Agra, India is the most popular tourist destination in the country due to the famous Taj Mahal. As tourists note, if there was only a palace in the city, it would definitely be worth coming here. Travelers who are fed up with European architectural and historical sights, once they see the Taj Mahal, experience admiration and sincere surprise. Of course, there are many other interesting tourist places here. Our review will be of interest to anyone who is planning a trip to India, namely to the city of Agra.
General information
The city of Agra is located in the northern part of the country, namely in the Uttar Pradesh region. Today it is the largest tourist center in India, but in the past it was the main administrative center of the Mughal Empire. In addition to the majestic Taj Mahal, the fort of Akbar the Great, the padishah of the Empire, has been preserved, and in the suburbs there is a tomb.
Interesting fact! Just a few kilometers from the city of Agra is the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri, built by Akbar the Great in honor of the birth of his heir.
In the past, the city was inhabited mainly by artisans, modern residents honor the traditions that have developed over the centuries-they create copper products, process ivory, marble.
Agra is built on a bend in the Yamuna River and is home to about 1.7 million people. In the lower part of the village, the tourist will have to face numerous rickshaws, merchants and annoying guides. By the way, sometimes the persistence and importunity of local merchants causes irritation. The fort and the Taj Mahal are located a few kilometers apart on opposite sides of the bend. In the south-west direction, after another 2 km, two stations were built – a bus and a railway.
Useful to know! Budget-oriented tourists choose to stay in the Taj Ganj area – a tangled maze of streets located just south of the Padishah’s mausoleum.
Historical excursion
Description of the city of Agra begins with the distant 15th century, when the settlement was founded. In the middle of the 16th century, Babur settled in Agra, who initiated the construction of fortifications, thanks to the fort, the settlement soon became the capital of the Mughal Empire. It was from this time that Agra began to develop rapidly. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, the Taj Mahal and other mausoleums were built in the city. However, in the mid-17th century, the administrative center of the empire was moved to Aurangabad, and Agra gradually declined. During the 18th century, the city repeatedly became the cause of attacks by Pashtuns, Jats and Persians, closer to the 19th century, the Marathas completely destroyed Agra.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the city was captured by the British and began to develop it. Soon the settlement became an important shopping center, the railway was launched, and industrial enterprises were operating.
Useful to know! In the middle of the 19th century, the British were forced to leave the city under the onslaught of local residents.
Since then, the situation in the city has changed dramatically – heavy industry has gradually lost its fundamental importance for Agra, but tourism and the Taj Mahal have become an important source of income.
Climate
The city of Agra in India is characterized by a humid subtropical climate, it is hot, even sultry. The hottest months are April-June, when the daytime temperature sometimes reaches +45 degrees, and at night it becomes somewhat cooler – +30 degrees. In winter, from December to February, the air temperature is in the range of +22…+27 degrees in the daytime and +12…+16 in the dark.
It is noteworthy that the monsoon season in Agra is not as strong as in other regions of India, the rainy season falls in June-September.
Important! The best time to visit Agra is in winter, when the weather is quite comfortable for European tourists, sunny and without rain.
Attractions
It is a mistake to think that the city is notable only for the Taj Mahal, there are a large number of historical buildings and other interesting tourist places.
The Taj Mahal
The main attraction of Agra (India) is more than 350 years old, construction began in the 17th century, lasted more than two decades, and about 20 thousand people worked at the facility.
Interesting fact! The idea of building the palace belongs to Emperor Shah Jahan V, who decided to perpetuate the memory of his deceased wife in this way.
Today, there is a museum on the territory of the mausoleum, where you can see exhibits dedicated to the history of the construction of the Agra landmark.
Useful information:
- opening hours-daily (except Fridays) from 6-00 to 19-00;
- the mausoleum can be visited with an evening excursion-from 20-30 to 00-30, duration 30 minutes;
- Please note that the property can only be entered by electric car or bicycle rickshaw;
- you can have a limited list of things with you – a passport, 0.5 liters of water, a phone and a camera, the rest of the things tourists leave in the storage room;
- the biggest queue at the South Gate is the main entrance, but it opens later than the others, and the mausoleum can also be accessed through the East and West Gates.
For more information about the Taj Mahal with photos, see this article.
Red Fort
The attraction is a whole architectural complex, where the traditions of various cultures and traditions of the Mughal Empire period are collected. Construction work began in the middle of the 16th century. Each building on the territory of the complex is made in a certain architectural or religious style-Islamic, Hindu.
Interesting fact! The height of the defensive structure reaches 21 m, and a moat surrounds the fort, where crocodiles used to live.
What to see on the territory of the attraction:
- Jahangiri Mahal Palace, where women of the royal dynasty lived;
- Musamman Burj Tower-home of two of the most powerful Mughal women;
- private auditorium and hall for state receptions;
- Mirror Palace;
- Mariam-uz-Zamani Castle, where Akbar’s third wife lived.
Important! The ticket price is 550 rupees. This price also includes access to all expositions on the territory of the attraction.
More detailed information about Agra Fort is available on this page.
Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daul
The landmark is built entirely of white marble and decorated in traditional Islamic architecture. The tomb is notable for its elaborate inlay work. Four minarets stand at the corners of the structure. Visually, the tomb resembles a precious object, as the builders used complex architectural techniques, unusual decoration.
A poor merchant from Iran was traveling with his wife to India, and on the way they had a daughter. Since the family had no money, the parents decided to keep the baby. However, the girl screamed and cried so loudly that her father and mother came back to pick her up, and in the future, the daughter brought them good luck. Soon Giyas Beg became a minister and treasurer, and was also awarded the title of pillar of the state, which in the local dialect sounds-Itmad-ud-Daul.
Entrance to the tomb is 120 rupees. Before visiting, you need to take off your shoes, tourists are allowed to wear shoe covers.
Shish Mahal or Mirror Palace
The attraction is located on the territory of Amber Fort. The palace was built in the 17th century and was originally used as a bathhouse for women living at the court. Then the building was converted into a hotel, and today the attraction is open to the public. Tourists note the amazing mirror mosaic, which is decorated with ceilings and walls. With the help of glass, floral patterns were laid out, while both transparent and colored glass were used.
Interesting fact! The attraction has no windows, light gets here only through the doors, and the lighting effect is created thanks to thousands of glass pieces.
Entrance to the fort costs 300 rupees, but there is no need to pay for visiting the palace separately, since the entrance ticket gives you the right to move freely around the territory. If you wish, you can use the services of a guide, but this is not necessary, since there are information signs in the palace.
Many tourists note that the Shish Mahal is in some ways brighter than even the Taj Mahal. The attraction stands out among other structures with a special radiance and brilliance.
The attraction is located in the north-east direction from the grape garden, it is impossible to pass by it. Tourists celebrate the filigree work of masters who managed to create not just a palace, but a real work of art.
Interesting fact! In the evenings, the palace hosts a theatrical performance with candles.
The only drawback is that it is impossible to go inside the attraction, so tourists can only admire the structure from the outside.
Recommendations:
- there are always a lot of people near the attraction, but you can “catch” the moment when guests are interested in other structures and pay attention to the Shish Mahal;
- for a walk, choose comfortable shoes, because you will have to walk a considerable distance on the territory of the fort;
- it is best to visit the attraction in the evening, when the palace glows and shimmers.
Accommodation, places to stay
If you want to save money on your accommodation, pay attention to the Taj Ganj area, near the Taj Mahal. If you are interested in more comfortable conditions, choose a hotel in the Sadar Bazaar area, from here you can easily reach all the city’s attractions.
Useful to know! For hotel rooms with a view of the Taj Mahal, you will have to pay 30%, and in some cases even 50% more than for a regular apartment.
- Best budget accommodation in Agra (guesthouses and hostels) it costs from $ 6 to $ 12.
- In 2-star hotels, rooms cost $ 11 – $ 15.
- For a room in an inexpensive 3-star hotel, you will have to pay from$20 – $ 65.
- Middle-class hotels (4 stars), with their own restaurant and quite comfortable conditions, offer rooms at prices ranging from$ 25 to $ 110.
- A 5* hotel room will cost at least$ 80 per night.
It is not recommended to choose too cheap accommodation, as there is a chance to stay in a hotel with insects, in a noisy place.
Where to eat and food prices
Since the Taj Ganj area is tourist-oriented, there are no problems with choosing restaurants, cafes, and street food here. Several years ago, cases of poisoning were recorded in Agra, so it is recommended to choose places where you can eat especially carefully.
More comfortable and fashionable establishments are available in the Sadar Bazaar area.
A quick snack (light breakfast or light lunch) and a cup of coffee in Agra are available for just$2.8. Lunch in a restaurant without alcohol for one person will cost from $ 3.5 to $ 10. A full meal at a fast food chain restaurant costs$5.0.
How to get there from Delhi
Delhi and Agra are separated by 191 km if you draw a straight line, but highways will have to overcome 221 km.
You can choose to travel by bus or train.
About fifty regular buses depart daily from Delhi to Agra. The bus schedule is from 5-15 to 24-00, the interval is from 5 to 30 minutes. Tourists spend from 3.5 to 4 hours on the road.
Useful to know! There are two types of buses running between the cities:
- tourist – comfortable, with free wi-fi;
- local basses are sent as they fill up, but they are less comfortable because they are usually crowded.
Depending on the type of bus, ticket prices also differ. If the local bus fare starts from $ 1.7, then a ticket for a tourist flight will cost$4. You can buy tickets directly from the driver, but it is better to buy tickets for a tourist flight in advance, they are sold at the tourist center.
Since there are often traffic jams on the roads of India, it is better to use the train, they run between cities daily from 4-30 to 23-00, the interval is from 25 minutes to 1 hour.
Departure from several train stations:
- New Delhi;
- Nizamuddin;
- Delhi Sarai Rohila;
- Adarsh Nagar;
- Subzi Mandi Delhi.
The train is in transit from 2.5 to 3 hours. Transport arrives at Agra Central Railway station.
A tip! The most comfortable travel conditions on Express trains, namely in 1st class cars.
Cheapest tickets (for 3rd class cars) they cost from 90 rupees, and for travel in a class 1 car you will have to pay 1010 rupees. Tickets can be purchased online, on the website of local railways.
Moving around the city
The most common modes of transport in Agra are auto-rickshaw (tuk-tuk), bicycle rickshaw and taxi. The cost of travel depends on many factors, even on the time of day.
Auto-rickshaw (tuk-tuk)
Vehicles are yellow-green in color and run on compressed gas. The ticket office, where you can pay for auto-rickshaws, is located near the train station and is open around the clock.
Approximate travel prices:
- Sadar Bazaar Sikandra – Rs 90;
- Taj Mahal – 60 rupees;
- Fatehabad Road – Rs 60;
- rent of transport for 4 hours – 250 rupees.
Bicycle Rickshaw
Travel costs from Rs 20 to Rs 150, depending on the distance and duration of the trip and your ability to bargain.
Taxi
Next to the station there is a counter where you can pay for taxi services. It works around the clock. Prices range from Rs 70 to Rs 650 (taxi for 8 hours).
Tips and Tricks
- For a holiday with children, Agra is not very suitable – the city is included in the list of the most polluted in India. In addition, the local population reacts to European tourists, trying to touch their clothes.
- There is no nightlife in Agra, there are no discos and night clubs.
- If you want to experience the local culture, visit the Kalakriti Cultural & Convention Center and watch the performance.
- Not all bars in Agra are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages, and it is also not easy to find shops that specialize in selling alcohol.
- Be sure to visit local shopping centers and markets, where you can safely bargain.
- The biggest danger in Agra is dirty vegetables, fruits, poor-quality water, annoying taxi drivers, children.
- Women are not recommended to dress too openly-shorts and T-shirts.
Agra (India) is a small, but perhaps one of the most popular tourist cities. People come here to see the unique Taj Mahal and visit other historical, architectural and religious attractions.
