Top 6 Places To Visit Near Agra, located on the banks of River Yamuna, in Uttar Pradesh is a city drenched in Mughal grandeur and famous for the forts and tombs. This beautiful city is an ornate one with some of the best sightseeing opportunities and a chance to relish the Mughal cuisine and sweet delicacies.
Taj Mahal, a coveted gem of Agra, is a monumental structure that is one among the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’ and is by far the greatest crowd-puller both in the national and international tourist circuits. All around the year, especially during the cold winter months, Agra seems choc-a-bloc with people keen to witness a slice of history and get mesmerised by the love tales of Shah Jahan for his beloved Mumtaz Mahal. Agra’s Taj Mahal, which has become a symbol of love, gives the city an aura of romanticism.
Apart from iconic Taj Mahal, revel in the allure of mausoleums and chowks or marketplaces reminiscent of the days of the glorious reign of the Mughal emperors. You will take a couple of days to have a date with history as you step into Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Mehtab Bagh, Khas Mahal, Jehangir’s Palace, Itmad-ud-Daualah’s Tomb, Fatehpur Sikri and Akbar’s Mausoleum, Top 6 Places To Visit Near Agra.
The weather of Agra is one of the extremes with very hot summers and cold winters. The peak season is from October to March, but witnessing Taj washed in the refreshing vibes of monsoons is also a pleasure. If you are in Agra for a vacation or long weekend trip, there are innumerable places to visit near Agra too that you must not miss. These spots are perfect also for the residents of Agra looking for weekend outings.
Mathura – (58 Km from Agra)
Mathura is the land of Krishna. In fact, frankly, Krishna and Mathura are inseparable. The place has been the birthplace of Lord Krishna. It is also the place where he spent his childhood, adolescent hood and last years of his life. Therefore it is but natural that city seems to remind Krishna wherever you go Top 6 Places To Visit Near Agra.
The most important tourist spot in Mathura is the Krishna Janambhoomi temple. The temple lies in the very heart of the city and is supposed to have been built on the site where Lord Krishna was born. The temple houses the stone slab that the exact site of his birth. Dwarkadhish temple that falls in the way to Yamuna is another important tourist spot. The temple remains brimming with tourists round the year.
Kusum Sarovar, near the historical Radha Kunj, is a famous tank in the Braj region. It is the same tank where milkmaids used to flirt around with Krishna by giving him flowers. Another important tourist spot in Mathura is the famous Government Museum. The museum houses some of the best statues of Kushana period. Most of them belong to the Mathura School of Architecture that was parallel to the then famous Gandhara School. Apart from that there are some very interesting excursions also such as Nandgaon, Barsana and Vrindavan. They all are in a way or other attached to the life and times of Lord Krishna.
It is next to impossible not talking about milk while discussing Mathura. Mathura offers the best ‘Ghee’ in the country. There are various sweetmeats too that one can taste. ‘Peda’ and ‘Khurchan’ are two of them. In the end, we are confident that you will cherish the moments forever in life Top 6 Places To Visit Near Agra.
Vrindavan – (69.6 km from Agra)
Vrindavan is one of the oldest and ancient cities located on the banks of River Yamuna. This place holds a great significance as it is believed that Lord Krishna spent his childhood here.
The name of Vrindavan is taken from two words i.e. Vrinda which means basil and van which means a grove. In relation to the meaning of the word Vrindavan, many historians believe that the name refers to the groves of Nidhivan and Seva Kunj. As it holds a great spiritual significance, many people come here in search of the ultimate – mukti.
Here you will find a great number of temples dedicated to Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha. Out of these temples, some of the most famous ones include Banke Bihari Temple, ISKCON temple and many others.
The best time to visit Vrindavan is between the months of October to March. These months are ideal for sightseeing and exploring the place locally, Top 6 Places To Visit Near Agra.
Deeg – (93.2 km from Agra)
Deeg is a small town in the royal city of Rajasthan which was found by Maharaja Suraj Mahal in the 18th century. It was said to be a summer holiday resort for the royal family. The history of Deeg is not limited to only the royal era. It is said that in Hindu mythology, Deeg was situated on the parikrama path of Krishna that is said to have started from Goverdhan. Goverdhan is 14 kilometres away from Deeg, Top 6 Places To Visit Near Agra.
Deeg was also served as the capital of the Jat state of Bharatpur. Maharaja Suraj Mahal fortified this small town and built it from the ground. It is also known as Dirgah or Dirghapur and was a place of significance for the Maharajas. Deeg thus makes a significant tourist place because of its amazing architecture, beautiful palaces and the local culture.
Not very far away from Deeg is the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary that is a must visit in the small town. The Deeg palace has 900 fountains and is open to the public twice a year on Amavasya festivals. These Amavasya festivals happen in February and September. Deeg is located away from the main city and thus is a calm place to be. People often come here to relax and leave their regular lives for a while. The beautiful landscape of Deeg makes it a scenic and picturesque. The local bazaar off Deeg is hustling with people and is lively all the time.
Dholpur – (56.9 km from Agra)
Situated in the eastern part of Rajasthan, Dholpur became a separate district in 1982 comprising four tehsils of Bharatpur – namely Dholpur, Rajakhera, Bari and Baseri. Carved out of Bharatpur district, Dholpur is surrounded by Agra on the north, Morena district of Madhya Pradesh on the south and Karauli on the west.
Ever since its existence, Dholpur remains one of the most fascinating regions in the state that has witnessed the oldest civilizations, and is extremely rich in cultural heritage. It used to be the seat of the Dholpur princely state before Independence, and today is a city of diverse culture and historical grandeur.
The red sandstone from Dholpur is famous throughout the country and was famously used in the construction of the Red Fort in Delhi.
The history of this princely state is known to date back to Buddha’s time. Several centuries ago, Dholpur was a part of the Mauryan Empire and came under the rule of various rulers all along the Mughal period. Around the 8th to the 10th century, Dholpur was known to be ruled by the Chauhans.Until 1194, it continued to be under the rule of Mohammed Gauri.
Dholpur was initially known as Dhawalpuri named after the ruler Raja Dhawal Deo, also known as Dholan Deo Tomar who established the city in 700 AD (though some historians have dated the formation to 1005 AD.) Later, it came to be known as Dholpur, Top 6 Places To Visit Near Agra.
Fatehpur Sikri, (35.9 km from Agra)
Fatehpur Sikri is one of the most popular places in Uttar Pradesh and is situated in the Agra District of the state. Its history is connected with the Mughal emperor Akbar and has been the capital of his reign. It was constructed over a period of fifteen years after an excellent planning. The structure of Fatehpur Sikri Agra includes vast palaces, harems, royal courts, private quarters and a mosque. Moreover, it consists some utility buildings as well.
Being used very heavily over the centuries, it’s almost half of the quarters and the imperial complex is intact and vice versa. These complexes spread more than two miles long. A five-mile large long wall covers Fatehpur Sikri all from three sides. According to a survey, when it was excavated, the foundations of temples of Jain gods were found. These were very ancient temples and believed to be constructed in 11th century AD.
Swarup Chandra Jain who was the senior leader of Jain Community identified them as the statue of Bhagwan Adinath, Bhagwan Rishabh Nath and Jain Yakshinis. Thus Fatehpur Sikri Agra is also believed to be a Jain pilgrimage center in early era. However ASI stopped the excavation all of the sudden and put the idols and other things in the guest hour for research, Top 6 Places To Visit Near Agra.
Situated on a rocky foot, the Buland Darwaza, Fatehpur Sikri Dargah also called as Tomb of Shaikh Salim Chishti and Diwan-i-Aam are the main attractions of the city. The elegant and classy architecture of buildings and places makes it a unique place to travel and have the taste of royalty of Mughal empire. Furthermore, Ibadat Khana (the house of worship) was the biggest attraction as it was the meeting house where the foundations of Din-E-Ilahi were laid by the Mughal emperor Akbar in Fatehpur Sikri. Panch Mahal which resembles like a pyramid but actually is a five storey building which decreases the size as its height increases.
National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary – (103.5 km from Agra)
National Chambal Sanctuary, also called the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, is a 5,400 sq. km tri-state protected area in northern India home to critically endangered gharial (small crocodiles), the red-crowned roof turtle and the endangered Ganges river dolphin. Located on the Chambal River near the tri-point of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, it was first declared as a PAs in Madhya Pradesh in 1978 and now constitutes a long narrow eco-reserve co-administered by the three states. Top 6 Places To Visit Near Agra Within the sanctuary the pristine Chambal River cuts through mazes of ravines and hills with many sandy beaches along its banks.
Deep within the subcontinent lies a land whose many secrets lie still hidden from the human eye in its still largely unexplored terrain. A land is synonymous with harsh terrains and on its breath taking beauty, Chambal. Now uncover the many secrets of the famed land at the Chambal National Sanctuary. Originating in the Vindhayan ranges in M.P. the Chambal River snakes its way thought the states of M.P.
Rajasthan and U.P. before finally meeting the Yamuna in the Etawah district of U.P. Its rich bio-diversity ensured that it was declared a National Sancturary in 1979 with its total area spanning across the three states of M.P. Rajasthan & U.P. The last bastion for some of the country’s most endangerd wildlife like the Gharial, Muggar, Turtles, Otter and the fresh water Dolphin, the Chambal region also boasts of a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial bird.
After rampant poaching and fishing almost wiped out the Gharial population from the country in the 70’s, captive breeding and reintroduction programme was started. Chambal was chosen as one of the main areas for reintroduction the species back in to the wild. The Chambal Sanctuary in U.P. covers an area of 635 sq. kms, Top 6 Places To Visit Near Agra.
Spread over the Agra and Etawah districts, and a total of 290 different species of migratory and resident birds have been identified in the region so far. Winter is the best time to visit the sanctuary. A boat ride in its tranquil waters during this time is an exhilarating experience with spectaculars sightings of the big reptiles basking along the 180kms. Sparkling sand stretches in the morning sun. but the main draw of the santuray are of course the Flamingoes that arrive here in November and stay till May. The Rudy Shelduck Also arrives a little earlier in September & stays here till May. The Indian Skimmers have Huge Colonies in the sanctuary and bred prolifically here.
