Agra, the city that is home to the Taj Mahal, is famous for its monuments and food and capital of Mughals for some time.
It attracts not only foreigners but also the local Indians that have come to Agra on road trips or on holiday or just come for a day trip.
I spent a total of just 2 days in Agra, and while I did most of the touristy things, it was a good amount of time to see some truly breathtaking historical attractions.
Arriving and Leaving Agra
Train – There are two main train stations that cater to Agra: Agra Fort and Agra Cantt.
Agra Fort railroad station will most likely be the more convenient station for you. It’s just a few kilometers from the Taj Mahal area (where many guest houses are located) and adjacent to the famous Agra Fort. When I arrived, I paid 150 Rupees for a taxi to my hotel, and, but I’m sure I overpaid. Try getting an auto for about 100 Rupees or so to Taj Mahal. Coming into Agra, I took the train from Varanasi to Agra Fort station.
Things To Do in Agra
- Taj Mahal – Come to ‘The Taj’ with blissful pride! Bring the saga come alive!!
It is a huge complex completed in 1648 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to contain the remains of his beloved wife Nur-Jahan. Constructed over a long period of time more than 20-year on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, India. It is considered as the best example of Mughal architecture, which combined Indian, Persian and Islamic influences. The Taj Mahal itself, built of shimmering white marble that looks to change color depending on the daylight. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, it remains one of the world’s most loved structures and a great symbol of India’s rich history.
- Agra Fort – Another site, that is so impressive after visiting the Taj Mahal, is Agra’s Fort. The fort is a massive architecture history built by the Mughals. Agra Fort is a citadel an entire red-walled city, and you can easily spend a few hours browsing the different buildings and lookouts in the fortress. The most impressive is fine details within the fort, carved into marble and stone.
- Baby Taj – The Tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah, or better known as the Baby Taj, is another great attraction to see. It’s not a big mausoleum, so it doesn’t take long to visit, but it’s another great example of Mughal construction and design with beautiful detail.
- Mehtab Bagh Gardens – The garden across the river from the Taj Mahal is known as Mehtab Bagh Gardens. The garden is ordinary nothing special about it, but the view of Taj from this garden is mesmerizing, many of the Bollywood movies and songs shoot there. Everyone wants to capture a shot of the Taj from across the river.
- Sadar Bazar – Sadar Bazar is a shopping area in Agra, you find a mixture of locals and tourists. You find shops where you can find memento and also convenience store items and food. It’s a good market to search for leather products and marble goods, I got a pair of leather boots in 2500 INR only.
- Agra is famous for its food – here are a number of restaurants, where you can enjoy local cuisine and one of the famous restaurants are Taj Bano.
