Agra Travel Guide
BRIEF
The Taj-Mahal, one of the world’s wonders, is located in Agra, the typical Mughal city, where the world marvels at the pinnacle of love, beauty, and sacrifice. The Taj Mahal is so awe-inspiring that Agra has been dubbed the “City of the Taj.”
Visitors can’t help but wonder whether the guy blissfully smoking a hookah is a direct descendant of some bygone Mughal as they go along the small, crowded lanes. Even the town’s most contemporary portions, such as the cantonment, are over a century old.
HISTORY
In the Mahabharata, BAgra is referred to as Agra ban. This Taj city was founded in 1475 by Badal Singh, but came into its own when Sikander Lodi picked it as his capital. Sikander Lodi was finally conquered by Babur, who built the foundations for the Mughal empire.
During the era of the Mughal Empire, Agra rose to prominence as a hub of art, culture, trade, and study. Agra had a furious construction activity completely in the modern Mughal style during the mid-16th and early-17th centuries, and it was at this period that the Taj-Mahal, the emblem of love, was erected.
CULTURE
Agra has seen the emergence of the Mughal Monarchs’ pomp and grandeur, who spent their love and wealth on this famous city, causing a shift in the people’s culture and lifestyle.
FOOD
Mughlai-khaana originated in Agra, when Persian monarchs courted Indian spices and typical BBQ meats were permanently transformed in colour and flavour. With the inclusion of red chilies, garam masalas, exotic aromatics, and rose petals, kebabs and gravies became stronger.
Kebabs, pulaos, kheer, and petha are all must-try dishes. However, you must be picky about where you eat since there is a shocking lack of traditional eateries. Too many restaurants have jumped on the gravy bandwagon, and you may discover that the paneer, chicken, and pork all taste the same.
Peshawari on M G Road is one of the top restaurants in Agra, serving some of the greatest Mughlai cuisine in town at surprisingly low costs. The Only Restaurant on Taj Road is a multi-cuisine establishment that specialises in Mughlai, Indian, Continental, and Chinese cuisine. Petals at Sadar Bazaar, on Gopi Chand Shivare Road, serves delicious chicken.
Retail Agra attracts tourists throughout the year, and visitors may choose from a range of shopping facilities! Kohinoor offers a fantastic jewellery assortment. It’s also known for its marble and inlay work, which has vibrant colours.
Semi-precious stone jewellery in the elaborate Moghul style is also available in Agra. All of these and more can be found at the Handikrafts Inn. Leather goods, including as shoes, sandals, and belts, are very popular in Agra. Handicrafts and musical instruments are available in the Handicrafts Gallery in Jasoria Enclave. Paintings and silk embroidered objects are also excellent investments.
ENTERTAINMENT
Golf Course, Circuit House Campus, Taj Road, Agra (Sports Golf).
Swimming -
Hotel Welcomgroup Mughal Sheraton, Taj View, Agra Ashok, and Clarks Shiraz all have swimming pools.
Fishing -
Fishing is available in Sur Sarovar (Keetham Lake), which is 23 kilometres away.
Lions Club, Rotary Club, and Indian Club are all located at 191 Mall Road in Agra.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY LOCATION
Agra is about 203 kilometres from Delhi and is also within reasonable driving distance to Jaipur (235 kilometres).
How to Get There
Airplane
A conducts a daily hopping flight between Delhi and Agra, Varanasi, and Khajuraho. Kheria Airport is 7 kilometres from the city centre.
By Rail From New Delhi, the Shatabdi and Taj Express are two of the most convenient trains to Agra. The Udyan Abha Toofan Express, Nizamuddin Intercity Express, Kerala Express, Ahmedabad-Gorakhpur Express, and Punjab Mail are among the other trains that link Agra to major cities. The city has many railway stations, but the important ones are Raja ki Mandi (Tel: 22 631) and Agra Cantt (Tel: 22 631). (Tel: 364 244).
By car, there are good motorable roads. It takes roughly four hours to travel from Delhi to Agra. Bus station: Most buses stop at the Idgah Bus Station (Tel: 33124), although those arriving from Mathura stop at the Fort Bus Station. There are other buses from Delhi that stop here.
The summers in Agra are scorching hot, with temperatures ranging from 22° C to 42° C. Temperatures in the winter vary from 4.2°C to 29°C.” AGRA Sightseeing Places
The Taj Mahal is the most famous structure in the world.
The Taj Mahal is a global marvel and the embodiment of love, beauty, and sacrifice. Built in honour of Shah Jahan’s queen, Mumtaz Mahal, it is said to have taken 22 years to build, with over 20,000 artisans working around the clock. Taj has stood as the embodiment of love even when the globe is caught in the conflicts of war and peace, nuclear and non-nuclear. This grandiose monument of love, one of the most visited and photographed destinations on the planet, is the pinnacle of Indo-Persian architecture.
Agra Fort is a fortification in Agra,
The Agra Fort is located in the heart of the city. The red sandstone Agra fort, built primarily as a military facility by Akbar in 1565, was partly turned into a palace during Shah-reign. Jahan’s Despite the fact that Akbar constructed the main building, his grandchildren added several extensions.
Sikandra
It is around 4 kilometres across the Yamuna and holds Emperor Akbar’s mausoleum. One unique aspect of this location is that one cannot see all four minarets from one location since one is constantly behind the other in the viewer’s line of vision.
Itmad-ud-Duala
It had been Itmad-ud-Duala, on the other side of the Yamuna River from the Taj Mahal, has the beautiful tomb of Ghias Beg, the father of Noor-Jehan and the Chief Minister of Emperor Jehangir. Although this white marble mausoleum and the first full marble Mogul construction is not as large as the Taj, the inlay patterns and sculptures are on par with, if not better than, the Taj. The corridors’ beautiful marble latticework enables light to reach the interiors. In Lahore, Nor-Jahan erected a similar mausoleum for Jehangir.
The Palace of Jehangir
It was erected by Akbar’s Great Emperor for his favoured son Jehangir in order to give him with comfort and luxury inside the fort. This palace is an exceptional example of Hindu and Muslim architecture together.
Dayal Bagh is a palace in Delhi, India.
Dayal Bagh is the birthplace of the Radhaswami sect, which was formed in 1861 by Swami Shiv Dayal, an Agra banker. It is a pilgrimage site for followers of this sect, with a shrine dedicated to their fourth Guru.
His desolate city, Fatehpur Sikri, is perched on a hill. Due to a scarcity of water, Akbar’s new capital had to be abandoned just 14 years after it was founded. The magnificent palaces and mosques, on the other hand, remain a shattered fantasy. However, the structures in this ghost city are worth seeing and may be divided into religious, secular, and architectural marvels. Jama Masjid’s latticework and Sheikh Salim Christi’s Dargah are among India’s most beautiful. Bias Palace, Birbals House, Mariams House, Panch Mahal, Shahi Darwaza, and Buland Darwaza are all worth seeing.
Others
RAUZA CHINI KA CHINI KA CHINI KA CHINI KA CHINI KA CHINI
The Chini-Ka-Rauza is a glazed tile mausoleum dedicated to Allama Afzel Khal Mullah Shukrullah of Shiraz, a poet-scholar who eventually became Shah-Prime Jahan’s Minister. It is one kilometre north of Itimad-ud-daula. AGRA-JAMA-MASJID-JAMA-MASJID-AGRA-JAMA-MASJID-AGR The main gate of this mosque, which was erected by Shah Jahan in 1648, contains an inscription stating that it was built by Jahanara Begum. She was Shah Jahan’s favourite daughter and was imprisoned with him. When Babur arrived in India, he established the first Mughal gardens 500 metres north of Chini Ka. CHINI – KA – RAUZA – The Chini-Ka-Rauza is a glazed-tile mausoleum dedicated to Allama Afzel Khal Mullah Shukrullah of Shiraz, a poet-scholar who subsequently became Shah-Prime Jahan’s Minister. It is one kilometre north of Itimad-ud-daula. JAMA-MASJID-AGRA – This mosque, erected by Shah Jahan in 1648, features an inscription on the front gate stating that it was built by Jahanara Begum. She was Shah Jahan’s favourite daughter and was imprisoned with him. When Babur arrived in India, he established the first Mughal gardens 500 metres north of the Chini Ka Rauza. These well-kept gardens aren’t even close to what they once were. CHINI – KA – RAUZA – The Chini-Ka-Rauza is a glazed-tile mausoleum dedicated to Allama Afzel Khal Mullah Shukrullah of Shiraz, a poet-scholar who subsequently became Shah-Prime Jahan’s Minister. It is one kilometre north of Itimad-ud-daula. JAMA-MASJID-AGRA – This mosque, erected by Shah Jahan in 1648, features an inscription on the front gate stating that it was built by Jahanara Begum. She was Shah Jahan’s favourite daughter and was imprisoned with him. When Babur arrived in India, he established the first Mughal gardens 500 metres north of the Chini Ka Rauza. These well-kept gardens aren’t even close to what they once were. Rauza. These well-kept gardens aren’t even close to what they once were.
Additional Excursions
FIROZABAD
It is a significant handicraft and industrial hub 44 kilometres from Agra, known for glassware, particularly glass bangles and cut glass goods. MARIYAM TOMB – Dedicated to Akbar’s wife, the red sandstone tomb was constructed in 1611. The sculptures on Mariyam-us-tomb Zamani’s are worth investigating further. SUR SAROVAR (KEETHAM LAKE) – This gorgeous lake is located inside Surdas Reserved Forest and is great for relaxing vacations. The lake’s natural appeal and beauty are enhanced by a diverse array of fish and water fowl. VAN VIHAR WILDLIFE SANCTUIARY – Located 50 kilometres from Agra, it covers 52 square kilometres and is home to a variety of animals and birds. It may be reached via cab, bus, or rail from Agra to Dholpur.
Mathura
Brij Bhoomi, as it is often called, is an important Hindu pilgrimage site. Mathura has expanded in recent years into a multi-faceted urban sprawl, almost like a forgotten city after its great cultural, wealthy, and lasting history. The Dwarikadhish Temple is the most prominent shrine in this city of temples, which attracts thousands of worshipers. Vrindavan, where Krishna sported with his gopis (Lord Krishna’s devotees) and where the Hare Krishna maintains their headquarters, is close by. The region’s value is mostly intangible, despite its religious and historical sites and its importance as a cultural hub.
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary in Bharatpur, India.
Bharatpur, Rajasthan’s eastern entrance and a popular stopover on the Golden Triangle, is known for its World Heritage-listed bird sanctuary. The Keoladeo Ghana National Park, formerly the Maharajas’ hunting estate with daily shots of over 4,000 birds, is now one of the best bird sanctuaries in the world, with over 360 species that even non-ornithologists visit. It is well linked to three of India’s most prominent tourist locations, namely Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, and it has a significant historical significance in India.