• Area 120.57 sq km
• Altitude 169 m above sea level
• Languages Hindi, Urdu and English
• Best time to visit Winters
• STD Code 0562

Agra is located about 204 km south of Delhi in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, and is one of the most famous tourist spots of the country. The city, situated on the west bank of river the Yamuna, is known world over as home to a wonder of the world, Taj Mahal.

A part of the great northern Indian plains, Agra has a tropical climate. Summers are extremely hot and the maximum temperature can be as high as 45 degree Celsius, while winters are cold and foggy. The monsoon season is marked by heavy rains and high humidity.

Sightseeing : Places to visit in destination - Agra

For most of the time Agra alternated with Delhi as the capital of the Mughal Empire. As such one finds many marvels of the Mughal architecture in and around the city, the most famous of them being the following:

Taj Mahal On the banks of the river Yamuna stands the Taj Mahal, the epitome of love. Built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in the 17th century, the Taj today is source of attraction for millions of tourists from all over the world. To witness the beauty of this architectural marvel, one needs to view Taj at different times of the day and year. The white marble building appears to change its hue according to variations in the daylight. In moonlight, especially on the full moon night, the marble appears extraordinarily luminescent. During winter months, the view of Taj at sunrise is magnificent. The Taj Mahal is entirely made of white marble and its walls are decorated with exquisite pietra dura (stone inlay) work. It is said that different types of precious and semi-precious stones were used in the intricate inlay work done on the interiors. This magnificent monument is set around a Charbagh or ’four garden’ plan, which is split by watercourses—a reflection of the Persian style. On a trip to Taj, it is always better not to rush into seeing things around. Sit around in the garden, admire the scenic beauty, and immerse yourself in the serene atmosphere to make your visit memorable.

 

Agra Fort Built by Emperor Akbar on the west bank of the river Yamuna and beautified with palaces and gardens by Jehangir, Agra Fort today dominates the centre of the city. The crescent-shaped fort with its 20-metre high, 2.4 km outer walls contains a maze of buildings that form a small city within a city. One can enter the fort only through the Amar Singh Gate. The public access is limited to the southern part of the fort which includes nearly all the buildings of tourist interest. The Diwan-i-Aam (hall of public audience) and Diwan-i-Khas (hall of private audience) were built by Shahjahan for receiving audiences. Jehangir’s palace built by Akbar was the largest private residence in the fort. Close to Diwan-i-Khas, stands an octagonal tower known as Musamman Burj. It was here that Shahjahan breathed his last after seven years of imprisonment. Other places to see within the fort include the Khas Mahal, Sheesh Mahal (the mirror palace) and the Anguri Bagh (the Grape Garden).

Itmad-Ud-Dalauh Tomb To the north of the fort, on the opposite bank of the Yamuna lies Itmad-ud-daulah, the tomb of Mirza Ghiyas Beg, Jehingir’s wazir. Also known as the ’baby Taj’, it was the first Mughal structure totally built from marble and first to make extensive use of pietra dura. The place is the least visited of Agra’s three great monuments

Sikendra In the centre of a peaceful garden at Sikandara, 4 km north-west of Agra, lies the sandstone and marble tomb of Akbar. The mausoleum represents Akbar’s philosophy and secular outlook blending Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Christian motifs and styles.

Fatehpur Sikri - Thirty-nine kilometres from Agra stands Fatehpur Sikri, the red sandstone city of yesteryears. The city was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in AD 1564 in honour of the Muslim saint Sheikh Salim Chisthi. Fatehpur Sikri was intended to be the capital city but the shortage of water and unrest in the north-west made Akbar abandon it. One of the major attractions of this city is the marble tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisthi. Other places of interest include Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas, Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal, Jodha Bai’s Palace and Birbal Bhavan

Other major attractions include the tomb of Mirza Ghiyas Beg, Jama Masjid, Akbar’s tomb at Sikandra, Rambagh, the Mughal Garden and Dayal Bagh Temple. Besides the historical monuments, one can also explore Agra’s rich heritage of handicrafts in its markets.