the senses.
With a wonderful combination of history, culture, food and shopping, Agra is an ideal destination where one can plan a vacation with family, friends, and even a honeymoon. Right from visiting the fascinating tombs and mausoleums like Taj Mahal; Itimad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj); Mariam’s Tomb; Sikandra (Akbar’s Tomb); Chini ka Rauza to the magnificent Agra Fort and the fortified city of Fatehpur Sikri there are a lot of experiences one can get while holidaying in Agra Tour Guide.
The vibrant fairs and festivals in Agra are celebrated with much gusto. Off all, the important and must-see includes Taj Literary Festival, Taj Mahotsav, Hot Air Balloon Festival, Ram Barat, Kailash Fair along with other important festivals of India. Even though a trip to Agra can be planned at any time of the year, but visiting the city during any of these festivals will be an altogether different travel experience.
Coming to shopping, Agra Tour Guide has a wide range of interesting things that one can choose to buy from. The city is best known for leather, rugs & carpets, mini marble structures and other unique items which one can find them by visiting Kinari Bazaar, Sadar Bazaar, Subhash Emporium and more. Besides, travellers can’t leave the city without relishing the delectable Mughalai food and the famous Petha made from white pumpkin or ash gourd infused with different flavours. So, without much ado, plan a trip and explore Agra tourism as the city as numerous ways to make your holiday a memorable one.
History of Agra
History of Agra has quite a rich background, which is fully apparent from the various historical monuments that are located in and around the city. The initial reference for the city of Agra comes from the age of epic, when in the Mahabharata Agra was referred to as “Agravana”. Agra has also been referred to as “Arya Griha” which means the abode of the Aryans. There has been a lot of historical influence on this lovely city and the Agra’s history gets reverberated in the historical monuments that have been built during the rule of the Mughals.
Not only the Mughals, there were a lot of other rulers who were responsible for the rich heritage and history of Agra. The one who was responsible for finding the Agra Tour Guide was Sikandar Lodhi who belonged to the lodhi dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate and it was in the 16th century. One could notice the square Persian-styled gardens which were for the first time introduced by another Mughal emperor Babar. The History of Agra city witnessed another gem being added to its crown when Emperor Akbar first built the Agra fort and Fatehpur Sikri close to Agra.
Under the bizarre circumstances Fatehpur Sikri got demolished and was left isolated that had remained the capital of Akbar for a long span of fifteen years. History of Agra has witnessed a lot of things being added and removed to it and hence has a rich past that simply captivates the tourists when spoken about. The beautification of Agra city was done by Jahangir with splendid palaces and verdant gardens. The actual beautification was done when Shajahan ascended the throne of the Mughal Empire and built the famous Taj Mahal Agra Tours in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Best places to visit in Agra
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 Tour Guide.
Taj Mahal
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 Tour Guide 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 Day Tour 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.
Agra Fort
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 Guide.
Jama Masjid
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.
Itmad-ud-Daulah’s tomb
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
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 Tour Guide. 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
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 Agra Tour Guide.
Sadar Bazar
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 Mahal, 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 Tour Guide.
Best time to visit Agra
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 Tour Guide.
How to reach Agra
The best way to reach Agra is by rail and road. Agra Tour Guide 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.
By Air
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 Tour Guide, 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.
By Road
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.
Train
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 Tour Guide Cantt, Agra Fort Station, Raja Ki Mandi, Agra City (not operational), and Idgah station.