Agra is one of the top ranking tourist destinations in India. The capital of the Mughal Empire, Agra draws thousands of tourists from all parts of the world. Travel to Agra India and get a feel of the historical charm of Indian culture and tradition. It is a lifetime experience. The first that comes to your mind about Agra is the Taj Mahal. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj is perhaps one of the best architectural marvels ever made by man. This grand marble mausoleum embodies the immortal love between Emperor Shah Jahan and his queen Mumtaz Mahal. Almost everybody in their life try once to come to this great place. The Taj Mahal is surrounded by sprawling beautiful gardens and lovely fountains. Couples take their photographs in front of the Taj to immortalize their love for each other.
Air : Agra has a domestic airport, at Kheria served by Indian airlines and some other private players. It is connected with Delhi, Khajuraho and Varanasi.
Rail : Agra is a major railway junction on main broad gauge routes to the south, east and west. Two of the best trains viz. Shatabdi Express (between Delhi and Bhopal) and Taj Express (between Delhi and Gwalior) are available to reach Agra. Also there are express and super-fast trains available for most of the cities in India.
Bus : Agra is situated on National Highways 2, 3 and 11 and is well connected to all parts of the country. You can get direct luxury and express buses to/from New Delhi.
Taj Mahal : Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal. It is a sublime experience of the greatest love story ever told. Today India's most fascinating and beautiful masterpiece, this perfectly symmetrical edifice is set amidst landscaped gardens on the banks of the Yamuna river. The Taj was built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan as a memorial to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. After her untimely death, Shah Jahan had her mortal remains buried in this mausoleum. And after his own demise he was placed to rest next to his beloved queen in the same mausoleum. Under the dome, below the ground level, in a dimly lit chamber, lie the mortal remains of Shahjahan and his beloved queen Mumtaz, reminding the world of their undying love.
Fatehpur Sikri : 37 kms from the city of Agra, stands Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar’s capital. Full credit goes to the Archeological Survey of India for this perfectly preserved example of a Mughal city at the height of the empire’s splendour. It is an attraction no visitor to Agra should miss. This sprawling structure is made of red sandstone and combines both Hindu and Mughal architecture.This walled city contains the mausoleum of the Sufi fakir, Saleem Chisti who is said to have granted Akbar and his Hindu queen Jodhabai their wish for a son.
Agra Fort : Within a radius of 3 kilometers, on the banks of the river Yamuna, rises the crescent like Agra Fort. Designed and built by Akbar in 1565 A.D., the fort is surrounded by a 70 feet high wall. It houses the beautiful Pearl Mosque and numerous palaces including the Jahangir Mahal, Diwan-i-Khas, Diwan-i-Am and Moti Masjid. Later it was used by his son Jehangir also as the seat of power. Shahjahan modeled his creation, the Red Fort at Delhi on this fort.
Jahangir Mahal : The biggest private residence in the Fort is the Jahangir Mahal, the Palace of Emperor Jahangir. It is an excellent blend of Hindu and Mughal architecture. The palace has a hall which is called Jodhabai's dressing Room. Jodhabai was Jahangir's Hindu mother. Its desigen and layout is essentially Hindu. Later the palace was used by Jahangir's Dressing Room. Jodhabai was Jahangir's Hindu mother.
Sikandra : Six miles north of Agra, is a glorious introduction to the city of Mughal wonders, Sikandra. The site of Akbar's mausoleum, Sikandra was begun by Akbar and completed by his son Jehangir in 1613 AD. It reflects the fusion of Hindu and Muslim art and architecture which characterised the era. The tomb is situated in the centre of a large garden and four identical red sandstone gates lead to the tomb complex. The building, with three-storey minarets at each corner, is built of red sandstone with white marble polygonal patterns inlaid. Sikandra is named after Sikandra Lodi, the Delhi ruler who was in power from 1488 to 1517.
Buland Darwaja : The Buland Darwaja or the gate of victory, was built by Akbar in 1601 in commemoration of his victory over Khandesh and Ahmednagar in Southern India. Marble and sanstone have been freely used in the construction of this structure. Various other buildings situated here are all worth a visit not only for their historical importance, but also for the fine architectural work of the Mughal period.
A shopper's paradise for those who love to buy specialties of the place as souvenirs and keepsakes or as gifts for their loved ones, Agra offers mini Taj replicas in various sizes for the tourists. This white-marble Taj is often used as decorative items in the homes and are considered to bring good luck for the lovers. However, the 'marble' can be actually the fake - a stone called 'Talk', which looks like marble, with the exception that it is not opaque like the real one. It is quite cheaper too. So, one should be careful about the quality while buying the Taj replica and pay only the right price. Leather items at Agra are famous for their quality. These include leather sandals, purses, bags and decorative items.
There are lots of handicraft emporiums that offer a variety of sandalwood and rose wood items along with brass decorative pieces and stone carved images. The fine work done by the local artisans in the city is notable and the markets of Agra are the best place to explore exquisite piece of fine Zari embroidery work, stone inlay work, durries and carpets. One can find most of the big emporiums concentrated in the Gangotri at Taj complex, Sadar Bazaar and Sanjay Place. Yet, those who can steer through the narrow lanes of the city markets of Kinari Bazaar, Raja Mandi, Fuhaara and Lohamandi can get their hands on the best bargains at dirt cheap prices. One can also try Petha (sweet) and Dalmoth (salty), the famous delicacies of Agra. Petha is good for summers and can last for about a month.
Agra has good restaurants that specialise in Mughlai food and other Indian and international cuisines. Agra is famous for snacks and sweets like Dalmoth (lentils) and Petha (crystallised marrow), for which the most recognised area is Kinari Bazar. Agra has good restaurants that specialise in Mughlai food and other Indian and international cuisines. Agra is famous for snacks and sweets like Dalmoth (lentils) and Petha (crystallised marrow), for which the most recognised area is Kinari Bazar.
Modern Agra has everything that makes the heart beat with the thump and adrenalin rush through the body. Entertainment and Agra may not be synonymous but the city sure has great many avenues of amusement and recreation. Known for its architectural brilliance the city also provides popular entertainment amenities. Some popular entertainment avenues include cinemas, clubs, parks and gardens, sports and recreation.
Cinemas like Anjana, Bhagwan, Sriram, Surya, and Roxy are familiar in Agra. A good number of cinemas in Agra are located in the Civil Lines Area. Agra Club, Lion's Club, Rotary Club and Indian Club are the prime clubs in the city. The city is provided with super cool gardens and parks. Apart from the monumental gardens the rest include Shah Jahan Garden, Subhah Park, Sardar Patel Park and Paliwal Park. Golf course at Circuit House Campus and angling at Sur Sarovar are good sources of entertainment, provided you can hold the stick and pull the line.