Agra

Introduction

Taj Mahal

© All Rights Reserved magdabis

The earliest reference of Indian Agra comes from the epical age, when Mahabharata the Indian Epic refer Agra as Agravana. In the sources prior to this, Agra has been referred as Arya Griha or the abode of the Aryans. The first person who referred Agra by its modern name was Ptolemy (Claudius Ptolemaeus).

While unfolding its history you will stumble upon its great architectural heritage in Agra, which stands out beyond many in the world as a symbol of love in the great monument the Taj Mahal. Because of this Agra is one of the prominent destinations for people all across the world.

Sights and Activities

Taj Mahal

Any visit to India would be incomplete without a visit to the world famous Taj Mahal, which is often described as the “Monument of Love”. Taj Mahal was built in the 17th century by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Shahjahan's period was a golden era for the architectural skills and for their over all beautifications. The Taj Mahal was constructed entirely out of white marble and was included in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World announced in Lisbon on 7th July 2007.

Dawn visits or visits at sundown are great opportunites for really atmospheric photographs. At first glance the Taj Mahal looks to be solid white marble, but on closer inspection it is intricately inlaid with semi-precious stones, inscriptions and floral patterns. In the strong midday sun it can be dazzling, but in the more mellow morning and evening lights it brings out all the colours and then you can really feel the romance and history of this beautiful monument.

In order to get to the Taj Mahal you will need to take an electric vehicle at a certain point. You won't be dropped off in front of the Taj but will then have to take a short walk to the Taj. During this walk you will be approached by lots of aggressive street vendors trying to sell you everything from inlaid marble and postcards. It is best to avoid and ignore them as the same items are available in the city centre at a much lower price. All of this hassle is worth it as the Taj is just unbelievable!

Agra Fort

Apart from the Taj Mahal, the imposing Agra Fort is something which should not be missed. The construction of this fort was started by Mughal Emperor Akbar and later on additional building were added by his son and grandson. The fort complex has numerous building of importance like the Moti Masjid, Sheesh Mahal, Jehangir’s Palace, Deewane-E-Am and Deewane-E-Khas.

Further afield

Some of the notable excursions that can be done from Agra are:

• Fatehpur Sikri is located about 40 kilometres from Agra, was founded by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar in the year 1564. Tourists visiting Agra must not miss this beautiful royal city which can be easily covered as a day-trip. The trip out to Fatehpur Sikri will take you some rural villages. If you are traveling independently don't miss the opportunity to stop and visit some of these rural villages. It will give you a peek into the Indian culture and life. An imposing gateway called “Buland Darwaza” guards the entrance to this city. Another notable structure is the marble tomb of Salim Chisti, the great Sufi saint who had foretold Akbar that he would be blessed with a male child. Besides these, the other structures not to be missed in this city complex are: Jodha Bai Palce, Birbal Bhawan, Panch Mahal, Deewane-e-aam and Deewane-E-Khas. Be prepared for the agressive hawkers trying to sell their stuff, just avoid them. If you are lucky to arrive at a quiet time you can get some great photo opportunities.
• Sikandra tomb is just 12 kilometres from Agra city lies the tomb of Emperor Akbar which has been built in a secular style combining the best of Muslim and Hindu Architecture. Located centrally in the square plan, at the junction of four causeways dividing the garden into four quarters, the main imposing tomb building has five storeys and stands on a high stone platform. There are beautiful panels adorned with very lovely and intricate inlaid mosaic work. The mortuary chambers are on the ground floor and the vestibule leading to the Akbar's tomb is decorated with floral and Arabic calligraphic designs. There are other chambers that include the tombs of Aram Banu and Shukru-n-nisa (daughters of Akbar), Zebu-n-nisa (daughter of Aurangzeb) and Sulaiman Shikoh (son of Shah Alam). The first storey houses a large platform and corridors roofed by stone arches in each façade. There are several storeys that reduce in size as they ascend and the top most storey is entirely made of delicate white marble screens and has no roof.
• Itmad-ud-daulah tomb is a mausoleum of Mirza Ghiyas Beg(also referred to as Itmad-ud-daulah), commissioned by her daughter Nur Jahan, the wife of then Mughal Emperor Jehangir. This mausoleum located on the banks of Yamuna River(left bank), is surrounded by gardens and walkaways, is often referred to as the Baby Taj.It has the same Mughal style and symmetry as the more impressive Taj Mahal and was built around 1622 and whilst you are in Agra, it makes a pleasant excursion as it is receives less visitors than the Taj itself. The towers or minarets are about 13 metres tall. The Rajasthani marble walls are also very lovingly decorated, using the same process of inlaid semi precious stones; cornelian, jasper, lapis lazuli, onyx, and topaz, as with the Taj Mahal. Mirza Ghiyas Beg, incidentally is the grandfather of Mumtaz Mahal (also known as Arjumand Bano and daughter of Asaf Khan), the wife of the emperor Shah Jahan, responsible for the construction of the Taj Mahal.
• Radha Swami Samadhi is located in Dayal Bagh, around 15 kiometres from Agra. This magnificient building built in white marble houses the Samadhi of the founder of Radha Swami Sect and has intricate designs and patterns inside.

Events and Festivals

Taj Mahotsav

Every year during the month of February, the tourism authorities organize a festival which is known as Taj Mahotsav. Cultural activities showcasing the rich heritage of the region are displayed to entertain the tourists. Visitors can enjoy the spectacular display of folk music and dance and also enjoy the authentic Mughlai cuisine during this period.

Weather

Agra is quite hot and dry during the summers with temperatures reaching up to 45 °C in the month of June. The best time to visit Agra is during winters (November-February). This area does not receive much rainfall and most of the rainfall occurs during July and August.

Getting There

By Plane

The government is planning a new international airport which is expected to be operational in around 3 years time. For now, the small Agra Airport only receives flights from Delhi by Kingfisher Airlines. The nearest big airport is Delhi International Airport, which is about 200 kilometres away.

By Train

Agra is a major railway station and trains are available from the city to almost all the major cities of India. Agra has two major stations, namely Agra Cantt and Agra Fort, visitors should check the departure station printed on the ticket to avoid any confusion. Trains are the best way to reach Varanasi, Jaipur and Haridwar (for Rishikesh) as well.

Agra Cantt train station is an important stop on the main Delhi–Mumbai (Bombay) line, with several trains daily from both New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin train stations. The fastest and most comfortable train to and from Delhi is the daily AC Shatabdi Express (two hours). It leaves New Delhi at 6:15am and departs from Agra for the return trip at 8:30pm, making a daytrip possible.

Most east–west trains now leave from Agra Fort station. For Varanasi the best option is the nightly Marudhar Express, which leaves Agra Fort train station at 9:15pm, reaching Varanasi around 9:30am the next morning. The same train also runs west to Jaipur, leaving Agra at 6:15am, reaching Jaipur at 11:20am.

Agra also has several long-haul daily trains to Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum). Recently Khajuraho has been directly connected to Agra with an overnight train leaving Agra at 11:20pm and arriving in Khajuraho next morning at 06:50am.

Further information about the train routes, schedule, available of berths and fares can be checked on IRCTC website.

By Car

Taxis are easily available from Delhi/Jaipur and the quality of road on Agra-Delhi section is excellent. However, the distances are further than people expect so allow about four hours for the journey by car from Delhi. It takes around 4 hours by car from Delhi to Agra depending on the traffic.

By Bus

State transport buses and also private buses regularly ply between Agra and the nearby cities. Most long-haul buses leave from Idgah bus station. Hourly buses run to Delhi’s Sarai Kale Khan bus station (five hours) via Mathura (1½ hours). Deluxe AC buses depart at 7:30am and 3:30pm. Hourly buses go to Jaipur (six hours) and two buses daily go to Khajuraho (10 hours) leaving at 5:00am and 6:30am. Frequent buses head off to Fatehpur Sikri (one hour) and Bharatpur (1½ hours).

From Agra Fort bus station buses leave for Dehra Dun (12 hours), Haridwar (11 hours), Lucknow (10 hours) and Delhi (five hours). Rajasthan government buses depart from Hotel Sakura, close to Idgah bus station. Deluxe buses run hourly to Jaipur (5½ hours) between 6:30am and 2:30pm and then at 4:30pm, 5:30pm, 7:30pm, 10:00pm and midnight. Between March and October AC buses run three times daily.

By Boat

No boat option is available. Agra is land-locked, but situated on the banks of the Yamuna river.

Getting Around

By Public Transport

The local sightseeing in Agra can be done on Autos-rickshaws and taxis. You need to bargain and fix the fare beforehand before engaging any Auto-rickshaw. Taxis can be hired for excursions to Fatehpur Sikri and Sikandra. Sometimes you can bargain with an auto-rickshaw driver for a rate to be hired for the whole day and then see the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and 'Baby Taj' etc. all in one day and take a detour through the back streets to get a proper look at the city away from the main tourist sites.

Eat

The architectural wonders of Agra are as amazing as is the food from the Northern region, which traces its descent from Persian cuisine. It is the Mughal people who introduced the aromatic pilafs and biryanis. The spicy kormas and koftas were created for the tables of Emperors.

Drink

Always drink bottled water or purified water in Agra and in all India if you want to avoid sickness. It is always wise to check the seal on the water bottle as in places where they expect lots of tourists there are those who will try and make some extra rupees by re-filling bottles with tap water to sell on to gullible tourists.

Sleep

Plenty of accommodation ranging from budget to expensive hotels is available to suit every budget. It is advisable to book in advance if you are visiting Agra during the peak season (December to February). However, there are a lot of modern style hotels that are quite charmless and not alot of places have local authentic style, but Agra is not somewhere most travellers choose to languish as it is all about the Taj Mahal and the locals know that the tourist will keep on coming regardless of the standard and charm of the accommodation, but they may not go back again!

Budget

Learn

• Agra University

Keep Connected

Internet

Wi-Fi is not available freely as the access is restricted to mostly bigger hotels and resorts. There is no cause for worry as plenty of cybercafes providing internet access at affordable rates are available throughout the city.

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

Post

India Post is the national postal service of India, and on their website you find details about prices to send postcards, letters and parcels, both domestically and internationally. For most postcards to send internationally, it is better to visit the post office before writing on the card as you may need quite a few stamps. Parcels must be taken to a tailor, he will then sew it up in white linen. Make sure he seals it with red wax, otherwise the post office may refuse to send it or try to get you to pay them to do it. Sewing up a parcel should only cost 50rs to 200rs. In general, post offices are open from 10:00am to 1:00pm and 1:30pm to 4:30pm in most bigger towns and cities, though there are regional variations and some might keep longer hours or be open during (part of) the weekend as well. Ask around.

External Links

For more information, check the official Agra website.