Agra
Famed with one of the Seven Wonders of the World – Taj Mahal, Agra is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Agra is a virtual fort of history and architecture located in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India.
Located at the banks of River Yamuna, Agra offers the tourists the richest of the manmade beauties including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Agra fort, Fatehpur Sikri and Taj Mahal. It is the haven of Mughal art, culture and architecture.
Timeless Elegance, Eternal Love
Tours to Agra & Beyond
Key attractions
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal, the pinnacle of Mughal architecture, was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (Reign 1628-1658), grandson of Akbar the great, in the memory of his queen Arjumand Bano Begum, entitled ‘Mumtaz Mahal’. The mausoleum is located on the right bank of the river Yamuna. Is is built entirely of white marble, set on a high base or plinth which includes four tall minarets, one on each corner. On either side of the tomb are a mosque and a guest house, while the tomb faces a garden laid out in the “charbagh” style, with a central walkway with fountains and viewing platforms with green spaces and trees on either side. The entrance to the complex is through a grand ornamental gateway, inscribed with Quranic inscriptions and the calligraphed line “O Soul, thou art at rest. Return to the Lord at peace with Him, and He at peace with you.”
Agra Fort
Agra Fort is located on the right bank of the river Yamuna. It is one of the most important and robustly built stronghold of the Mughals, embellished with number of richly decorated buildings encompassing the imposing Mughal style of art and architecture. It was constructed by the third Mughal emperor Akbar on the remains of an ancient site known as Badalgarh. Akbar arrived in Agra in 1558. He ordered to renovate the fort with red sandstone. Some 4000 builders daily worked on it and it was completed in 8 years (1565-1573).
Itimad-ud-Daulah
Nicknamed the Baby Taj, the exquisite tomb of Mizra Ghiyas Beg should not be missed. This Persian nobleman was Mumtaz Mahal’s grandfather and Emperor Jehangir’s wazir (chief minister). His daughter, Nur Jahan, who married Jehangir, built the tomb between 1622 and 1628, in a style similar to the tomb she built for Jehangir near Lahore in Pakistan.
It doesn’t have the same awesome beauty as the Taj, but it’s arguably more delicate in appearance thanks to its particularly finely carved jalis (marble lattice screens). This was the first Mughal structure built completely from marble, the first to make extensive use of pietra dura and the first tomb to be built on the banks of the Yamuna, which until then had been a sequence of beautiful pleasure gardens.
Mehtab Bagh
The crescent-shaped Mehtab Bagh is the last in the series of 11 parks along the Yamuna River in Agra. Originally built by the first Mughal emperor- Babur in the early 1500s, the origin of the park goes back to the time when there was no Taj Mahal. However, later, this garden went into disrepair. It was Shah Jahan who rebuilt the garden to protect Taj Mahal from the abrasion of sand. This garden is located in such a way that it gives the perfect view of the Taj. It lies north of the Taj Mahal complex and the Agra Fort on the opposite side of the Yamuna River, in the flood plains. The garden complex, square in shape, measures about 300 by 300 metres (980 ft × 980 ft) and is perfectly aligned with the Taj Mahal on the opposite bank and provides a very beautiful view of the Taj Mahal especially during sunset.
Fatehpur Sikri
Emperor Akbar built the deserted sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri in the 16th century. According to contemporary historians, Akbar took a great interest in the building of Fatehpur Sikri and probably also dictated its architectural style. A fine example of a Mughal walled city with defined private and public areas and imposing gateways, its architecture, a blend of Hindu and Persian styles, Fathepur Sikri reflects Akbar’s secular vision and style of governance. Though it took 15 years to build, it was abandoned after only 14 years because the water supply could not sustain the growing population. Today numerous notable imperial buildings and a fabulous mosque still stand, and a guided tour of this ancient city is a truly memorable experience.
Agra Bear Rescue Facility
A sanctuary for over 200 rescued ‘dancing’ sloth bears, located in a bird sanctuary 30km outside of Agra (on the road to Delhi). Visitors are welcome to tour the park-like grounds and watch the bears enjoying their new, better world. It’s a project of Wildlife SOS, which also runs a refuge for rescued circus elephants that you can visit, near Mathura.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Agra is from October to March. During these months, the weather is cool and pleasant, making it ideal for sightseeing and exploring the city’s iconic attractions, such as the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri.
From April to June, Agra experiences a hot and dry summer, with temperatures often soaring above 40°C. This can make sightseeing uncomfortable, although early morning and late evening visits can still be enjoyable.
From July to September, the monsoon season brings moderate to heavy rainfall, which can lead to humid conditions and occasional disruptions in travel plans. However, the rain does bring a refreshing change to the landscape, making the gardens and surroundings more lush and green.
