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Agra

About the place: 

No book or online travel guide could ever depict or describe Agra to you unless and until you go there, listen to the whisper of history, visually experience the poetic majesty of the great architecture. Every street and bi-lane of the city will take you to typical North Indian urban life, the smell sometimes dates back to 15th Century. The rich heritage is prevalent everywhere, in the street foods, in the local languages, in the music, in the finely ornamented handicrafts and everywhere else. The great massive forts, the enormous religious and cultural monuments with reminiscence of  classical art belonging to different dynasties and above all, the glorious poetry written in  white marble covering the firmament of the city named Taj Mahal make Agra one of the top destinations of the world. 

Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, some 200 km from Delhi.

Agra has three UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort in the city and Fatehpur Sikri nearby. There are also many other buildings and tombs from Agra's days of glory as the capital of the Mughal Empire.

The city has little else to recommend it. Pollution, especially smog and litter, is rampant and travellers are pestered by swarms of touts and hawkers at every monument, mosque, temple or palace. That said, the sites are some of the wonders of the world and no trip to India is complete without at least one visit to the Taj.

Region or Zone: 
North
State or Union Territory: 
Uttar Prdesh
How to reach: 

Agra is 200 km southeast from Delhi and is one of the points of the tourist's Golden Triangle of Agra-Delhi-Jaipur. Agra is also very well connected via rail and road with other nearby cities and tourist destinations.

By plane

Service to Agra's Kheria Airport (IATA: AGR ICAO: VIAG) is 5 days a week. As of January 2014, the city is served by Air India, which flies on the Delhi-Agra- via Varanasi, Agra - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Delhi ( 3 days a week ,ie Monday ,Wednesday and Saturday). Another Air India flight, Mumbai - Agra - Mumbai (Tuesday and Thursday) provides international connections via Mumbai and usually observes full load factor. The flights now are usually on time and provides connectivity via Delhi and Mumbai. One can save a lot of time travelling by air to Agra .

By train

Agra is on the main train line between the Delhi-Mumbai (Bombay) and Delhi-Chennai routes, and many trains connect Agra with these cities every day. Some east-bound trains from Delhi also travel via Agra, so direct connections to points in Eastern India (including Kolkata) are also available. There are close to 20 trains to Delhi every day, and at least three or four to both Mumbai and Chennai. Agra and Delhi are notorious for their thick winter fog which reduces visibility to almost zero. If travelling in late December or early January (the fog season), travelers should be aware that, because of the reduced visibility, all trains slow down and travel time goes up. The Bhopal Shatabdi, for example, may arrive in Agra well after 10AM, and might return to Delhi well after midnight. From a safety point of view, it is always preferable to travel by train during the winters. Driving in fog on the road is very risky. There are three stations in Agra:

Stations

Agra Cantt (Station Code : AGC) is the main railway station and lies southwest of the Taj and Agra Fort, both of which are a short ride from the station by car, auto-rickshaw, or cycle rickshaw. There is a prepaid taxi stand right outside that charges a flat ₹150 to any hotel in the city. You may catch an auto-rickshaw for ₹50 if you walk a short way from the station, but they may not speak English. The station has a pretty good Comesum food court that also sells cheap, hygienic takeaway snacks (sandwiches, samosas, etc).

Agra Fort station (Station Code : AF) near Agra Fort, is infrequently serviced by the interstate express trains. The station serves trains to the east (Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Kolkata) some of these trains also stop at Agra Cantt.

Raja Ki Mandi (Station Code : RKM) is a small station. Some of the trains which stop at Agra Cantt also stop here. The station has a laid-back and lazy atmosphere, but springs into life at the arrival of Intercity exp and Taj express. It is situated in the middle of the city.

Agra City is in the heart of Agra. A relic of the metre gauge era, this station is not particularly useful.

Idgah Railway Station is the first station if you arrive in Agra from Jaipur.

By bus

A number of buses connect Agra with Delhi. It takes around 4-5 hours to reach Agra by bus. There are basically three interstate bus stands:

Idgah Bus Stand is the primary bus stand for travelling towards Rajasthan/Madhya Pradesh, in the heart of the city, 8 km from the Taj. The well run Rajasthan Government (RSRTC) bus to Jaipur (roughly one bus per hour) departs from Hotel Sakura near Idgah bus stand. There's a small ticket booth outside the hotel. Do note that a common scam happens when you arrive at a stop outside Jaipur city a man will inform everyone that this is the last stop in Jaipur. Do not get down, since the bus will go further inside the city and the man is trying to get you to a commission paying hotel.
ISBT at Transport Nagar, 12 km from the Taj, is an inter state bus terminal. Most of the buses pass through here, except for buses originating from Idgah Bus Stand and going towards Rajasthan.

Note: Do not rely on Private Luxury Buses and Travel Agencies as they are very expensive and may drop you to your destination late. They'll also tell you that the bus is direct to the destination but it's not.

By Taxi

For local sight seeing in Agra, it is better to hire a taxi on a full day basis (8 Hour 80 Km). A reliable way of booking your cab is to book it online. Also, you can either book a taxi from hotel or directly book one outside the railway station. There is government authorized taxi stand. ₹950/day for 8 hours. It maybe more costly to book through hotel as hotels do have their in the fares. It is better to negotiate with the driver directly or book trough some online car rental portal. Meanwhile, to visit you can find some local taxi available for your convenience.

Cars are not allowed near the Taj Complex, but the rest of Agra is easily discovered by car. Rental is available from various companies.

If you plan to travel to Agra on the taxi from Delhi International airport, make sure you engage the taxi that can take you inter-city or 'outstation' (the white ones). The prepaid taxi kiosk for the local taxi services are known to arrange (privately outside the auspices of the prepaid taxi system) a local taxi (green and yellow ones) to take you to Agra - in this case the taxi will have to take a big detour to get a government permit to travel intercity before heading to Agra. Not only substantial time wasted, the taxi are also smaller and uncomfortable. The taxi kiosk for local travel should redirect you to the intercity taxi, but being unscrupulous they want to made a cut of the fare when they arrange one for you.

Important Places to Visit: 

Taj Mahal

Rules and Regulations at the Taj Mahal

Security is tight and rules and regulations are very important and must be followed at the Taj Mahal. There are many rules to be followed at the premises of the monument to maintain the holiness of the monument and other rules are mostly for the maintenance and protection of the monument. Remaining rules and regulations are to be followed for the protection of all the tourists visiting the Taj Mahal.

•Arms, ammunition, fire, smoking items, tobacco products, liquor, food, chewing gum, knives, wire, mobile charger, electric goods (except video cameras, photography cameras and similar consumer electronic products like MP3 players, iPhones, Smartphones etc. and music players) are prohibited inside the Taj Mahal complex. Leave these in the hotel or in your driver's car. Avoid carrying a bag altogether if you can as the bag scanning process is cumbersome.

•Playing cards, games, dice, etc. may be prohibited depending on the guard.

•Mobile phones are allowed. They don't really seem to enforce this with camera phones.

•Eating and smoking is strictly prohibited inside the Taj Mahal complex.

•Lockers are available at the gates to keep your belongings (of course, at your own risk).

•Avoid carrying big bags and books inside the monument as this may increase your security check time.

•Video camera (handicam) is allowed up to the red sand stone platform at the main entrance gate of the Taj Mahal complex. There is a charge of 25 Rupees per video camera.

•Photography is prohibited inside the main mausoleum, and visitors are requested not to make noise inside the mausoleum.

•Tourists must co-operate in keeping the monument neat and clean by making use of dustbins.

•Avoid touching and scratching the walls and surfaces of the monument as these are old heritage sites that need special care.

•Tourists are advised to hire official audio guides available at the ASI ticket counter or to use only pre-arranged approved guides. Pre-arranged approved guides charge Rs. 900 and the audio guide costs Rs. 100 + taxes Warning - touts regularly exhibit fake identity cards. Some will try to convince you that a guide is included in the ticket price (it's not) - ignore them and walk away.

•Tourists are allowed to carry a water bottle inside the monument. Shoe covers, 1/2 litre water bottle and Tourist Guide Map of Agra are provided free of cost with the foreigner's entry ticket for the Taj Mahal. After getting your ticket, proceed to the side of the ticket window to collect your water and shoe covers.

•Wheelchairs for disabled persons and First Aid Boxes are available at A.S.I. Office inside the Taj Mahal complex. A refundable charge of ₹1000 is to be deposited as security before wheelchairs are made available for the disabled.

•All the above mentioned items along with the mobile phones are banned for the night viewing of the Taj Mahal.

•Video cameras are permitted after the security check during night viewing of the Taj Mahal, though extra batteries are prohibited.

•Remember that the Taj Mahal is a religious site and it is best to dress conservatively when visiting the Taj Mahal complex, not only because the Taj Mahal itself is a mausoleum, but also because there are mosques inside the Taj Mahal complex, if you wish to visit them as well.

Please note that the Taj Mahal is closed every Friday.

'If you buy the foreigner high price ticket, you go in a separate, much smaller line and they give you shoe covers and water. Touts (tour guides) will say they can cut the line because they're guides, but you get in the smaller line anyway with your 750 Rupee ticket.'

The Taj Mahal is an immense mausoleum of white marble, built between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife. Taj Mahal means Crown Palace. One of his wife's names was Mumtaz Mahal, Ornament of the Palace. The Taj is one of the most well preserved and architecturally beautiful tombs in the world, one of the masterpieces of Indian Muslim architecture, and one of the great sites of the world's heritage.

The Taj Mahal has a life of its own that leaps out of marble, provided you understand that it is a monument of love. The Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore called it a teardrop on the cheek of eternity, while the English poet, Sir Edwin Arnold, said it was Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor's love wrought in living stones. It is a celebration of woman built in marble, and that is the way to appreciate it.

Although it is one of the most photographed edifices in the world and instantly recognisable, actually seeing it is awe-inspiring. Not everything is in the photos. The grounds of the complex include several other beautiful buildings, reflecting pools, extensive ornamental gardens with flowering trees and bushes, and a small gift shop. The Taj framed by trees and reflected in a pool is amazing. Close up, large parts of the building are covered with inlaid stonework.

There is an apocryphal tale that Shah Jahan planned to build an exact copy of the Taj Mahal out of black marble on the opposite side of the river as his own tomb. His plans were foiled by his son, who murdered three elder brothers and overthrew his father to acquire the throne. Shah Jahan is now buried alongside his wife in the Taj Mahal.

If you are taking a camera, beware that because the Taj is white your camera may underexpose your photos. If it is a film camera you will not find out until it is too late. Overexposure by 1 or 2 stops is recommended.

The Taj is open from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM (sunset) every day except Friday. The gates won't open until 6:00 AM at the earliest, often a few minutes later, so don't bother getting there at 5:00 AM. Entry costs ₹750 for foreigners and ₹20 for Indians. Get there as early as possible to beat the crowds. Crowds are the biggest during the weekend when people overshadow the grandeur of the Taj. Plan to visit the Taj at least two different times during the day (dusk and dawn are best) in order to experience the full effect of changing sunlight on the amazing building. It is utterly stunning under a full moon. You can also get very good views from Mehtab Bagh (see Gardens section below). It is a good idea to bring a flashlight, because the interior of the Taj Mahal is quite dark even during the day. To fully appreciate the details of the gem inlays, you need a good light.

To buy tickets, you can go to the South gate, but this gate is 1 km far away of the entrance and the counter opens at 8:00 AM. At the West and East gates, the counters open at 6:00 AM. These gates also have smaller queues in peak times as the big tour buses drop groups off at the South gate. Alongside the ticket counter, you can also purchase a self-guided audio tour (allows two to a device) for ₹100 in English and foreign languages and ₹60 for Indian languages.

The Taj is located in the middle of town. Expect a line to get into the grounds. There are three gates. The western gate is the main gate where most tourists enter. A large number of people turn up on weekends and public holidays, and entry through the western gate may take hours. The southern and eastern gates are much less busy and should be tried on such days.

There are night viewing sessions during full moons and two days before and after (five days in total). Exceptions are Fridays (the Muslim sabbath) and the month of Ramadan. Tickets must be purchased 24 hours in advance from the Archeological Society of India office situated at 22, Mall Road, Agra. Ticket fare is Rs. 500 for Indian Nationals and Rs. 750 for Non Indians. Night tickets go on sale starting at 10am, but they do not always sell out, so it can be worth looking into it when you arrive even if well after 10am. Tickets only allow viewing from the red sandstone plaza at the south end of the complex, and only for a 1/2 hour window. Make sure to wear mosquito repellent. Viewing hours for night viewing is from 8:30pm-9:00pm and 9:00pm-9:30pm. Arrive 30 minutes early for security check at Taj Mahal Ticketing counter on East Gate or you may lose your chance. The night view is not worth spending as the visitors are kept quite far from Taj Mahal nearly 200 Mts away and there in no light so it could hardly be seen during night hours at viewing hours. Cameras also do not give images with near zero flux can easily be avoided for night viewing.

Entering the palace within Agra Fort

Agra Fort

The Taj and the Yamuna River from the ramparts of Agra Fort

The fort is similar in layout to the Red Fort in Delhi, but considerably better preserved, as much of Delhi Fort was razed by the British after the Mutiny. As much as palace as a defensive structure, it is also constructed mainly from red sandstone.

Emperor Akbar, king at 14, began consolidating his empire and, as an assertion of his power built the fort in Agra between 1565 and 1571, at the same time as Humayun's Tomb in Delhi. Emperor Shah Jahan added to the fort and ended up a prisoner in it. The fort has a beautiful view of his masterpiece, the Taj Mahal, on a clear day.

You can get to the fort by Rickshaw from Taj Mahal for around ₹25-30. Entry to the fort is ₹250 (plus levy of ₹50 if you have not already paid the ₹500 fee for Taj Mahal).

There are left luggage services at Agra Fort where you can stow your bags at no cost. A fine of ₹5,000 applies if you lose your luggage ticket.

There are also audio guides available at Agra Fort which you can rent for a cost of ₹100 in English and other foreign languages (German, French, Spanish, etc) or ₹60 in Indian languages such as Hindi or Bengali.

Gardens

Soami Bagh, (10 km north of Agra). The white marble samadhi of the Radha Soami religion is currently under construction. It was started in 1904 and is not expected to be completed until sometime next century. You can see pietra dura inlaid marble work actually being worked on. Soami Bagh is 2km north of Agra and can be reached by bus or cycle.

Ram Bagh. The first Mughal gardens, built by the first Mughal Emperor Babar, 500 m North of the Chini Ka Rauza.

Mehtab Bagh, (directly across the Yamuna River from the Taj Mahal, the trip takes about 30 minutes from the centre of town by autorickshaw and will cost about ₹200). Sunrise to Sunset. These botanical gardens give you an opportunity to view the Taj at a remove from the crowds of tourists.. Alternatively, walk past the entrance and straight to the sandy banks of the river: the view of the Taj is every bit as lovely (perhaps more so, since the barbed wire fence surrounding the gardens will be behind you), although you may have to deal with aggressive touts. In the rainy season when the river is full you can get good photos of the Taj at sunset, as the reflection mirrors off the water. Take a round trip by auto rickshaw, as there are usually aren't any rickshaws looking for fares here. Entrance to the park is ₹100 for foreigners.

Temples

Balkeshwar Temple, (At Balkeshwar, at river side of Yamuna). A temple of Lord Shiva

Kailash Temple, (at Sikandra, at the river Yamuna). A Lord Shiva Temple.

Mankameshwar Temple, (At Rawatpara, near Agra Fort railway station. Near the raja ki mandi; a simple cycle rikshaw can take you there for a fare of 20/-.). Listen to the aarti, it purifies your soul. It is the MOST VISITED temple by LOCALS.....and during festive seasons its so crowded disrupting the traffic in the nerby areas....

Prithvinath Temple, (At Shahganj. On road to Jaipur.).

Rajeshwar Temple, (At Village Rajpur. On road to Shamshabd.).

Shyam Ji Maharaj Temple (At Bijlighar).

Mahakal And Mahakali Temple, (At Sikandra railway crossing on Sikandra Bodla road).

Rawli Maharaj Temple, (At Collectrate crossing, beside the railway track). Very old temple.

Other sights

Sikandra, (10 km north of Agra on the Agra Delhi highway). Open from sunrise to sunset. The tomb of Akbar lies here in the centre of the large garden. Akbar started its construction himself but it was completed by his son Jehangir, who significantly modified the original plans which accounts for the somewhat cluttered architectural lines of the tomb. Four red sandstone gates lead to the tomb complex: one is Muslim, one Hindu, one Christian, and one is Akbar's patent mixture.

Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb. Empress Nur Jehan built Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, sometimes called the Baby Taj, for her father, Ghias-ud-Din Beg, the Chief Minister of Emperor Jahangir. Small in comparison to many other Mughal-era tombs, it is sometimes described as a jewel box. Its garden layout and use of white marble, pietra dura, inlay designs and latticework presage many elements of the Taj Mahal.

Mariam's Tomb, (West from Akbar's Tomb on Agra-Delhi highway). Constructed by Jahangir in the memory of his mother Mariam Zammani a title bestowed upon her,. The grave is made of white marble. Though this building is in a ruined condition, yet it has in its vicinity, a Christian Mission School and a church. It is also said; Akbar himself made that it in the memory of his Christian wife.

Jama Masjid. A large mosque attributed to Princess Jahanara Begum, built in 1648 during the reign of the father Shah Jahan. Notable for its unusual dome and absence of minarets.

Chini Ka Roza. A memorial dedicated to the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan, Allama Afzel Khal Mullah Shukrullah of Shiraz, notable for its dome of blue glazed tiles. This monument is off the beaten path, and hoards of local children can surround western women.

Gurudwara Guru ka Taal, (at Delhi-Agra Highway, located between Transport Nagar and Sikandra),

Where to stay: 

Please note that Agra is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world but still, you will find options to stay in Agra for any budget.

Budget

Dayal Lodge (Comfortable & fully featured budget accommodation in Dayalbagh, Agra, India), 25 - New Agra, Dayalbagh Road, Agra - 5 (Near Bhagwan Talkis Crossing, Towards Dayalbagh), ☎ +91-9219606365, 9359848731, [20]. checkout: 11:00. "Best Hotel in Dayalbagh Area, Hotel Near Taj Mahal, Agra" Rs. 950.00. 

Hotel Raj, 2/26, South Gate Taj Mahal, Tajganj, Agra, India (almost at the end of the little alley that ends on Taj Mahal South Gate), ☎ +91 9627743662, 9627401177, 5622330079, [21]. checkout: 13:00. One of the cheapest places in Tajganj, simple rooms, but great attention by the host; they also have a great restaurant, excellent food and good prices. Double ₹400 (march 2015).

Friends Paying Guest House, p-6 , taj nagri phase 1, near shilpgram road, Agra, India 282001 (East Gate of Shilpgram parking lot), ☎ +91 99 1788 5278 (friendsguesthouse786@gmail.com), [22]. checkout: 13:00. Family-run guest house 15-minute walk East from the Taj. Food, decent Wi-Fi, TV in rooms. Cushion-furnished balcony common area for eating, drinking and lazing about. Double ₹400, 4 bed ₹800.

Hilltop Hotel, 21, Mall Road, (hotelkamal@hotmail.com). Very peaceful area (surrounded by trees) that is within 20 min walk to Taj Mahal. Rooms are old but good value. Single room may not appeal to the claustrophobics. The owner is very helpful and will make sure your needs are satisfied. There's a restaurant and simple amenities (eg toilet paper) are sold as well. Around Rs200 for single private, shared bathroom & Rs500 for single ensuite.

Hotel Sheela, Eastern Gate.Taj Mahal,Tajganj,Agra, ☎ 0562-2333074 (hotelsheelaagraindia@yahoo.com). checkout: 10 a.m.. A 100% pollution free area,commission free transport bookings & just 100 metres from eastern gate of taj mahal,free incoming phone calls,24 hours hot water.There are 22 rooms in sheela & 22 rooms in sheela inn.Generator facility,laundry facility is also available. ₹500-800.

Hotel Amba Inn, 1/51, Delhi Gate, Near Raja ki Mandi Railway Station (2 mins from railway station), ☎ 91 562 2520779, 91 9412720194, [23]. checkout: noon. Offers facilities for 22 rooms in total. There are both double rooms, single rooms, as well as facility for an extra bed. All the rooms are air conditioned/air cooled, with television. Single ₹550-800, double ₹650-900.

Col Lamba Indian Home Stay, 58 Gulmohar Enclave, Shamshabad Rd, ☎ 0562-3298921, [24]. This B&B is run by Col.Lamba, a retired army officer, and his wife. There are 7 rooms which are very clean, airconditioned and with TVs. Home cooked lunch and dinner available on request. Guest Kitchens also present. Highlight of the B&B is the hosts who are very warm and hospitable and will assist you with their local knowledge. Around ₹700 per person.

Hotel Jaiwal, 3 Taj Road, Sadar Bazar, ☎ +91 562 2363153. ₹75-325.

Hotel Kamal, (by the south gate of the Taj Mahal), ☎ 0091-562-2330126 (hotelkamal@hotmail.com). Around ₹300-850.

Hotel Neel Kanth, Fatehabad Road, ☎ +91 562 2362039. ₹100+. 

Mid-range

Aman Homestay, P-18, M.I.G Colony, Shilpgram Road, Taj Nagri Phase-1 Before Shilpgram Parking, Agra, ☎ +919536440915 (amanhomestayagra@gmail.com), [25]. checkout: 11:00 AM. A family owned, operated, guest house in a peaceful and quite colony away from the city traffic and pollution. 300 m away from the Taj Mahal's East Gate ticket office. They have free parking, 24hr free Wi-Fi, Satellite TV, all day hot water supply and garden. Dinner/Lunch can be ordered. Vegetarian meal will cost ₹400 per head per head. Double A/C Room Price [March 2016]: ₹1680.

Dayal Lodge (Comfortable & fully featured budget accommodation in Dayalbagh, Agra, India), 25 - New Agra, Dayalbagh Road, Agra - 5 (Near Bhagwan Talkis Crossing, Towards Dayalbagh), ☎ +91-9219606365, 9359848731, [26]. checkout: 11:00. "Best Hotel in Dayalbagh Area, Hotel Near Taj Mahal, Agra" Rs. 950.00.

Villa 21 Agra Bed & Breakfast, D 21, Jaipuria sunrise greens , Shamsabad road , Near Barauhli Ahir , Agra , Uttar Pradesh, India, ☎ +91 8171947447 +91 9319555232, [27]. checkout: noon. 6 kms from the Taj Mahal's East Gate Parking. It offers air-conditioned rooms each with cable TV with , broadband Wifi connection with Pick up and drop Complimentary , private bathroom with hot and cold water, doctor on call and direct-dial phone. One of the best in this range. Double Room Prices [March 2016]: from 2,00 Rs to 2,850 Rs. Breakfast and taxes included..

Hotel Priya, Near Priya Restaurant, Near TDI Mall, Fatehabad Road, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, ☎ +91 5622231350 ,+91 9837774948, [28]. checkout: noon. 400 metres from the Taj Mahal's East Gate Parking. It offers air-conditioned rooms each with cable TV with 100 channels, broadband Internet connection, private bathroom with hot and cold water, doctor on call and direct-dial phone. One of the best in this range. Double Room Prices [June 2012]: from 1,355 Rs to 2,850 Rs. Breakfast (150 Rs) and taxes not included..

Hotel Mandakini Villas, Fatehabad Road, Purani Mandi, Taj Ganj (Next to Western Gate of Taj Mahal), Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, ☎ +91 5626453854, [29]. checkout: noon. 200 metres from the Taj Mahal's West Gate. It offers air-conditioned rooms each with cable TV with 100 channels, broadband Internet connection, private bathroom with cold water and direct-dial phone. You might get a little bit warmer than cold water by requesting it from the reception a few times. It is not possible to sleep without ear plugs in the first floor because of the noise coming from corridor and reception all night. Get a room from higher floors. Rates start at ₹2,690.

Laurie's Hotel, Mahatma Gandhi Road, ☎ +91 562 2364536 (fax: +91 562 2268045). An old colonial hotel from the British era (some say it hasn't been upgraded since!), Laurie's retains some of the charm of travelling in India in days of yore. Rooms with impossibly high ceilings (fans, no aircon), lead off from verandahs with nice lawns outside. A swimming pool from yesteryears graces the lawn (unfortunately closed in the winter). But you can get British era service with 'bed tea', excellent freshly made chicken curry and rice to order, and creaky plumbing. Some people will love it, others hate it, but you can't be indifferent to Laurie's!

Hotel Raj, 2/26 south gate tajmahal (tajganj), ☎ 9999450107, [30]. Directly in front of the central entry of the Taj Mahal, simple but clean. Good view of taj mahal from roof top About ₹800.

 

Eat and Drink: 

Please note that Agra is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world but still, you will find options to eat within any budget.

Agra specialities are petha, a type of very sweet candy, and Dal Moth, a spicy lentil mix. Both are also popular souvenirs.

Chaat. Agra is a heaven for any Chaat lover. Chaat can be of various types but there is one thing common among them all is that they are spicy and you will find crowd outside virtually every chaat stall, especially popular places like Double Phatak (near Sikandra) for Mangores. You'll find quality Bhallas and Panipuri at Sadar and Belangunj. Samosa and Kachori are found at every sweet shop that flood the city. Some typical chaat items are Aloo Tikki (pan-fried potato cakes), paneer tikka (cubes of cottage cheese baked in a tandoor with spices), pani puri or golguppa (small round hollow shells filled with a potato-based filling and a spicy sweet blend of sauces), mangores, Samosaes, Chachori etc. If you want to savour the typical Agra Breakfast do remember to have a bite of one of those spicy Berahi and round it off with sweet Jalebies.

Sweets. There are quite a few good sweets shops all round the city. The best stores for buying the famous petha of Agra are at Hari Parwat, a short ride from Agra Fort. Amongst the well-known stores are Panchi's , Bhimsain BaidyaNath and The Pracheen Petha store. There are many types of petha available but, for the authentic experience, try either the plain one (ivory white) or Angoori Flavored (rectangular and yellow pieces soaked in sugar syrup). Other stores in Agra include: Bikanervala,Sri Dauji mishtan, Deviram, Munnalal Petha, Gopaldas, and Ajanta Sweets, Kamla Nagar. Do remember to round off your meal with a Joda(Pair) of Pan unique to the city.

There is also an abundance of Korean food at most restaurants.

No book or online travel guide could ever depict or describe Agra unless and until you go there, listen to the whisper of history, visually experience the poetic majesty of the great architecture. Every street and bi-lane of the city will take you to typical North Indian urban life, the smell sometimes dates back to 15th Century. The rich heritage is prevalent everywhere, in the street foods, in the local languages, in the music, in the finely ornamented handicrafts and everywhere else. The great massive forts, the enormous religious and cultural monuments with reminiscence of  classical art belonging to different dynasties and above all, the glorious poetry written in  white marble covering the firmament of the city named Taj Mahal make Agra one of the top destinations of the world. 

Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, some 200 km from Delhi.

Agra has three UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort in the city and Fatehpur Sikri nearby. There are also many other buildings and tombs from Agra's days of glory as the capital of the Mughal Empire.

The city has little else to recommend it. Pollution, especially smog and litter, is rampant and travellers are pestered by swarms of touts and hawkers at every monument, mosque, temple or palace. That said, the sites are some of the wonders of the world and no trip to India is complete without at least one visit to the Taj.

There are several restaurants in the Taj Ganj area, catering for the many tourists staying around the Taj Mahal.

Treat Restaurant, South Gate Taj Mahal, ☎ 9319697497 (treatagra@yahoo.co.in). breakfast, lunch and dinner. 20-60 for main dish, great Indian food..

The Silk Route Restaurant (TSR), 18-A/7-B Fatehabad Road (Opposite Howard Park Plaza), ☎ 0562 4002786, [12].

Shankara Vegis, South Gate Taj Mahal, ☎ 0562331384 (govind.gupta.1975@gmail.com). breakfast, lunch and dinner. 40-150, Great Thali dishes and shakes on the roof top with a wonderful view of the Taj.

Only Restaurant, ☎ 0562-2364333 / 2266508, [13]. 600-800 for main dish of 2.

Joney's place Taj ganj. Perfect for early breakfast, when you want to wake up early to visit the Taj at 6 Am. ₹10 Toast, ₹10 coffee, ₹15 cornflakes. However, be skeptical about the mains despite their self-bragging. Th

No book or online travel guide could ever depict or describe Agra unless and until you go there, listen to the whisper of history, visually experience the poetic majesty of the great architecture. Every street and bi-lane of the city will take you to typical North Indian urban life, the smell sometimes dates back to 15th Century. The rich heritage is prevalent everywhere, in the street foods, in the local languages, in the music, in the finely ornamented handicrafts and everywhere else. The great massive forts, the enormous religious and cultural monuments with reminiscence of  classical art belonging to different dynasties and above all, the glorious poetry written in  white marble covering the firmament of the city named Taj Mahal make Agra one of the top destinations of the world. 

Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, some 200 km from Delhi.

Agra has three UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort in the city and Fatehpur Sikri nearby. There are also many other buildings and tombs from Agra's days of glory as the capital of the Mughal Emp

No book or online travel guide could ever depict or describe Agra unless and until you go there, listen to the whisper of history, visually experience the poetic majesty of the great architecture. Every street and bi-lane of the city will take you to typical North Indian urban life, the smell sometimes dates back to 15th Century. The rich heritage is prevalent everywhere, in the street foods, in the local languages, in the music, in the finely ornamented handicrafts and everywhere else. The great massive forts, the enormous religious and cultural monuments with reminiscence of  classical art belonging to different dynasties and above all, the glorious poetry written in  white marble covering the firmament of the city named Taj Mahal make Agra one of the top destinations of the world. 

Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, some 200 km from Delhi.

Agra has three UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort in the city and Fatehpur Sikri nearby. There are also many other buildings and tombs from Agra's days of glory as the capital of the Mughal Empire.

The city has little else to recommend it. Pollution, especially smog and litter, is rampant and travellers are pestered by swarms of touts and hawkers at every monument, mosque, temple or palace. That said, the sites are some of the wonders of the world and no trip to India is complete without at least one visit to the Taj.

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The city has little else to recommend it. Pollution, especially smog and litter, is rampant and travellers are pestered by swarms of touts and hawkers at every monument, mosque, temple or palace. That said, the sites are some of the wonders of the world and no trip to India is complete without at least one visit to the Taj.

e 'speciality' dishes they serve -- be it Indian or Korean -- are by all means their 'adulterated' editions.

Kamat Hotel Roof top restaurant with view on the Taj. Correct quality. Beer available. ₹70 for a vegetable curry.

Best time to visit: 
January
February
March
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December
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Fatehpur Sikri is a UNESCO world heritage site. Built in the the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for about 10 years. Then it was abandoned for reasons that are still something of a mystery. It includes one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid. It is full of well preserved palaces and courtyards, and is a must see for anyone visiting Agra. In order to get a full idea of this site it is better to take a guide (₹300 for 2 hours for its charge-less entrance part) or have a good printed guide. The entrance to the site (even to the yard) is only without shoes.

Mathura is the birth place of Lord Krishna. There are many beautiful temples in Mathura, including the one built at Shri Krishna's birth place.

Vrindavan is also a religious place around 50 km from Agra, and quite close to Mathura. There are many temples here devoted to lord Krishna, a few of the more famous of which are Banke Bihari & the Iskcon Temple.

Nandgaon was the home of Shri Krishna`s foster father, Nand. On the top of the hill is the spacious temple of Nand Rai, built by the Hat ruler Roop Singh. The other temples here are dedicated to Narsingha, Gopinath, Nritya Gopal, Girdhari, Nand Nandan, and Yasodha Nandan, which is located half way up the hill. Nandgaon springs into action every year around March for the festival of Holi, when many a tourist flock the city for the famous "lath mar holi".

Bharatpur is about 56 km from Agra and houses the Famous bird sanctuary in which you can see thousands of rare birds including the Siberian Crane. There is the Lohagarh Fort, which remained invincible despite several attacks by the British. Just 32 km from Bharatpur is the Deeg Palace. This strong and massive fort was the summer resort of the rulers of Bharatpur and has many palaces and gardens.

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