One of the oldest cities of India, the Agra is synonymous with the Mughal era and the beautiful Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Apart from the Taj Mahal, the city of Agra and places around the Agra is the testimony of the marvelous architecture of Mughal era. Many of the magnificent monuments of the Agra have been constructed by the Mughal emperors. The city of Agra boasts about being witnessed the golden age of the Mughal Empire when the capital of the empire was Agra. The splendid monuments of Agra epitomize the grandeur and apex of the Mughal architecture. Even the Delhi, another capital of the Mughal Empire as well as many other kingdoms, doesn’t possess such richness of medieval architecture, cultural and traditional heritage.
Agra is among the most popular tourist destinations in India and one of the destinations of the three revered tourism destinations known as the golden triangle of India. Visited by thousands of tourists every year, both Indian as well as foreigner tourists, the historic city of Agra is known as the city of Taj. However, there is much more to explore in the Agra city than just the Taj Mahal. The city is home to the many world famous monuments which are the world heritage site as well. Due to being the first Mughal capital and the center of the Mughal Empire, the city of Agra has witnessed the changing times of Indian history and played an important role in the shaping of the history of this country.
The city of Agra had been established in the sixteenth century by the Sultanate Sikandar Lodi of the Lodi Dynasty. Sikandar Lodi built numerous structures which include massive Forts, Mosque, Step Wells, etc. in Agra. It was Sikandar Lodi who moved his capital from Delhi to Agra and made Agra the capital of Lodi Empire. After his death, his son became the sultanate and ruled the city for the next nine years. Later, the city of Agra became the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1556 to 1658 till the capital was again moved back to Delhi. During the Mughal rule, the city of Agra was known as the Akbarabad and three generations of the Mughal Emperor ruled here which were Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jahan. Due to the fascination for the architecture of Mughal rulers, the city of Agra became the home to numerous ancient monuments which are world famous attractions.
Major Sightseeing in Agra :
Taj Mahal – An Icon of Indian Tourism:
The Taj Mahal, an astoundingly beautiful and massive building nestled serenely amidst a large and perfectly crafted garden on the bank of the river Yamuna. Nothing can beat the charm of this architecture of white unscathed marble in the moonlight. A mausoleum of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his most beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is one of the prime tourist destinations not only in India but in the world. Regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal is known as the symbol of love in the world. This white marble building is a gem of the Mughal-era architecture with its exceptional handcrafted designs. One of the three World Heritage Sites in Agra, the Taj Mahal is one of the must-visit tourist destinations in India.
The construction of Taj Mahal was started by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1632 and completed in 1653. The Taj Mahal was constructed in the memory of Queen Mumtaz Mahal after her death as her resting abode, a mausoleum of Mumtaz Mahal. The building of pure white marble was constructed on the red sandstone base, making it one of the most beautiful monuments in the world. Beautifully situated beside the Yamuna River in between the exotic landscaped gardens, the Taj Mahal was built as per the Persian architectural style. The beautiful sight of the Taj Mahal can be observed from the terrace of the Agra Fort as well. The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan spent his last eight years in the Agra Fort gazing at the serene beauty of Taj Mahal while being a prisoner of his second son, Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
Agra Fort:
Build by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, the Agra Fort was the prime residence of the Royals of the Mughal dynasty till 1638. This historical fort is located in the city of Agra nearby the famous monument of Taj Mahal in India. Till the capital of the Mughal Empire was shifted to Delhi in the year 1638, the Agra Fort was the power center of the Mughal Empire. A UNESCO world heritage site, the fort of Agra is also known as the Red Fort of Agra which was constructed as an invincible military base by the then Mughal Emperor Akbar. Later, many structures were built in the Fort by the son of Akbar, the Emperor Jehangir and also modified extensively by the Emperor Shah Jahan, son of Jehangir. The Fort is situated around 2.5 km northwest of the Taj Mahal and known as the walled city due to its mammoth size. The Fort of Agra with all of its elegance, lavishness and splendor of the Mughal era is considered one of the finest imperial palace in India.
Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb:
Situated around 4 km away in the north from the Taj Mahal, the Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb is known as the baby Taj. Build on the left bank of the river Yamuna by the Empress Noor Jahan as the mausoleum of her father, MirzāGhiyās Beg. He was the Chief Minister of the Emperor Jahāngīr. The splendid architecture of this perfectly crafted marble structure has been attracting tourists at this place. The tomb is a double-storied building of pure marble, which is replete with the finest mosaic and decorated with the semi-precious stones.
Sikandra:
The mausoleum of the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar, Sikandra is the masterpiece of the Mughal Architecture. The resting abode of Emperor Akbar after his death, the place is located on the Delhi-Agra Highway, just around 13 km from the Taj Mahal. The construction of the tomb was started by Emperor Akbar himself, but finished by his son Emperor Jehangir in the year 1613 after the death of Akbar. The tomb perfectly reflects the amazing and great personality of Emperor Akbar. The massive red sandstone structure with the beautifully carved designs nestled amidst the large exotic garden is a perfect sightseeing destination in Agra.
Apart from the tourist places mentioned above, there are many other tourist destinations which include ancient monuments, temples, mosques, gardens, etc. of the Mughal era which you can visit during your Agra tour.
Best Time to Visit Agra
For the sightseeing in Agra, you can visit any time of the year as almost all the monuments in Agra remains open throughout the year for the tourists. However, the Taj Mahal remains closed on every Friday for the visitors so avoid visiting the Taj Mahal on Friday. One can visit Agra any time of the year and explore the ancient monuments, old bazaars and other cultural and traditional heritage without any hassle. But, the tourist flow increases the most during the period from October to April as this duration is considered the best time to visit Agra. During this time, the weather conditions are more pleasant than any other time of the year. This is also the festive season in India as most of the prime festivals happen during these months. The prime festivals such as Holi, Ramnavami, Deewali, etc. are rooted in the heart of Agra since the ancient times.
As the city of Agra is nestled in the plains of river Yamuna, the city witnesses all the three kinds of weather every year. The winter, summer and the monsoon can be experienced here in the equal measure. From November to March remains the winter season and the summer season starts from April and stays till July while the monsoon season that starts in August stays till mid-October. During the soaring temperature of summer and the wet season of monsoon, Agra receives fewer visitors than it does during the winter season. The pleasant weather condition and the festive environment of Agra attract domestic as well as overseas tourists during October and April.
How to Reach Agra
Agra is among the popular cities of India so the city is well connected to the major towns and cities of India through the airways, railways and roadways. So, the city of Agra is easily accessible from any corner of the world. Below is the detailed info about how to reach Agra via air, rail and road-
By Flight:
The Kheria Airport is the nearest airport to Agra which is located at the distance of 13 km from the Agra city. Basically, it is a military airport, but also functions as a commercial airport. Due to being a military base, only the Air India is allowed to operate its flight from the other destinations in India to Agra and vice-versa. It is about 40 min to 45 min long flight journey from Delhi airport to Agra airport. You can hire a private taxi/cab or get the public transport to reach Agra city from the airport.
By Train:
The railway station of Agra is among the oldest railway stations in the country and located on the main line of central India. The station is directly connected with various parts of the country through the regular trains. There are many trains regularly visits Agra from Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Jhansi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, etc. The big city of Agra is having the five railway stations from where one can easily visit different parts of the city. Among all the five stations, the Agra Cantt Railway Station and the Agra Fort Railway Station are the main railway station to reach Agra through the rail route. The Agra Cantt Railway station is the nearest station to the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort, and one can easily get the taxi/cab, auto rickshaw or cycle rickshaw to reach these world-famous monuments.
By Road:
Agra is well connected to the other cities with the various state roads and National Highways. The Yamuna Expressway connecting Delhi to Agra is the well-maintained expressway and the best option to reach fast from Delhi to Agra by road. The city of Agra has the two major Bus Terminals- Idgah Bus Stand and ISBT Agra which are located in the main city. Numerous public and private transport services are operating bus services regularly connecting Agra to the other prime cities like Delhi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Jaipur, Gwalior, etc.
Approximate Road Distance from Various Cities to Agra-
- From Delhi - 230Km
- From Jaipur - 238 Km
- From Kanpur - 277 Km
- From Kanpur - 277 Km
- From Lucknow - 335 Km
- From Jhansi -233 Km
- From Gwalior -119Km