Agra
also called as the 'City of Taj' is situated in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
The city situated on the bank of Yamuna river is home to two World Heritage
Sites namely the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort. Agra is considered hopelessly
romantic, because of the romantic history of Taj Mahal. Agra was the major
centre of Mughal Dynasty in the 16th century, the forts and palaces of the
city speaks of the royal grandeur. Apart from the palaces and forts the city
has many buildings of historical significance. Agra is popular for its
delicacies, the most famous is Mughlai cuisine.
Climate
The climate of the city is extreme and tropical. Summers are extremely hot
and the temperature may go up to 45°C, while the minimum temperature
during summers is 30°C. Winters are cold and foggy, the maximum
temperature is 28 °C, minimum temperature is 6 °C. The rainy
season usually comes in between July and September. The rainy season is
marked by heavy rains and high humidity. The ideal time to visit Agra is in
winters between October to March.
Major Attractions
»
Taj Mahal - Taj Mahal the main landmark of the Agra city, is situated on the banks
of river Yamuna. The mausoleum was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, in
the memory of his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal. Built in between 1631 and
1654, Taj Mahal was declared a UNSECO World Heritage Site in 1983. The white
marble monument is one of the seven wonders of the world. The Taj Complex
houses beautiful gardens, mosques, fountains and several other mausoleum of
Mughal period.
»
Agra
Fort - Agra Fort also called as Red Fort of Agra is situated at a
distance of around 3 Kms from Taj Mahal. The fort made of red sandstone has
been designated as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The construction of the
fort was begun by Mughal Emperor Akbar, further the other Mughal rulers
added many things in the fort. The fort complex has Jehangir's Palace,
Diwan-e-Am, Diwan-e-Khas, Pearl Mosque, Khaas Mahal, Sheesh Mahal (Mirrored
Palace) and Musamman Burj etc.
» Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb - The tomb is situated 4
Kms north of Taj Mahal on the left bank of the river Yamuna. The beautiful
marble monument was built by empress Noor Jehan in memory of her father
Ghiyasuddin Beg. This double storied marble tomb is famous for its garden
layout, white marble, Pietra dura, inlay designs and lattice work.
» Sikandra - The small town situated at a distance
of 4 Kms from Agra city is famous for Akbar's tomb. Akbar himself begun the
construction of the tomb and it was completed by his son Jehangir. The tomb
is similar to Taj Mahal in some of its design. The major attractions of the
tomb are its large arched entrance and green lawns. The interior of the
tomb's dome is decorated with figures of flowers, geometric designs and
Islamic calligraphy.
»
Taj Mahotsav - The 10 day festival of Taj Mahotsav held every year
between 18 th - 27th February. Conducted by the Uttar Pradesh tourism
department, the festival brings the finest arts, crafts and culture of the
state together. The famous items of different regions of Uttar Pradesh state
are on sale during the festival. During the festival the Mughal grandeur is
recreated by bedecked elephants and camels, drum beaters, folk artist and
master craftsmen. The dance festival and food festival is major attractions
of Taj Mahotsav.
»
Fatehpur
Sikri - The town situated 35 Kms away from Agra is famous for
buildings of Mughal period. Built predominantly in red Sandstone the city
has been declared as World Heritage Site. The buildings of Fathepur Sikri
are finest examples of Mughal architectural style. The major attractions of
the town are Dargah of Sheikh Salim Chisti, Diwan-I-Am, Diwan-khana-I-khaas,
Turkish Sultana's House, The Treasury, Palace of Jodha Bai, Hawa Mahal and
Nagina Masjid etc.
Shopping
Agra is the perfect destination for shoppers, who wants to buy arts and
crafts items. The famous items to shop are marble items inlaid with colored
stones, similar to the Pietra dura work on Taj Mahal. Other items include
variety of handicrafts, leather goods, jewellery, dhurrie (rug) weaving,
brassware, carpets and embroidery work.
Accommodation
Agra is dotted with a large number of hotels, which offer plenty of
accommodation choices. The hotel ranging from Luxury, Star to economic
category cater to the needs of the visitors. The most famous hotels of the
city are Welcome Hotel Mughal Sheraton, Jaypee Palace Hotel, Hotel Agra
Ashok, Trident Hilton Agra, Taj View Hotel and Hotel Clarks Shiraz.
How To Reach
» Air - Kheria airport of Agra is 7 Kms from the
city center and 3 km from Idgah bus stand. Indian airlines operate daily
tourist shuttle flights to Agra, Khajuraho, Varanasi and back. The flight
journey from Agra to Delhi is 40 minutes.
» Rail - Agra Cantt. Railway Station is the main
rail head. Agra is well linked by rail to Delhi, Varanasi,cities of
Rajasthan and other major cities of the country.
» Road - The city is connected to major cities of
the country by good roads. Idgah bus stand is the main bus terminal of the
city. The buses are available from Delhi, Jaipur, Mathura and Fatehpur Sikri
etc.
