Agra - the city of Taj is the only city in India, which is home to one of the seven wonders of the world. Besides the Taj Mahal, it is home to various other magnificent Mughal monuments and Persian-styled gardens. The city is a perfect combination of rich culture, history, architectural marvels, mouthwatering cuisines, shopping hub and more.
...Situated on the banks of Yamuna River, it is a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It covers an area of around 4027 sq km. It is also one of the 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh bounded by Mathura District on the north, Firozabad District on the east and Dholpur and Bharatpur districts of Rajasthan state on the south and west respectively.
The existence of Agra relates to the Mahabharata period where it finds its mentioned in the epic Mahabharata as Agraben. Modern-day Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodhi of the Lodhi Dynasty. It was then ruled by the mighty Mughal Empire, during whose reign the city served as the Capital of the Mughal Kingdom. It was also ruled by the Chauhan clans of the Hindu Rajputs for a brief period.
Agra is undoubtedly famous for the majestic Taj Mahal, which attracts millions of tourists every year. What makes it unique from other cities is the fact that it hosts three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The town of Fatehpur Sikri in Agra is home to Buland Darwaja, which is the world’s largest door. Agra is also considered as the land of Urdu and Hindu Literature as it is the birthplace of the world’s renowned Urdu and Hindi poet.
The city exhibits rich traditions and cultures. The centuries-old Mughal rule had a great influence on the culture of the city. Some of the festivals like Ram Lila, Diwali, Holi, are celebrated with huge grandeur. When it comes to the residents, people of diverse cultures and religions reside there. The cuisines of Agra were also inspired by the Mughal era. Mughlai food and Petha are the best traditional foods in Agra.
Travelogy India is offering various Agra Tour Packages to experience the beautiful Taj along with other attractons. The best time to visit Agra is between November to March to enjoy the pleasant weather and avoid the blazing heat. For everyone visiting Agra, a visit to the Mughal monuments are a must. They should also spare some time to pay a visit to the beautiful Persian style gardens built by Mughal emperors. The Mughlai food is a must-try when in Agra followed by the sweet pethas to satiate your sweet tooth. Agra is also a paradise for the shopaholics with some of the great shopping spots like Sadar Bazar. Agra hosts some grand fairs and festivals annually such as Taj Mahotsav, Kailash Fair, Bateshwar Mela and many more.
For planning a cheap trip to Agra, you need to consider many things.
Agra has many popular places to visit. You can visit some best places like Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Taj Museum, Fatehpur Sikri, Tomb of Akabar, etc. Apart from the above, there are many other places in Agra to visit such as Chini ka Rauza, Soami Bagh Temple, Mehtab Bagh, Ram Bagh Garden, etc. You can visit these places if you have more time.
In Agra, you can visit all the major places in two days. But if you don’t want to miss a single tourist destination in Agra, you may need 3 to 4 days.
Agra looks beautiful in the evening. But, most shops and tourist placed get closed by 10 or 11 pm, so you can explore the nightlife in Agra within 3 to 4 hours in the evening.
Shopping in Agra has its popularity. You can buy Jewellery, Silk Saris, Sweets, Handicraft items, carpets, leather items, etc.
To visit Agra, three days are enough. If you want to visit all the small and big places, then you may add one or two days more.
You need to spend at least 3 hours at Taj Mahal to explore its architecture from inside as well as outside. If you are planning for photography, then you can add one hour more.
In Agra, you can buy embroidery textiles, metal items like plates, flower vase, etc., the memento of Taj Mahal, Marble items, leather products, jewellery, etc.
Taj Mahal is closed every Friday but Muslims can go inside in the afternoon for attending prayers. Apart from that, it remains open from 6 am to 6.30 pm every day.
Agra is famous for its sweet dishes. The most popular sweet dish of Agra is Petha. The other famous dishes of Agra are Bhalla, Dalmoth, Jalebi, Shawarma, Kachori, Paratha, Mughlai, etc.
The time between October and March is the best time to visit Taj Mahal. In the summer season, the city experiences high temperatures so uncomfortable to visit.