Agra Destination Guide

Agra is located in south-western Uttar Pradesh, northern India’s most populous state. As the home of the Taj Mahal, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Agra is a destination that’s on the wish list of every visitor to India. Some of India’s most famous and well preserved monuments are to be found here. So significant are they culturally and historically that three of them have been nominated as UNESCO World Heritage sites. There’s the Taj Mahal of course and also, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. The Taj undoubtedly is the best known; this sublimely beautiful structure alone has put Agra on the world tourism map.

From the glorious wonder of the world, The Taj Mahal, to the marvellous Agra Fort, take your time to explore Agra.

Our Agra destination guide together with our Agra tour suggestions will tell you all you need to know about the best places to visit in Agra. We also have some useful travel information for your India holiday.

Things to See & Do in Agra

The Taj Mahal is so unique a monument that it has been named one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. No where else can one find a structure so achingly beautiful, of such perfect proportions. Conceived as a mausoleum, it immortalises the love of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his favourite queen, Mumtaz Mahal. Construction on it began in 1631and 22 years passed before it was complete. A staggering 20,000 labourers worked on this ancient marvel. Made of pure white marble from Persia and Italy, it is a wondrous sight at all times. It has a special magic though, when viewed in moonlight on a cloudless night.

Though the Taj is in a league of its own, Agra is home to several other magnificent structures. The Agra Fort is one. Built of red sandstone by Emperor Akbar, it commemorates his rise to power after his coronation in 1654. Though intended to be a fortress, it also served as a royal palace. The many palaces that can be seen inside were added on by his successors.

Since they were built at various periods in history, the buildings and palaces inside Agra Fort are a fascinating assimilation of varied architectural styles.

This Mughal garden was built by the first Mughal, Babur. History has it that Babur was initially buried here, though his coffin was later shifted to Kabul in Afghanistan. Built along the river Yamuna, these gardens are open all day long. To the south of the gardens, some 2- 3 km away, is Chini ka Rauza, the mausoleum of Allana Afzal Khan, Shah Jahan’s Persian-born Prime Minister. The structure is famous for being designed exclusively with glazed tiles, a first in Indo-Persian architecture.

Situated 10 km to the north of Agra is the under construction site of Dayal Bagh, the white marble samadhi (grave) of the founder of the Radha Soami religious sect. You can see artisans working at the pietra dura or marble inlay work. A bus or cycle ride will take you to Dayal Bagh, just 2 km away from Agra.

This mosque, built in 1571, was the first construction in Fatehpur Sikri. The plain exterior belies the heavily ornamented interior, decorated with arabesques and complicated geometrical designs in red, brown, white, turquoise and black. The courtyard within is large enough to have accommodated 10,000 men during prayer times. Akbar is said to have taken a personal interest in this mosque, sweeping it and giving the azan (calling the faithful to prayer).

37 km from Agra is Fatehpur Sikri, constructed between 1569 and1585 as a second capital. Chronic water shortages, however, led to its being abandoned soon after and it remained a ghost city.

Within the Agra Fort is the Jahangir Mahal, the zenana or residence of the royal ladies, in particular the Hindu Rajput consorts of Akbar. Passing under a magnificent gateway, you enter airy halls decorated with carvings on piers, crossbeams and brackets which held up the ceiling. In places, one can still see gold leaf and blue lapis decorations in the Persian style then in vogue.

The Emperor held his durbar (assembly) in the Diwan-I-Khas (Hall of Private Audience), to meet with his nobles. This small hall built between 1636 and 1637, has twin marble columns with pietra dura inlay work in coloured stone and marble. On the terrace outside the hall are two marble thrones. The black one is said to have belonged to Jahangir, who as the young Prince Salim, rebelled against his father Akbar and ordered a separate throne for himself. Nearby is the Machchi Bhawan, where the harem met for functions. Beyond is the mosque which Aurangzeb built for his father, Shah Jahan.

Under Shah Jahan’s orders, the wooden structure which stood here was remodelled and a new Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience) built in its place. Note the walls, skilfully polished with lime.

To the north is the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque). While the outer wall is of red sandstone, the onion domes, made of white marble, provide an interesting contrast.

The Buland Darwaza was built to commemorate Akbar’s conquest of the western state of Gujarat in 1575. This is a mammoth archway that decorates the southern wall of the quadrangle. The spectacular tower rises to a height of 176 ft from the ground and measures 134 ft from the top step. There is a magnificent hollow arch in the centre. Calligraphy has been used as ornamentation. A line from it admonishes passers-by: “The world is but a bridge: Pass over but build no houses on it”.

Akbar’s final resting place is in the centre of an imposing garden at Sikandra, 10 km to the north of Agra. While Akbar chose the spot for himself and began construction on his grave, it was completed by his son Jahangir, who altered the original plans to suit his taste. This resulted in the architectural mishmash that we see today. The maqbara or the tomb has four gates signifying the four main religious groups: Muslim, Hindu, Christian, and the new religion, Din-i-Ilahi, that Akbar himself propagated. The tomb is open all day long.

The tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah was commissioned by Empress Noor Jahan for her father, Mirza Ghiyas Beg. Often referred to as a ‘jewel box’ or the ‘Baby Taj’, it marks the transitioning of Mughal architecture from red sandstone to all-marble structures. The mausoleum’s interior walls are decorated with exquisite motifs that were once inlaid with topaz, lapis, cornelian and other semi-precious stones.

Bird watching
For the avid birdwatcher, a day trip to the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, 60 km away from Agra, is a pleasant change from monument hopping. The best time to visit this bird sanctuary, officially known as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, is between October and February when wintering birds abound in the marshes.

Cycling
Cycling around Agra is a delightful way to check out its attractions, all at your own pace. Away from the city, open spaces and lushly covered mountains and clean air beckon you to explore the countryside. Most hotels in Agra provide cycles on a nominal rent.

Visit the Garden of Grapes
Angoori Bagh (Grape Garden) was once a pleasure retreat built by Shah Jahan in the main square of the zenana. The grape vines are long gone, but it’s worth stopping by to appreciate the gardens, laid out in the geometric designs favoured by the Mughals.