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Due to the very high number of tourists Agra it is a breeding ground for touts and people looking to separate you from your money. Try and limit your time in this once great city.
While Agra's heyday was as the capital of the Mughal empire between 1526 and 1658, the city was founded much earlier. The earliest reference to Agra is in the ancient epic, the Mahabharata, while Ptolemy was the first person to call it by its modern name. The recorded history of Agra begins around the 11th century, and over the next 500 years, the city changed hands between various kings, both Hindu and Muslim.
In 1506, Sultan Sikandar Lodi, the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, moved his capital from Delhi to Agra. His son Ibrahim Lodi was the last ruler of the Lodi dynasty, as he was defeated in 1526 by Babur, the first Mughal ruler, in the battle of Panipat. Agra fell too, and became the capital of the Mughals, whose rule over Agra was uninterrupted except for a brief period between 1540 and 1556. In 1540, Sher Shah Shuri overthrew Humayun became the ruler of much of North India, including Agra. After Sher Shah Suri's death his descendants proved unequal to the task of ruling the kingdom, and Hemu, a Hindu general of Suri became the effective ruler who would later crown himself King Hemachandra Vikramaditya just as the kingdom was facing an assault from the reinvigorated Mughals. In 1556, Hemu would be defeated and killed in the second battle of Panipat, and the Mughals regained Agra.
Mughals were great builders. Babur built the Aram Bagh (garden of relaxation) modeled after the garden of paradise, where he was eventually buried after his death. His grandson Akbar refurbished the Agra fort and built the Fatehpur Sikri, an entire city just on the outskirts of Agra. He also renamed Agra after himself, and the city was known as Akbarabad while it was in Mughal hands. Akbar's grandson Shah Jehan would give Agra its most famous monument, the Taj Mahal, which is the mausoleum of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj is constructed in white marble. It took 20 years to construct, and is now universally known as a monument to love. Legend has it that Shah Jehan wanted a replica of the Taj constructed in black marble that would be his final resting place. There is no actual support for this theory, but even if it were true, it would have been unlikely to be eventuated. His son Aurangzeb was austere and pious, and had no time or inclination for the ostentation of his forefathers, preferring to spend his money on wars in South India. In any case, even during Shah Jehan's reign, which was the period when the Mughal empire was at its height, the construction of the Taj put a strain on the resources of the empire and caused a min-famine around Agra. Shah Jehan was eventually buried in the white Taj, next to his beloved Begum.
Shah Jehan, in addition to giving Agra its greatest claim to fame, was also responsible for beginning its decline, as decided to shift his capital to Shahjehanabad, which we now know as Old Delhi, in 1658. Though Aurangzeb ordered a move back, this too was short lived, as he moved his headquarters down south to [wiki=dc0f01709c66590e837839d2b5a12eeb]Aurangabad[/wiki] to be focus on his wars. Agra declined, and so did the Mughal Empire. The city was eventually captured by the Marathas, who renamed it back to Agra. In 1803, it came under the British, who situated the Agra Presidency there, and when India gained independence, the city was incorporated into the state of Uttar Pradesh, and did not gain even the limited honour of being the state's capital, that distinction going to [wiki=a8c337e0d23e4937edd0bc47acd6ab21]Lucknow[/wiki], further east. It is now a tourist town, known for the Taj and a couple of other monuments.
Anyone interested in reading a novel based on the remarkable story behind the Taj Mahal's creation should consider Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors. Beneath a Marble Sky is an international bestseller, has won multiple awards, and is being made into a movie by Hollywood. Other book (historical fiction) is The Taj by Colin De Silva.
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Agra is 200 km southeast from Delhi and is one of the points of the tourist's Golden Triangle of Agra-[wiki=9baaebe1759ba1a6365a2b0539081516]Delhi[/wiki]-[wiki=e4b769db2a42d92d7311b02c3545d07d]Jaipur[/wiki]. Agra is also very well connected via rail and road with other nearby cities and tourist destinations.
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By plane
Service to Agra's Kheria Airport 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 .
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By train
Agra is on the main train line between the [wiki=9baaebe1759ba1a6365a2b0539081516]Delhi[/wiki]-[wiki=8ebaad59980c95ade797c903761fa815]Mumbai[/wiki] (Bombay) and [wiki=9baaebe1759ba1a6365a2b0539081516]Delhi[/wiki]-[wiki=361961d900d8171b305cb8f79b1aabc2]Chennai[/wiki] 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 [wiki=44bef2ee415c62f0ce01fbe6c5566250]Kolkata[/wiki]) 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 [wiki=9baaebe1759ba1a6365a2b0539081516]Delhi[/wiki] 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:
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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.
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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.
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By road
From [wiki=9baaebe1759ba1a6365a2b0539081516]Delhi[/wiki]: NH2, a modern divided highway, connects the 200 km distance from Delhi to Agra. The drive is typically 4-5 hours, a large chunk of which includes navigating the clogged roads around Delhi to get to the highway. The primary access to the highway is along Mathura Road in Delhi but, if coming from South Delhi or Delhi Airport, it is easier to take Aurobindo Marg (Mehrauli Road) and then work up to NH2 via Tughlakabad. While the highway is divided, it is important to keep an eye out for trucks, cars, and bullock carts heading the wrong way!
It is possible to hire a car with a driver (a big car for five persons from/to the Delhi airport costs ₹3500). But beware! If you need to get from Agra to the airport in order to catch a flight, be sure to allow plenty of time for the trip, as traffic conditions may increase the drive time significantly. Also, it is wise to know your driver. There are situations when he may take over five hours to cover the distance, and you cannot force him to drive any faster than an autorickshaw (tuk-tuk).
Latest news is the new Yamuna Expressway from greater Noida (Delhi) to Agra. A very modern six lane expressway, also known as Taj expressway. Specially for 3-5 people travelling by train (first class) and spending on tickets, better way is to rent a car - called tourist taxi in india. with yellow licence plates.(private cars have white licence plates)Two models of estate cars are very popular: Chevrolet Tavera and Toyota Innova. Choose Innova. Specially recommended if you travel with kids. The taxi comes with driver attached. From Delhi, via the new expressway, it should be two hours by car. Ordinary local bus takes 3 hours. Start early morning , around 5.00 Am, two hours to agra, you will be in agra by sunrise. All monuments are open from sunrise to sunset. Go around town in your own car , at your own leisure, can cover all monuments in one day, and after sunset start back for Delhi, should be in Delhi in time for dinner. This obviates the need to carry luggage around since it is only a day trip. Just check if the driver is knowledgeable old hand who knows his way around, and you may just have to pay for his lunch, breakfast etc. This will be little more expensive than train, but at your own leisure. Also INSIST on going by the new expressway, or tell them you WON'T pay him after you reach Delhi. Because the old highway takes anywhere between 4-6 hours. You will have to pay the toll on the way, about Rs. 320/- one way, for bus/truck it is Rs.1050/-.
*From [wiki=e4b769db2a42d92d7311b02c3545d07d]Jaipur[/wiki]: National Highway 11, a four lane divided highway, connects Agra with [wiki=e4b769db2a42d92d7311b02c3545d07d]Jaipur[/wiki] via the bird sanctuary town of [wiki=898e1a0752e346286192ee066843d719]Bharatpur[/wiki]. The distance of around 255 Km can be covered in around 4 hours.
if you come from jaipur to Agra or Agra to jaipur, you will have better choice to have breakfast or Lunch on very good heritage Rajputana Midway near Village Pipalkhera(Mahua)
*From [wiki=380881c53a8827af022e6f21423235fa]Gwalior[/wiki]: A distance of around 120 km, takes around 1.5 hours on the National highway 3 (Agra- Mumbai Highway)
*From [wiki=a8c337e0d23e4937edd0bc47acd6ab21]Lucknow[/wiki] / [wiki=8c5d367021315e68a2c7b1228c62f3cf]Kanpur[/wiki]: NH2, the divided modern highway, continues on to Kanpur (285km, 5 hours) and from there to points East ending in [wiki=44bef2ee415c62f0ce01fbe6c5566250]Kolkata[/wiki]. From Kanpur, NH25 heads for the city of [wiki=a8c337e0d23e4937edd0bc47acd6ab21]Lucknow[/wiki] (90 km, 2 hours).
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Tongas, electric buses and electric tempos are readily available, and the best way to get to the Taj where no cars are allowed. Auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws are available every where, remember to agree on fares clearly in advance. In case you are a foreigner, please ensure that you bargain everywhere and bargain hard! Generally things are available at 40% of the initially quoted fares.
UP Tourism conduct daily full day (Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort and Tajmahal; Rs 500/- per head) and half day tour (Agra Fort and Tajmahal; Rs 350/- per head; fees based on Dec, 2015) in AC buses. But both the cases, they took you to Tajmahal at the end of the tour in the evening. So, you may not get sufficient time for watching Tajmahal properly. Except IRCTC also conduct city tour in cars, but you need to book the cars by yourself and a bit costlier than the bus tour of UP tourism. Both the UP tourism and IRCTC have it's booking office in the platform no 1 of Agra Cantonment Railway Station.
The best way to experience the city is to take a walk on the Mall Road (Sadar). The street is full of handicraft and leather goods shops. You will also find plenty of food items quite unique to the city. Indian palate is generally very spicy. Please ensure that you carry antacid tablets in case you are not habitual to the spicy foods
As a guide, an auto rickshaw from Agra Cantonement station to the Taj Mahal is about Rs 80 (at least in off season); and a cycle rickshaw from the Taj Mahal to Agra Fort is Rs 40.
An air conditioned taxi for the day should cost around Rs 1200. They will charge slightly more if you want to go to Fatehpur Sikri as it's a bit further out. Be warned that the drivers will probably try to make unscheduled stops along the way at marble and textile shops for which they receive commissions. Firmly tell them that you're not interested in shopping - though this might not get you anywhere so try to just go with the flow - you won't be pressured into buying anything but if you have a tight schedule it can be annoying.
====List of private taxis====
If you need a taxi or a rickshaw to explore Agra.
*Auto-Rickshaw Shoketali, ☎ +91 099 278 863 29, An English-speaking, trustful and safe driver with long experience (a master in chaotic Agra traffic!!!!), knows every corner of Agra and its surroundings and will enrich your experience with his historic knowledge. He can also recommend you places honestly and according to your budget, no scams or tricks.
* Book cab at Savaari to explore Agra and enjoy your trip with clean car, courteous driver and on-time availability of cab .
* Book cab online India Taxi Online offer Agra sightseeing trip with clean car, courteous driver and on-time availability of cab .
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Agra's top two sights by far are the incomparable Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. When planning your sightseeing, take heed of the convoluted entry fee system: for Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Itmud-ad-Daulah, Sikandra and Fatehpur Sikri, you must pay a ₹500 levy to the Agra Development Authority in addition to the prices mentioned below. Once paid, the levy is valid for all sights, but only for one day. However, If you are not going to the Taj Mahal or happen to turn up on a Friday, then you do not have to pay the ₹500 levy but a smaller one if you are going to the other sites. Eg ₹50 for Red Fort
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Prices of monuments tickets
Current prices (June 2012) are: Rs 750 (for foreigners) for Taj Mahal (250 entrance + 500 levy) and ₹300 for Agra Fort (250 entrance + 50 levy). One gets ₹50 discount when presenting ticket for Taj Mahal at Agra Fort. The Taj Mahal entry fee also includes a 500mL bottle of water and shoe covers. Make sure you pick them up when you buy your ticket. For Indians, its Rs 20.
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Official Tour Guides
Official guides are available in Agra for INR 1035 (approx US$ 20) for a half day (including Taj Mahal & Agra Fort). Not many official Approved guides stand outside the monuments so if you require a official tour guide then you can book one of any foreign language spoken tour guides directly with contact no. from the Approved guides office,Agra.[url=http://www.agaagra.com]Office of Approved Guide Association Agra[/url]. Guides are recognized and approved by Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India.
Guides provided by most of travel agencies or hotels in Agra usually insist to visit a particulate shop and get big commission, this commission is distributed between unofficial Guides, travel agents or hotel's staff.
Any guide that charges less than that is probably an unlicensed tout. Most unlicensed touts stand outside the gate of Taj Mahal with fake IDs and focus more on taking you shopping rather than on presenting accurate history & information,
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Audio Guides
Effective April 2011, the Archaeological Survey of India introduced an official self guided audio tour facility of international standards for visitors. The tour allows visitors to experience the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort at their own pace, with authentic and factually accurate information. Visitors may avail of the audio guide facility from the official audio guide booth near the monument ticket counters. Prices for audio guide services are ₹105 (approx US$ 2) in English & Foreign Languages (currently French, Spanish, Italian, German) or ₹63 in Hindi & Indian Languages.
Reviews for the audio guides have been very positive on Tripadvisor and other travel websites and this is the recommended way to see the two Agra monuments. Recently, smartphone application and iPod tours have become available, including the official Taj Mahal app offered by AudioCompass [http://audiocompass.in] - the same company that provides the audio guides.
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Official Smartphone App
Recently, a plethora of smartphone apps has become available to help visitors tour the monuments. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) offers perhaps the most comprehensive ones through AudioCompass. Both the Taj Mahal Official Tour and the similar Agra Fort Official Tour are available for download for iOS and for Android. As of October 2015, the iOS versions of these tours can be purchased through the iTunes App Store for US$ 1.99 each, or packaged together with additional material describing Fatehpur Sikri for US$ 4.99.
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Taj Mahal
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.
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Agra Fort
The fort is similar in layout to the Red Fort in [wiki=9baaebe1759ba1a6365a2b0539081516]Delhi[/wiki], 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.
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Gardens
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.
* The first Mughal gardens, built by the first Mughal Emperor Babar, 500 m North of the Chini Ka Rauza.
* 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.
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Temples
A temple of Lord Shiva
* A Lord Shiva Temple.
* 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....
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* Very old temple.
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Other sights
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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
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Interactive Theatre, which is the first ever interactive cinema theatre in the world, each viewer holds a wireless remote unit with push buttons and a small LCD screen, enabling them to participate in a trivia game about the theme of the film. The show is called India in Motion, a 25 minute show where the audience will pass through today's India in, or on, a variety of typical vehicles and see the historical events at sites like Mohenjo Daro, Indraprastha and the Taj Mahal, experiencing the bumpy elephant rides with the wind blowing through their hair, or the swaying boat with salty spray on their faces. Before the actual show there is a interactive quiz on various topic relating to India.
* 10 day festival held in February/March every year at Shilpgram, near the Taj Mahal. For 2012 it is starting from 15th of March and continues till 25th of March. It is a festival of art, craft, culture, etc.
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*Experience not just the heritage monuments but also the city’s culture, cuisine, craft and life of the local people.
*A short tour of Delhi, Agra & Jaipur in 3 or more days is very popular among tourists as Golden Triangle tour. A typical tour will cover sightseeing in Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Jaipur and Delhi in that order and includes transport via car, plane or train, food and lodging in these three cities.
*A food tour of Agra which helps tourists discover ancient monuments as well as the cuisine of Agra and nearby places.
*Welcome to Taj Tours India(its time to flying with us )India's tour packages company . we are specialized in Agra Cycle/Bike Tours service and we also do group tours by bikes ( real sightseeing in India )in India . 8-10 people of group or less , we deals in many different way like Rajasthan tour , Golden city tour , Heritage tour ,Taj Mahal tour , Agra tour , Goa tour and also rent all kinds of vehicle (All India tour package company) .
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Agra has many shops selling various stone products, from jewellery to small boxes and plaques with inlay work resembling that on the Taj. The best of these are wonderful, and even the run-of-the-mill ones are rather pretty. Agra is also famous for its leather goods. Consider spending time in Sadar Bazaar for some shopping and enjoying cheap food.
Beware of being overcharged. Do not let anyone lead you to a shop, lest the price go up to cover their commission, typically 50%. Be very wary of the promises these people make. Bargain hard. Be prepared to walk away, you can nearly always get the same items in another shop. Also remember that in these globalized times, you can always order stuff you liked in your visit over the internet after you return. Expect to encounter petty and greedy shop owners who will resort to every lie in the book to make a sale (with initial markups of 1000-10000%).
Mughal Bazar on the Taj East Gate road, about 2km from the East Gate is a better place to shop for your obligatory Taj Mahal figurine vs. the little stores nearby the gate. Much more relaxed and friendly with better prices for the same goods, and no petty lies to make a sale.
Many local markets are there: SADAR BAZAR..a sophisticated market, Raja ki Mandi market, Sanjay Place for all the offices, Shah Market for electronics. All these markets are situated along the M G Road. Hospital Road Market and Subhash Bazar for clothing situated near Agra Fort railway station. Rawatpara market is for spices of all origin. Besides these there are many branded showrooms situated along the M G Road..
Many wholesale marble products are available at Gokul Pura (Market)near Raja Mandi (this place is near to M. G Road) which can be easily reached by auto rickshaw, the prices of any product is nearly 25% of that in the retail market.
Be careful with the jewels: Lots of stones are fakes and the price is very high!
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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 (made by roasting mess made out of boiled potatoes), 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.
There are several restaurants in the Taj Ganj area, catering for the many tourists staying around the Taj Mahal.
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*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. The '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.
*Three star restaurant with all facility like air condition hall with big LCD and all types food available except south Indian ₹250 per person.
* A great cheap place near the Taj. They do western food pretty well, and their rice pudding/pancakes are good. Sit up on the roof and you get a glimpse of the Taj over the roofs.
*A rooftop restro-bar with Taj Mahal at its backdrop. Good Music, a variety of cuisine to select from and good selection in bar menu. A place to relax, and enjoy a couple of drinks with good food.
*The food is cooked in clay ovens or tandoori in the traditional style of the Indian North-West Frontier region. This style of cooking requires great expertise on the part of the chefs, since the meat is not accompanied by any sauce or gravy, but only pre-marinated and cooked before serving.
*Bob Marley Restaurant makes Yumm Yumm, Indian, Chinese, Mughali and American specialist. Roof Top from which can See the Taj Mahal and Agra City skyline.
*welcome to Bob Marley Restaurant ( no woman no cry - no chapati no chai ). Best Mom Made Food and we also do cooking classes learn with us Indian traditional food , Indian food is so rich , tasty and spicy .we have nice roof top restaurant where you can enjoy view of Taj Mahal and Agra City view
*Sheroes Hangout is an initiative by Stop Acid Attacks campaign that was founded in New Delhi in 2013. As the idea of this space has evolved from a campaign for acid attack survivors, the ideas of beauty and importance of appearance in society remain the epicentre of discussions and programmes run from here. Simple menu. Pay what you wish. A must-visit when in Agra!
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Most hotel staff will be happy to find you a cold bottle of Indian beer for around ₹70-100, but there is virtually no nightlife in Agra outside of cultural shows at some of the larger hotels and restaurants. After getting off the streets of Agra and into your hotel, you will not want to go back anyway.
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Budget
"Best Hotel in Dayalbagh Area, Hotel Near Taj Mahal, Agra"
*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.
*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.
* 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.
*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.
*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.
*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.
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* Good budget hotel with some A/C rooms. 24 hr room service. Friendly staff & fantastic views of the Taj mahal from the roof top restaurant. ₹700
* Hot water, TV. Restaurant on the roof top. Be careful with the bed sheets, not very clean. Cloak room available.
* Comfortable enough, but they'll try an upsell with day trips almost constantly. Just say no - price doesn't go up.
* Many different types of rooms around a quiet inner yard with small trees and a respectable restaurant. In cheaper rooms hot water comes by the bucket. Free WiFi.
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Mid-range
"Best Hotel in Dayalbagh Area, Hotel Near Taj Mahal, Agra"
* 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.
* 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.
* A family owned, operated guest house in a peaceful and quite colony away from the city traffic and pollution. They have free parking, 24hr free Wi-Fi, cable TV, all day hot water supply and garden. Dinner/Lunch can be ordered. Vegetarian meal will cost ₹350 per head per head.
* 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.
* 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!
* Directly in front of the central entry of the Taj Mahal, simple but clean. Good view of taj mahal from roof top
* 9 km from agra airport. You will also get a nice view of taj mahal from there(3 kms from taj mahal).
* A family owned, operated guest house in a peaceful and quite colony away from the city traffic and pollution. They have free parking, 24hr free Wi-Fi, cable TV, all day water supply and accessible roof top. Dinner/Lunch can be ordered in advance. Vegetarian meal will cost ₹350 per head and Non-Vegetarian meal will cost ₹450 per head.
* Hotel Taj Resorts [url=http://www.hoteltajresorts.com/]]Located right nearby Shilpgram on the road towards the Eastern Gate. Convenient location as you will need to go to Shilpgram to buy tickets for your visit to the Taj Mahal, before walking 1km to the Eastern Gate entrance. Plan to go at 8am, as earlier it will likely be too dark/polluted to get a good view (though you will have larger crowds to deal with). Modern design of the hotel was built in 2010, is very clean and with friendly staff, 3.5star for 60-70USD/night. Good reasonably priced restaurant offering delicious fares, with rooftop seating (and a beautiful pool) that offers a great view of the Taj (if not blocked by terrible pollution). Conveniently located right nearby to an internet cafe where you can also book a day-trip tour to Fatehpur Sikri-Mathura-Vrindaven for Double Room Prices [June 2012[/url]: from 3999 Rs to 5999 Rs. Taxes not included.
* Clean room with hot water & free wifi, not far from Taj Mahal, about 20 mins tutu.
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Splurge
900 metres from the Taj Mahal's West Gate. Broadband Wifi Internet connection, private bathroom with hot and cold water, doctor on call and direct-dial phone. One of the best in this range.
* Sprawled over 35 acres of luxurious gardens, and in close proximity to the Taj Mahal
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Agra comes under Uttar Pradesh (west) circle as per TRAI. BSNL [url=http://www.upw.bsnl.co.in/],Airtel][url=http://airtel.in/level2_t7.aspx?path=1%2f105[/url]]are the two main providers of terrestrial telephone lines in Agra, while BSNL [url=http://www.bsnl.in[/url],]AirTel [url=http://airtel.in[/url],]Vodafone [url=http://www.vodafone.in[/url]]and Idea [url=http://www.ideacellular.com/[/url]]provide GSM (triband) and Reliance [url=http://www.rcom.co.in[/url]]and Tata [http://www.tataindicom.com/[/url]provide CDMA services.
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Internet
There are several internet cafes / Cyber Cafes from where you can access the internet for sending email or uploading your digital photos.
*Reliance World[url=http://www.relianceworld.in]]has broadband connectivity at many location across the city.
*Sify Iway[http://www.iway.com/[/url] also offers broadband connectivity at different locations spread all over the city.
Many cheap café's, such as the Taj Cafe also have free wifi for you to use.
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[wiki=58ddbc454a0188aa84cd56cce5517cd4]Fatehpur Sikri[/wiki] 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.
*[wiki=2ac4b3cda74a65301ad1c6e520b4d8de]Mathura[/wiki] is the birth place of Lord Krishna. There are many beautiful temples in Mathura, including the one built at Shri Krishna's birth place.
*[wiki=5ba9a8df9de4bfbd6b39490ab2db2c55]Vrindavan[/wiki] is also a religious place around 50 km from Agra, and quite close to [wiki=2ac4b3cda74a65301ad1c6e520b4d8de]Mathura[/wiki]. There are many temples here devoted to lord Krishna, a few of the more famous of which are Banke Bihari & the Iskcon Temple.
*[wiki=c0bf9db2c76ce8d5665e4a1665ab9199]Nandgaon[/wiki] 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".
*[wiki=898e1a0752e346286192ee066843d719]Bharatpur[/wiki] 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.
*[wiki=cca738efef5e805182b564d955ca1cd6]National Chambal Sanctuary[/wiki], (70 km away) is a natural sanctuary and the home of the endangered Indian gharial (a relative of the crocodile) and of the Ganges River Dolphin (also endangered).
[wiki=ea51afe60c4a02ae1a9c704026353f6e]fr:Agra[/wiki]
[wiki=8561cfba85dde646715b80d06c1e7173]hu:Agra[/wiki]
[wiki=0be94931fe66bb8abbea193d98907fad]it:Agra[/wiki]
[wiki=96ae23d1594e1229da524495be69c6c5]ja:アグラ[/wiki]
[wiki=a487fb7ea8aa04e1363b4848fb425d58]pl:Agra[/wiki]
[wiki=b0d0f948dc4ec2581f5b744b5608e52e]pt:Fatehpur Sikri[/wiki]
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