Travel Guide > Asia > India > Agra
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.
For more information, check the Agra website.
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!
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.
Some of the notable excursions that can be done from Agra are:
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.
Agra is quite hot and dry during the summers with temperatures reaching up to 45º 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.
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.
Agra is a major railway station and trains are available from Agra to almost all the major cities of India. Fast trains (including the luxurious Shatabdi Express) are available between Delhi and Agra and the distance can be covered in around 2 hours. 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 6.20pm.
Agra also has several long-haul daily trains from Agra Fort to Kolkata and for Khajuraho, take any train to Jhansi (three hours) and a bus from there. Other trains run to Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum).
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.
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 5am 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, 10pm and midnight. Between March and October AC buses run three times daily.
No boat option is available. Agra is land-locked, but situated on the banks of the Yamuna river.
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.
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.
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.
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!
| Property | Address | Type | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Col. Lamba Indian Home Stay | 58, Gulmohar Enclave Shamashabad Road,Agra - 282 001 | Hostel | 85 |
| Gardenvilla Homestay | 11, Kaveri Vihar Phase-III Near John Milton School, | Guesthouse | 70 |
| Grand Hotel - Agra | 137 Station Rd, Agra Cantt | Hotel | 70 |
| Hotel Ajay International | near agra fort railway station/jama masjid daresi no1 | Hostel | 61 |
| Hotel Bhoomi Residency | 1, amarlok Taj link road, Taj Ganj, Agra (India) next to shilp gram | Hotel | 33 |
| Hotel Kamal | South Gate of Taj Mahal Tajganj | Hotel | 70 |
| Hotel Mandakini Villas | Purani Mandi, Taj Ganj Next to Western Gate of Taj Mahal | Hotel | 57 |
| Hotel Sidhartha | Western Gate Taj-Mahal | Hotel | 84 |
| Hotel Taj Plaza | Taj Mahal East Gate, Near Hotel Oberoi Amar Vilas, Shilpgram 'VIP' Road. | Hotel | 75 |
| Hotel The Oasis | 44 Bansal Nagar Fatehabad Road | Hotel | 52 |
| Rose Home Stay | 21 Old Idgah Colony Near Idgah Bus Stand | Hotel | 83 |
| Taj Home Stay | 26/3, Old Idgha colony, Near Idgha Bus stand | Hotel | 77 |
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
See also: International Telephone Calls
This is version 23. Last edited at 19:03 on Oct 26, 09 by Utrecht (+2201). 10 articles link to this page.

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