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Agra
Distance (K.M.) |
Time taken in hours |
Height above sea level |
Temperature |
Clothing |
From
Delhi-
200 kms |
4 hrs. |
561ft |
Max. –
38 o C(summers)
Min.- 9 0 (winters) |
Cottons in summers
Woolens in winters |
Agra is a medevial city on the banks of the Yamuna River in India. It was founded by Sultan Sikandar Lodi in the year 1506. It lies currently in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It achieved fame as the capital of the Mughal emperors from 1526 to 1658 and remains a major tourist destination because of its many splendid Mughal-era buildings, most notably the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, all three of which are UNESCO World
Agra lies at a distance of 200 km from New Delhi and is one of the coordinate of the Golden Triangle that is Agra- Delhi- Jaipur. Many trains go from Delhi to Agra, with a journey time of nearly 3 hours. The best of them is the Bhopal Shatabdi which leaves New Delhi at 6:15 and can bring you back at 10:40 in the evening. Besides the trains, there are a number of buses which connect Agra with New Delhi. Driving on the National Highway 2 is a pleasing experience and it takes nearly 3 hours to reach Agra.
Agra is also well connected to Jaipur By trains and Busses. It takes around 5 hours to reach Jaipur by Bus and around 4 hour by train no. 2988 which leaves Agra Fort Railway Station at 6:25 PM and reaches Jaipur at around 10:20 PM.
Agra is also very well connected via rail and road with other nearby cities and tourist destinations like Goa, Mumbai, Kolkatta, Chennai, Udaipur, Jaisalmer etc.
When coming from Delhi, it is a good idea to get a tour package from a travel agency, which includes a driver and a local guide
How to Reach
By Air : Agra Airport
There are a couple of flights from New Delhi to Agra operated by Indian (formerly known as "Indian Airlines") and Air Deccan
By Rail : Agra Cantt, Agra Fort
Agra Cantt is the main railway station and lies southwest of the Taj and Agra Fort. The station is very close to both Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. There are frequent trains to Delhi as well as other parts of the country.
Agra Fort railway station is right next to the Agra Fort, but is infrequently serviced by the interstate express trains. But you will find trains to eastern part of the country (Kanpur, Kolkatta, Gorakhpur etc) from here.
There is another station by the name of Raja Ki Mandi which is in the heart of the City.
There is also a special luxurious tourist train - 'Palace on Wheels' from New Delhi which covers Jaipur, parts of Rajasthan and Agra.
By Road : Idgah Bus Stand
Idgah Bus Stand, several kilometers west of the Taj and southwest of the Red Fort is the primary bus stand for intercity travel.
Places of Interest
In Agra there are so many places of tourist interest. These are
- Taj Mahal
The Taj is a mausoleum constructed by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to hold the remains of wife Mumtaz Mahal. It was built over the period 1631 to 1653 and richly deserves its status as one of the wonders of the world.
There is an apocryphal tale that Shah Jahan planned to build an exact copy out of black marble on the opposite side of the river. His plans were foiled by his son, who murdered three elder brothers and overthrew his father to acquire the throne. Shah Jahan is now buried alongside his wife in the Taj Mahal.
Despite being one of the most photographed edifices in the world and being instantly recognisable, its physical presence is awe-inspiring. Not everything is in the photos. The grounds of the complex include several other beautiful buildings, reflecting pools, and extensive ornamental gardens with flowering trees and bushes, and a small gift shop. The Taj framed by trees and reflected in a pool is amazing. Close up, large parts of the building are covered with inlaid stonework.
If you're taking a camera, beware that because the Taj is white your camera may underexpose your photos. If it's a film camera you won't find out until it's too late. Overexposure by 1 or 2 stops is recommended.
When to go:
Plan to visit the Taj at least two different times during the day (dusk and dawn are best) in order to experience the full effect of changing sunlight on the amazing building. It is also utterly stunning under a full moon.
There are night viewing sessions on full moon days where you are allowed to observe the Taj Mahal from Agra Fort at midnight and later allowed to visit the monument in the complex and observe the marvellous and divine creation under the full moon. Night visits are only possible on the nights of a full moon and the two days before and after (so five days in total).
The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, so plan your visit with care.
Location:
The Taj is located pretty much in the middle of town. Expect a line to get into the grounds. There are three gates. The western gate is the main gate where most tourists enter. A large number of people turn up on weekends and public holidays and entry through the western gate may take hours. The southern and eastern gates are much less busy and should be tried on such days.
Security:
Security is tight, so leave behind any pocketknives, as well as chewing gum, cigarettes, or anything that could mark the building.
Cell phones are not permitted inside the main enclosure area: you have to check them in first at a booth nearby. Do this before you get into the VERY long line to get in.
- Agra Fort
The fort is similar in layout to the Red Fort in Delhi. It is also constructed mainly from red sandstone and was started by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565 and added to by Emperor Shah Jahan who ended up a prisoner in the fort which has a beautiful view of his masterpiece, the Taj Mahal, on a clear day.
Akbar, king at 14, began consolidating his empire and, as an assertion of his power built the fort in Agra between 1565 and 1571, coeval with the construction of Humayun's tomb in Delhi. The Agra fort retains the irregular outline of the demolished mud-wall fort of the Lodis.
Agra Fort, Agra TravelThe lofty battlements o the new fort cast its protective shadow over the far stretching mansions of court that nobles and princes built along the riverfront. The magnificent towers, bastions and ramparts and majestic gateways symbolized the confidence and power of the third Mughal emperor, Akbar.
The fort contains splendid palaces both in red sandstone and white marble built by two generations of prolific builders Akbar and later Jehangir and Shahjahan. Of the nearly 500 Akbari buildings built in the Bengal and Gujarati traditions only a few have survived, arrayed in a band on the riverfront.
The fort is auricular in shape and its colossal double walls rise 20 m in height and measure 2.5 m in circumference. The fort is encircled by a fetid moat. The lofty battlements of the Agra fort cast its protective shadow over the far stretching mansions of nobles and princes built along the riverfront. The magnificent towers, bastions and ramparts and majestic gateways symbolized the confidence and power of the third Mughal emperor.
The fort contains splendid palaces both in red sandstone and white marble built by two generations of prolific builders, Akbar and later on by Jahangir and Shahjahan. Of the nearly 500 Akbari buildings built in the Bengal and Gujarati traditions, only a few have survived, arrayed in a band on the riverfront.
- Sikandra
At Sikandra 10 km north of Agra on the Agra Delhi highway, the tomb of Akbar lies in the centre of the large garden. Akbar started its construction himself but it was completed by his son, Jehangir who significantly modified the original plans which accounts for the somewhat cluttered architectural lines of the tomb. Four red sandstone's gates lead to the tomb complex: one is Muslim, one Hindu, one christian and one is Akbar's patent mixture. Akbar's mausoleum is open from sunrise to sunset.
- Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb
Empress Nur Jehan built Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, sometimes called the Baby Taj, for her father, Ghias-ud-Din Beg, the Chief Minister of Emperor Jahangir. Small in comparison to many other Mughal-era tombs, it is sometimes described as a jewel box. Its garden layout and use of white marble, pietra dura, inlay designs and latticework presage many elements of the Taj Mahal.
- Jama Masjid
A large mosque attributed to Princess Jahanara Begum, built in 1648 during the reign of the father Shah Jahan. Notable for its unusual dome and absence of minarets.
- Chini Ka Rauza
A memorial dedicated to the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan, Allama Afzel Khal Mullah Shukrullah of Shiraz, notable for its dome of blue glazed tiles.
- Ram Bagh
The first Mughal gardens, built by the first Mughal Emperor Babar, 500 m North of the Chini Ka Rauza.
Important Note: If you are a foreigner, there is a pass you can buy that gives you discounted entry to all three of the above. Annoyingly, they are not sold (or at least not well advertised) at all the sites.
- Dayal Bagh
Dayal Bagh, is 10 km north of Agra. The white marble samadhi of the Radah Soami religion is currently under construction. It was started in 1904 and is nor expected to be completed until sometime next century. You can see pietra dura inlaid marblework actulally being worked on. Dayal Bagh is 2km north of Agra and can be reached by bus or cycle.
- Mehtab Bagh
Directly across the Yamuna River from the Taj Mahal, these botanical gardens give you an opportunity to view the Taj at a remove from the crowds of tourists. The trip takes about 30 minutes from the center of town by autorickshaw and will cost about Rs 200. Entrance to the park is Rs 100 for foreigners. Alternatively, walk past the entrance and straight to the sandy banks of the river: the view of the Taj is every bit as lovely (perhaps more so, since the barbed wire fence surrounding the gardens will be behind you), although you may have to deal with aggressive touts.
- Mariam's Tomb
This is another beautiful building towards the west from Akbar's Tomb on Agra Mahtura or Delhi Road. Akbar himself names it as Mariam's Tomb or Mariam Zammanl's Tomb, which was constructed by Jahangir in thememory of his mother Mariam Zammani a title bestowed upon her,. The grave is made of white marble. Though this building is in a ruined condition, yet it has in its vicinity, a Christian Mission School and a church. It is also said; Akbar himself made that it in the memory of his Christian wife.
Places near Agra
- Fatehpur Sikri
A ghost city about 40km west of Agra. Private taxi cars can be hired on the street or your hotel will be happy to arrange a trip. Note that the trip will be much more affordable (and possibly safer) with a group of 3-5 per car.
It was built by the Mughal Emperor Akhbar between 1571 and 1575 as the capital city of the Empire but was abandoned. It is well worth the trip to see the restored city with its huge entrance gate,numerous palaces, mosque and mausoleum. There are "public" and "private" sections of the city.
An important thing to keep in mind is that numerous "guides" will
accost you as you enter the complex, trying to convince you to make
use of their services. As guides, they are mediocre, and at the end of the "tour" they will try to steer you to their "shop" to buy trinkets at inflated prices. Use them if you wish, but make sure you are ready for the hard sell at the end.
- Bharatpur
Bharatpur is about 60 KM from Agra and houses the Famous bird sanctuary in which you can see thousands of rare birds including the Sibarian Crane. There is the Lohagarh Fort, which remained invincible despite several attacks by the British. Just 32 kms from Bharatpur, is the Deeg Palace. This strong and massive fort was the summer resort of the rulers of Bharatpur and has many palaces and gardens.
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