About Agra

Country: India | State: Uttar Pradesh

Ideal Trip Duration: 2 Full Days

Nearest City to Agra: Agra

Best Time to Visit Agra: October to March

Peak Season: December to January & March to May

At a distance of 214 km from Delhi, 242 km from Jaipur, 359 km from Lucknow, 576 km from Bhopal, 847 km from Patna and 876 Km from Ahmedabad, Agra, the land of the Taj Mahal, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is situated on the banks of River Yamuna in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Agra is also among best weekend getaways near Delhi & Noida for a two day trip. Agra is one of the most popular tourist places in India and also one of the most famous tourist places to visit in Uttar Pradesh. Agra is included on the Golden Triangle tourist circuit, along with Delhi and Jaipur.

Agra is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the World with three UNESCO World Heritage monuments - Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri & Red Fort. Agra was first mentioned in the epic Mahabharata, where it was called Agrevana meaning the border of the forest. Sultan Sikandar Lodi (1488-1517) was the first to move his capital from Delhi to Agra in 1504. After his death in 1517, his son Ibrahim Lodi continued to rule, until his defeat in the first battle of Panipat at the hands of the Mughal Emperor Babur in 1526. Agra famously became the capital of the Mughal Emperors from 1526 to 1658. It was known then as Akbarabad and remained the capital of the Mughal Empire under the Emperors Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan. Shah Jahan has shifted the capital to Delhi.

The city houses many ancient temples, mosques, forts, mausoleums, tombs and historical monuments. Apart from the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra, Swami Bagh Samadhi, Jama Masjid and Ram Bagh are the other important monuments in Agra. The city has its unique style of traditional paintings, folk dances, folk music and embroideries. Agra is famous for leather goods, beautiful carpets, gold and silver jewellery and handicrafts, such as zari zardozi, marble and stone carving and inlay work.

The Department of Tourism organizes the Taj Mahotsav in February every year, which attracts national and international tourists to Agra. The festival celebrates Mughal art and culture and is a profusion of musical and dance performances, a food festival and crafts mela.

Agra is well connected by air, train and road. The nearest airport to reach Agra is Kheria Airport, located at a distance of 9 km from the city and is connected to Delhi, Varanasi, Khajuraho, Gorakhpur, Jabalpur, Rajkot and Jamnagar. The city has four major railway stations - Agra Cantonment, Raja Ki Mandi, Agra Fort and Idgah Agra Junction. It has trains from Mumbai, Delhi, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Vizag, Chennai, Indore, Jammu, Jabalpur, Pondicherry, Chandigarh, Kalka, Hubli, Goa, Haridwar, Bhopal, Howrah, Patna, Dehradun, Bangalore, Allahabad, Jaipur, Trivandrum and Lucknow.

Major bus station in Agra is Idgah Bus Stand at a distance of 1.5 km from Agra Cantonment railway station. Agra can also be reached by road from Lucknow, Kanpur, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Gwalior, Noida, Dehradun, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Indore, Haridwar and Vrindavan. Tourist buses run by private operators as well as state govt are available to reach Agra. Tourists can travel around the city of Agra using electric buses, cabs, Tongas, tempos, cycle rickshaws and auto rickshaws.

The best time to visit Agra is during the winter season between November and March. During this time the temperature is moderate and several festivals coincide. Taj Mahotsav, the popular 10 day long festival is celebrated during the month of February each year. A visit to this fair is a must for the art, craft and culture admirers. Ram Bharat, Kailash Fair and Bateshwar Fair are the other major festivals.

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Other Info
Internet Availability: Good
STD Code: 0562
Languages Spoken: Hindi, English
Major Festivals: Taj Mahotsav (Feb)
Notes/Tips:
None

How to Reach Agra

By Air

Nearest Airport: Agra - Kheria Airport (9 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Agra Cantonment (0 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Idgah Bus Stand (1.5 Kms)

Top 10 Places to Visit in Agra

#1 of 26 Places to Visit in Agra

About Taj Mahal

At a distance of 6 Km from Agra Cantonment Railway Station, Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum situated on the right bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. This magnificent mausoleum was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his cherished wife Mumtaz Mahal, and it is regarded as a symbol of everlasting love. The term 'Taj Mahal' translates to the Crown of Palaces in Persian. Recognized as one of the seven wonders of the modern world, it is an essential destination included in Agra tour packages. Constructed entirely from white marble, the Taj Mahal is celebrated as one of the most stunning monuments globally, drawing approximately four million visitors each year.

History of Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal, among the must include place in Golden Triangle tour packages, was commissioned in 1632 .....

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#2 of 26 Places to Visit in Agra

About Agra Fort

At a distance of 4.5 Km from Agra Cantonment Railway Station, and 2.5 Km from Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort is a historical Mughal fort situated on the banks of Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Also known as the Lal Qila or Red Fort, it is recognized as the first grand citadel of the Mughals and is one of the key attractions included in the Agra heritage tour packages. For an extended period, this massive fortress functioned as the center of power, where prominent emperors of the prosperous Mughal dynasty governed. Currently, it is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, representing a living testament to the architectural excellence and military strength of the Mughals.

History of Agra Fort

Agra Fort was initially a brick fortress known as Badalgarh, which was under the control of Raja Badal Singh, a Hindu Rajput king, in 1475 AD. Sikandar Lodi was the first Sultan of Delhi .....

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#3 of 26 Places to Visit in Agra

About Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah / Baby Taj

At a distance of 8 Km from Agra Cantonment Railway Station and 3 Km from Agra Fort, Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah is a Mughal mausoleum located on the western bank of the Yamuna River. Situated near the Yamuna Bridge Railway Station, the tomb is also known as the Jewel Box or Baby Taj as it looks like a smaller version of the Taj Mahal. It is believed that this tomb was the inspiration behind the construction of the Taj Mahal. It is one of the most popular Agra tourist places.

History of Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah / Baby Taj

The Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah was constructed by Nur Jahan, the Queen of Jahangir, as a tribute to her father, Mirza Ghiyas Beg who was served as an imperial officer and honored with the title of Itmad-ud-Daulah (Pillar of State) by Emperor Jahangir. The tomb's construction commenced in 1622 and reached completion in 1628, nearly .....

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#4 of 26 Places to Visit in Agra

About Akbar's Tomb

At a distance of 9.5 Km from Agra Cantonment Railway Station, Akbar's Tomb is a beautiful mausoleum located in Sikandra, the outskirts of Agra. This mausoleum, positioned along the Agra - Mathura Road, serves as the final resting place for the third and greatest Mughal emperor Akbar. The grand structure exemplifies Akbar's refined architectural preferences. It is one of the top places to visit as part of the Agra leisure packages.

History of Akbar's Tomb

The Tomb of Akbar was constructed between 1605 and 1613 in Sikandra. It contains the remains of the illustrious Mughal Emperor Akbar. Akbar himself chose the location for the tomb, and the majority of the construction took place during his lifetime. Following Akbar's death in 1605, his son Jahangir finalized the tomb's construction in 1613. Nevertheless, during Aurangzeb's rule, rebellious Jats led by Raja Ram Jat attacked the .....

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#5 of 26 Places to Visit in Agra

About Fatehpur Sikri

At a distance of 37 Km from Agra, 223 Km from Delhi and 209 Km from Jaipur, Fatehpur Sikri is a deserted fort city in the Agra District of Uttar Pradesh, India. Commissioned by Emperor Akbar during the late 16th century, this formerly vibrant city acted as the capital of the Mughal Empire for a brief yet significant duration. It was the first planned city of the Mughals characterized by splendid administrative, residential, and religious structures. Its red sandstone structures, embellished with detailed carvings and graceful designs, remain as lasting representations of Mughal magnificence and artistic brilliance. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the popular place to visit along with Golden Triangle tour and also among ideal places to visit near Delhi.

History of Fatehpur Sikri

Although Fatehpur Sikri is widely recognized as the capital city established by Akbar .....

Distance (From Agra Cantonment): 37 Kms
Trip Duration (From Agra Cantonment - Including Travel): Half Day to Full Day
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#6 of 26 Places to Visit in Agra

At a distance of 4.5 km from Agra Cantonment Railway Station and 2.5 km from Taj Mahal, Jahangiri Mahal is the most noteworthy building inside the Agra Fort.

Jahangiri Mahal is the first monument that comes in the view once visitors enter the fort from the Amar Singh Gate. Jahangiri Mahal was built by Akbar during 1565-69. This was the principal zenana, and was used mainly by the Rajput wives of Akbar. It is one of the earliest surviving buildings of Akbar's reign. Jahangir in his memories has clearly mentioned that the buildings were erected by his father Akbar. Mughal empress Nur Jahan used this as her residence.

The palace is made of red sand stone and displays a generous blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles. Its outer walls rise with the massive ramparts of the fortress on the river. A gateway leads to an inner courtyard surrounded by large halls which are extensively adorned with Persian style stone carvings. .....

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#7 of 26 Places to Visit in Agra

At a distance of 4.5 km from Agra Cantonment Railway Station and 2.5 km from Taj Mahal, Khas Mahal, also called Aramgah-i-Mualla (rest house of the noble) or Aramgah-i-Muqaddas, is situated inside the Agra Fort.

Khas Mahal is the most beautiful building in the fort and was built by Shah Jahan during 1631-1640 AD. The building comprises open Terraces and a hall, flanked by a pavilion on either side serving as partitions. The structure is erected on a sufficiently elevated platform paved with marble. It is the royal palace of the Emperor. The palace includes curtain walls, elegant tanks, fountains and a waterfall surrounded by living apartments with courts and verandahs.

The interiors of the palace are adorned with gold work, mural paintings, ornamental designs and floral designs. The pavilions of the Khas Mahal were constructed using red sandstone and coated with white shell plaster. They contained beautiful golden work and fresco .....

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#8 of 26 Places to Visit in Agra

At a distance of 4.5 km from Agra Cantonment Railway Station and 2.5 km from Taj Mahal, the Diwan-i-Am or Hall of Audience is situated close to Machchhi Bhawan inside the Agra Fort.

Diwan-i-Am was built by Shah Jahan during the years 1628-35 AD. It was the place where the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1628-1658) and his successors met general public and heard their complaints. The massive hall has a flat roof and is divided into three sections. Two arched red sandstone gateways on the north and south lead to the hall. The building, originally built in red sandstone, is plastered over with white shell paste resembling white marble. Its ceiling and columns were painted with gold.

In the center of the eastern wall stands a marble canopy under which stood the emperor's throne. The emperor received the general public here and heard their complaints. This chamber was connected to the royal apartments and the royal ladies could watch the ceremonials of the Diwan-i-Am through the marble .....

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#9 of 26 Places to Visit in Agra

At a distance of 4.5 km from Agra Cantonment Railway Station and 2.5 km from Taj Mahal, the Diwan-i-Khas or Hall of Private Audience is situated backside of the Machchhi Bhawan inside the Agra Fort.

Diwan-i-Khas or Hall of Private Audience was built by Shah Jahan in the year 1635 AD. It was used by the emperor for holding cultural events and meetings important guests such as kings, ambassadors and nobles in private and to deal with important affairs of the state.

It consists of two large halls, an outer columned hall and inner closed hall, both connected by three archways. The outer hall is covered by a flat roof supported on multifoil arches springing from exquisitely fine marble pillars. The marble pillars are inlaid with semi-precious stones and coloured flower patterns. The hall is exquisitely decorated with carvings and flat wooden ceiling which used to be covered with gold and silver leaves to imitate the rays of the sun. The hall represents the royal accesses and thus .....

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#10 of 26 Places to Visit in Agra

At a distance of 4.5 km from Agra Cantonment Railway Station and 2.5 km from Taj Mahal, the Moti Masjid or the Pearl Mosque is situated to the north of Diwan-i-Am complex inside the Agra Fort.

Moti Masjid was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan during 1648-54 AD. It was built as a place of worship for the royal members of the court. A mosque that shines like a pearl in a moonlit night, hence the name Pearl Mosque, Moti Masjid is one of the oldest mosques in the city. The glorious mosque took nearly four years to complete and is built in a style that is typical to Shah Jahan's era of reign.

The masjid stands on the ground that slopes from east to west to the north of Diwan-i-Am complex. The structure contains three huge domes of high architecture value. These three Hindu style domed kiosks have been constructed using white marble and the rest of the exterior building made out of red sandstone.

The mosque has twenty-one .....

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Top 5 Agra Tour Packages

Package Duration Starting Price Details
Best of Agra 2D/1N ₹ 5500 View Details
Agra - Fatehpur Sikri 2D/1N ₹ 5800 View Details
Delih & Agra in 3 Days 3D/2N ₹ 8400 View Details
Delhi, Agra & Mathura - Vrindavan 4D/3N ₹ 10600 View Details
Golden Triangle Tour from Delhi 5D/4N ₹ 12600 View Details