Uttarpradesh Agra

Agra is best known for the TajMahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the modern World. Emperor Shah Jahan built this exquisite white marble mausoleum for his favourite queen MumtazMahal. Declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, TajMahal has always evoked varying emotions from wonder to ecstasy and time and again, inspired poetic verse. Over the centuries, it has become the symbol of undying love and flawless beauty.

Some important questions arise when we choose a destination.

Most important places to Visit in Agra.

Which all places I can visit along with Agra  ?

Tour Itineries along with Agra

Best time to visit Agra

How to reach Agra?

Most important places to Visit in Agra.

TajMahal

TajMahal was built by a grief stricken Emperor Shahjahan as a memorial to his beloved wife MumtazMahal. A world-renowned wonder, TajMahal sits pretty on the northern side of this green paradise. It looks the same from all the four sides! The Quranic inscriptions on its four entrances are carved in such subtle increase in size that may appear to be of the same size from top to bottom! Shahjahan invited master craftsmen from as far as Italy and Persia to help design his ambitious tribute to love.

The TajMahal is phenomenal not in the beauty alone that shines forth, but in the deep planning and design that went into its making, and the ethereal idea of immortalizing love. Delicate carvings in marble vie with gorgeous pietradura for attention. Lapis-lazuli, Cornelian, Mother of pearl, Agate and Emerald are inlayed in floral and geometrical patterns in the marble itself. This enchanting mausoleum, on the bank of river Yamuna started in 1631 and it took 22 years to complete with the help of an estimated 20000 workers.

Open: All days

Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.

Distance: 4.7 Kms.

Phone: 2960457

The Agra Fort

The great Mughal Emperor Akbar commissioned the construction of the Agra Fort in 1666, A.D. although additions were made till the time of his grandson Shahjahan.

The forbidding exteriors of this fort hide an inner paradise. There are a number of exquisite buildings like Moti Masjid - a white marble mosque akin to a perfect pearl; Diwan-I-Am, Diwan-I-Khaas, MusammanBurj - where Shahjahan died in 1666 A.D. Jahangir's Palace; KhaasMahal and Shish Mahal.

Open: All days

Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.

Distance: 11 Kms.

ChiniKaRauza

Mausoleum of Shahjahan's prime minister and Persian poet Afzal Khan Aalmi entitled "MaulaShukrullah, Shirazi" buit in 1635, exhibits fine use of glazed tiles. A curtain raiser to an exotic Persian art style, which finds itself a home in Agra.

Open: All days

Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.

Distance: 9.5 Kms.

Taj Nature Walk

A beautiful natural forest cover spread over 70 hectares of area just 500 mtrs away from the eastern gate of TajMahal . An excellent view of the Taj can be found from the different mounds of the park. Flora &Funa of different species are found here.

Open: All days

Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.

Distance:10Kms.

Samadh of Soamiji Maharaj

It is a tribute to the founder of Radha Swami faith. Devout followers believe the service, purifies the soul. At soamibagh their services bears fruit in an edifice as spectacular as the Taj Built in white and coloured marble, it is continuously being decorated for more than 100 years now with extra-ordinary feast in stone and gems.

Open: All days

Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.

Distance:9.2Kms.

Ram Bagh

One of the earliest Mughal gardens, believed to be laid out by Mughal Emperor Babur, the founder of Mughal dynasty. It is said that Babur was temporarily buried here before being taken to Kabul in Afganistan.

Open: All days

Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.

Distance: 14 Kms.

Mehtab Bagh

MehtabBagh is located on the left bank of river Yamuna opposite to the TajMahal. The garden complex is a huge square measuring approximately 300m X 300m and in straight alignment with the TajMahal. The excavation has revealed a huge octagonal tank on the southern periphery :baradaris or pavilion on the east and west: a small octagonal tank at the center and a gateway at the northern wall.

Open: All days

Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.

Distance:11Kms.

Phone:2280030

Itimad-ud-daula's : Tomb (Baby Taj)

This exquisite marble tomb was made by Emperor Jahangir's queen, Nurjahan , in the memory of her father MirzaGhias Beg during 1622-1628 A.D. Built entirely in white marble and inlaid with semi-precious stones, this mausoleum on the bank of the Yamuna River, exhibits a strong Persian influence.

Open: All days

Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.

Distance: 13.7 Kms.

Phone: 2641230

Sikandra

It is the mausoleum of Emperor Akbar. It represents his philosophy and secular outlook, combining the best of Hindu and Muslim architectures in a superlative fusion. Completed in 1613 A.D., it is one of the well preserved monument.

Open: All days

Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.

Distance:14.5Kms.

Mariyam's Tomb

This unique tomb in red sandstone was built in memory of Emperor Akbar's wife MariyamZamani. The tomb has some exceptional carvings.

Open: All days

Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.

Distance: 7 Kms.

Jama Masjid

The building with rectangular open forecourt was constructed in 1648A.D. by Shahajahan's daughter, Jehanara Begum. Of particular importance is its wonderful assimilation of Iranian architecture.

Open: All days

Temples

MankameshwarMandir, Rawali, BalkeshwarMandir, PrithvinathMandir, RajeshwarMandir , kailashMandir, RenukaDhamhanidev at Runakata, SainathRakabganj etc.

Open: All days

Bauddhmath

Buddha Bihar, Near Agra Fort Bus stand (Monastery)

Open: All days

Gurudwaras

Guru ka Tal Gurudwara, Sikandra Mathura Road, MaithanGurudwara, FulattiHathighatGurudwara etc.

Open: All

Churches

Cathedral St. Peter's, St. Patricks, Baptist Church, SaiKaTakia, Catholic Church,Sadar Bazar, St. Marry' s Pratapura, St. Paul's Khandarietc

Open: All days

Mosques

Jama Masjid near Bijlighar, Royal Mosque TajMahal, Sheikh SalimChistiDargah, FatehpurSikri

Open: All days

Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.

Jain Temples

Digambar Jain temple, TajGanj, Tirthadham, Mangalayatan, Sasni, Aligarh, ChintamaniParshwanath, RoshanMohalla, Dadabari, Shahganj etc.

Which all places I can visit along with Agra ?

Tour Itineries along with Agra

Delhi - Mathura - Vrindavan - Agra

Delhi - Agra - Khajuraho - Delhi

Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Delhi

Delhi - Corbett - Unchagaon - Agra - Bharatpur - SawaiMadhopur - Jaipur - Delhi

Mumbai - Bhavnagar - Ahmadabad - Ujjain - Mandu - Indore - Bhopal - Gwalior - Agra / Delhi

Delhi - Agra - Bandhavgarh - Delhi

Delhi - Haridwar - Shivpuri - Delhi - Agra - Delhi

Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Varanasi - Delhi

Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Delhi

Delhi – Varanasi – Allahabad – Ayodhya – Lucknow – Agra –Delhi – Haridwar – Rishikesh – Delhi

Delhi - Udaipur - Ajmer - Pushkar - Jaipur - Agra - Gwalior - Khajuraho - Orchha - Delhi - Amritsar - Delhi

Delhi - Agra - Ranthambore– Jaipur

Best time to visit Agra

The best time to visit Agra is during the winter season between November and March when the weather is at its best. During this time the temperature is moderate and several festivals coincide. TajMahotsav, 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 eyeball grabbing festivals.

How to reach Agra?

How to Reach Agra by Air

Agra has its own airport but the closest International airport is Delhi which is 204 km from Agra. From Delhi one can either hire a cab or catch a train to reach Agra. It takes around 4 hours to reach Agra from Delhi by road and if travelling by the express trains, it takes just 2 hours.

How to Reach Agra by Rail

The city has two railway stations of which Agra Cantonment is the larger. Apart from the Shatabdi Express there are many super fast expresses connecting Agra with Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.

The Shatabdi Express and the Taj Express are the two fast trains from Delhi to Agra.

Arrival and Departure Enquiry: 131, 133, 134, 0562 2364516/17 Reservation Enquiry: 136, 0562 2364244 (manual)

Arrival and Departure Enquiry: 0562 - 2364163 Reservation Enquiry: 132, 0562 – 2364131

How to Reach Agra by Road

Agra is located just 204 km away from the national capital city, Delhi. The city is connected to Mathura (56 kms), Delhi (203 kms), Gwalior (118 kms), Jaipur (237 kms) and several other major cities.

There are UP State Road Transport (UPSRTC) as well as private buses plying to and from Agra. The main bus terminus is the Idgah Bus stand, which stands close to the Agra Cantonment station. Bijlighar Bus Stand (also called Powerhouse Bus Stand) is located near the Red Fort and is 6 km from the Taj. One can also drive in from Delhi, either by a rented car or one''s own. There are lots of luxury bus and taxi services which provide excellent services to the commuters.

Further references:

http://www.up-tourism.com/destination/agra/agra.htm