Agra, located in western Uttar Pradesh state, northern India. The land of Taj, Agra is one of the most popular cities in the world. The city is famous for being the capital of the Mughal emperors from 1526 to 1658. It is a major tourist destination for its many Mughal-era buildings such as Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife and Queen Mumtaz Mahal in 1631, who died giving birth to his child and whose last wish to her husband was to build such a tomb in her memory which the world has never seen before. Agra is the well known glorious city from the time of Mahabharata. Most of the Mughal generations maintained Agra as their capital. Agra achieved glory and prestige during the rule of Emperor Akbar. Agra is famous for its markets and candy for Petha.
How to Reach:
Agra is just 200 odd kilometers away from Delhi. Any international tourist visiting Agra would land in India in New Delhi and then travel to Agra from New Delhi. There are numerous options to reach Agra from Delhi and this article will go in detail about each mode of transportation.
By Air:
The nearest domestic airport to Agra is located 7 km away from the city of Agra. The nearest international airport to Agra is located in Delhi. You can find numerous flights every day from Delhi to Agra. The airport in Agra is a military base airstrip, which allows commercial vehicles during peak season.
By Train:
Agra is connected well with Delhi via rail routes. Agra has three railway stations within its boundaries namely, the Raja ki Mandi, Agra Cantonment, and the Agra Fort station. You can find local trains, super-fast trains, semi-luxury trains, chair car executive trains, and even luxury trains running between Agra and Delhi.
By Road:
The main bus stand or depot in Agra is located in Idgah. This depot receives buses from numerous parts of the country including Delhi. You can find cabs from any part of New Delhi to Agra, throughout the year. NH2 route connects Delhi with Agra and the new Taj Expressway has reduced the driving time.
Things To Do:
Many different locations in the city offer great and artistic views of the Taj Mahal. It is advisable to visit during sunrise and sunset to get splendid views. Visit the Taj Mahal for the best view is during sunrise. enjoy sightseeing to heritage places like Agra Fort, Jahangir Mahal, the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah, etc. For nature lovers, Agra has the colorful landscapes of Mehtab Bagh, Dayal Bagh, and Anguri Bagh.
What To Eat:
Various restaurants and hotels are available in Agra which offers a wide variety of cuisines and specialties of different places. Hotels organize themed dinners for tourists serving over centuries and loved by generations so far. Agra is famous in India for its sweet dish 'Petha'.
Petha is believed to have medicinal traits and is considered beneficial for blood pressure, hydration, brain growth, and more. The best place to buy Petha in Agra is Panchi Petha located at Hari Parvat Crossing. Dal moth is a mixture of nuts, spices, lentils, and oil. It is a traditional Namkeen crispy, spicy, and a little bit greasy. The best Dalmoth can be found in Panchi Petha and Baluganj. Bedhai is a typical breakfast, usually served at street stands in Agra. This is a sweet and spicy combination that consists of two parts: spicy bedhai and sweet Jalebi.
Paratha is a famous dish of the Mughlai Cuisine and Agra is famous for it. Parathas in Agra are mostly vegetarian. The Mughlai Food is a souvenir of the Mughal era in India. The food has been borrowed from the Mughal kitchen. The Mughlai dish mainly consists of meat enriched with creamy, flavored curries; with lots of dried fruits with the ground as well as whole spices.
Shop at:
Agra is well known for handicrafts and architecture. It is well known for the marble work with sandstone and crafts. Different types of carpets, brassware, and leatherwear will be available here. It is also famous for embroidery cloth wors and precious jewels. Tourists are most attracted by the zari sarees of Agra.
Places To Visit:
- Jama Masjid
- Akbar’s Tomb
- Fatehpur Sikri
- Agra Fort
- Taj Mahal
- Moti Masjid
Agra Weather:
Summer (Apr - Jul)- The summer months are extremely hot in Agra. Avoid visiting Agra during these months.
Monsoon (Jul - Sep)- The monsoons are not a bad time to visit Agra. It might be quite humid.
Winter (Oct-Mar)- These are the best months to visit Agra.