A Glorious Heritage
Agra, an old heritage city on the bank of the river Yamuna, finds mention in the Epic Mahabharata as Agravan. Ptolemy, the famous 2nd Century Geographer, marked it as Agra on the World map. It is generally accepted that Sultan Sikandra Lodi, the Ruler of Delhi Sultanate founded it in the year 1504 AD but the golden age of the city began with Mughal rulers after 1526 AD. It was then known as Akbarabad and remained the capital of the Mughal Empire under Emperor Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan, Agra’s significance as a political center ended with the transfer of the capital to Delhi by Emperor Shah Jahan, but its architectural wealth has secured its place on the International map.
Agra Fort
Also known as Lal Qila, Fort Rouge or Red Fort of Agra, the Agra Fort is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is situated at a distance of about 2.5 km northwest of the famous Taj Mahal.
Fatehpur Sikri
A city, predominantly made of red sand stone, Fatehpur Sikri was once the capital of Mughal Emperor Akbar. It is now a UNESCO world heritage site and a famous tourist attraction.
Jama Masjid
Jama Masjid in Agra is opposite to the Agra Fort and overlooking the Agra Fort Railway Station. The Jama Masjid is also popularly known as the Jami Masjid or “Friday Mosque”.
Mehtab Bagh
A city, predominantly made of red sand stone, Fatehpur Sikri was once the capital of Mughal Emperor Akbar. It is now a UNESCO world heritage site and a famous tourist attraction.
Itimad-ud-daula's Tomb
This tomb nestled on the bank of the river Yamuna was built by Queen Noor Jahan. It was constructed using yellow, black and white marble inlay, and was hence called the Baby Taj.
Akbar's Tomb
Akbar’s tomb is the tomb of the Mughal emperor, Akbar and an important Mughal architectural masterpiece. It was built in 1604–1613 and is situated in 119 acres of grounds.
Taj View Point A.D.A. - Near Mehtab Bagh
Agra Development Authority has developed a perfect point on the bank of river Yamuna near Mehtab Bagh to have a panoramic view of Taj Mahal.
Tiranga Chowk - Kheria, Agra
The spirit of patriotism is embedded in the heart of Every Indian with the immense desire to serve the country in variour ways.
Agra Chaupati
Agra Development Authority has developed a perfect point on the bank of river Yamuna near Mehtab Bagh to have a panoramic view of Taj Mahal.
Soami Bagh
Param Purush Puran Dhani Soamiji Maharaj, incarnation of Radhasoami Dayal, descended on earth to emancipate human beings from sufferings,in his Mercy and Grace, on the night of the eighth day.
Major Attractions
Taj Mahal
Renowned author Rudyard Kipling once called the Taj Mahal “the embodiment of all things pure” — and rightly so. This breathtaking monument is the ultimate symbol of love, built from white marble that seems to glow with timeless beauty. It stands as a poetic tribute from Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who tragically passed away in 1631 while giving birth. Her final wish was for a tomb unlike anything the world had ever seen — and Shah Jahan fulfilled that promise. Set gracefully on the banks of the River Yamuna, the Taj Mahal took over 17 years, 22,000 artisans, and 1,000 elephants to complete. Today, it remains one of India’s three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, drawing millions of admirers from around the globe.
Surrounded by a tranquil Mughal Garden, the Taj stands on an elevated marble platform, with the river forming its peaceful backdrop. Its perfectly symmetrical design, grand arched facades, and intricate Pietra Dura inlay work—featuring delicate floral patterns and verses from the Quran—showcase the pinnacle of Mughal craftsmanship.
Even centuries later, the Taj Mahal looks as flawless and captivating as it did when first built, continuing to mesmerise visitors and photographers alike.
Food in Agra
Petha
Agra is famous for its Petha. It is a sweet made from white pumpkin or ash gourd and is infused with different flavors. This delicious sweet is found in many different varieties and shapes. The twopopular varieties of Petha are – the dry, hard and chewy ones and the other is soft and syrupy. The Petha is available in many variants like plain (white), Kesar(saffron),Angoori Petha and Paan Petha to name a few. Petha is believed to have medicinal traits and is considered beneficial for blood pressure, hydration, brain growth, and more. The best place to buy Petha in Agra is Panchi Petha located at Hari Parvat Crossing.
Dalmoth
Dalmoth is a mixture of nuts, spices, lentils and oil. It is a traditional Namkeen crispy, spicy, and a little bit greasy. The best Dalmoth can be found in Panchi Petha and Baluganj .This tastes best with a cup of tea when you wish to munch something crunchy.The Dalmoth is packaged in boxes and bags, this traditional namkeen (snack) will overwhelm your taste buds with a spicy flavor.
Bedhai & Jalebi
Bedhai is a typical breakfast, usually served at street stands in Agra. This is a sweet and spicy combination which consists of two parts: spicy bedhai and sweet Jalebi. Bedai is a fried, puffy bread,which resembles Kachori and is served with a bowl of spicy sabzi dotted with hunks of potato and a dollop of curd.The jalebi, is a luscious dessert which is made out of fermented batter which is fried and then soaked in hot sugary syrup. This is a balanced breakfast and can be found in every corner of the city. The Famous point where one can find delicious Bedhai and Jalebi are GMB and Shree ji sweets on Fatehabad road.
Chaat
Chaat is very popular in Agra as a part of snacks, especially Dahi-bhalla, Raj kachori, samosas, and gol gappas. While talking about Agra we shall only focus on the Bhallas as it is city’s favourite. The bhalla in Agra is a fried potato and chickpea patty that’s smashed open and topped with grated ginger and a spicy-sweet tamarind sauce. The Bhallas here are made bigger and crispier than the others. This is a perfectly satisfying snack that can only be found on the streets of Agra. To enjoy the true taste of the chaat in Agra one can explorechaat wali gali in sadar bazar.
Paratha
Paratha is a famous dish of the Mughlai Cuisine and Agra is famous for it. Parathas in Agra are mostly vegetarian, made with pan fried flat wheat bread which is stuffed with potatoes, cauliflower, carrots and cheese. Parathas will satisfy your craving for traditional Indian flavors. People usually eat them in breakfast accompanied with curd, pickle and chutney and it is said to be a wholesome and nourishing Indian Breakfast. When in Agra Rambabu parathe wale on old Delhi Agra highway are the famous Paratha points serving mouth-watering parathas.
Mughlai Food
The Mughlai Food is a souvenir of the Mughal era in India.The food has been borrowed from the Mughal kitchen.The Mughlai dish mainly consists of meat enriched with creamy, boldly flavoured curries; with lots of dried fruits with ground as well as whole spices. As time passed, the Mughlai dishes travelled from Agra to different parts of North India. However, the taste of Mughlai food in Agra is special and delicious. When the Mughals made Agra the Capital city of India in the 16th century, they left indelible imprints on the cuisine of Agra. The best places to get the lip smacking and original taste of the Mughlai food in Agra are areas like Nai ki Mandi area on MG road, Indiana, Pinch of Spice, Taj Mahal Restaurants on Fatehabad road
Festivals
Kailash Fair
On the outskirts of Agra, a Kailash fair is organized at Kailash temple to honour Lord Shiva. Organized in the month of August or September, it marks the auspicious sighting of Lord Shiva as the ‘Lingam’. Devotees from Agra and nearby areas come to attend this fair.
Taj Mahotsav
Taj Mahotsav is one of the most awaited festivals of northern India. It is organized every year in the month of February from 18th to 27th for a period of 10 days at Shilpgram near Eastern gate of Taj Mahal. The festival organized by Taj Mahotsav Committee is aimed to promote the creative art craftsmen and help them to showcase their respective skills. Festival is like a confluence of arts, crafts, cultures & cuisine along with the various traditions of the country are demonstrated at one place. Various traditional performances every evening by local / bollywood artists make this event full of cultural fragrance. The festival is also celebrated to welcome spring with pomp and show. It begins with a huge procession of local people, tourists and folk artists displaying their respective arts. Attractive performances by various artists & beautiful crafts by different artisans from various corners of the country convert this venue as Mini India. It attracts not only the domestic tourists but also a large number of international tourists also evidence this wonderful event.
Ram Baraat
Ram Baraat is organized annually before the festival of Dussehra. It is celebrated as ‘barat’ or marriage procession of Lord Rama. The festival is actually a part of the re-enactment of Ramleela which finishes into the celebrations of Dussehra with the execution of effigy of Ravana by Lord Rama. ‘Janakpuri’ the palace of Sita is setup at a venue where the ‘baraat’ arrives. The procession highlight is the colorful and decorated ‘Jhankis’ that are carried. The venue is where the fair takes places and people of faith flock here to witness the wedding. The idols of Lord Rama and his brothers are decorated with jewels and are placed on a chariot which is a part of the procession.
Bateshwar Fair
Ram Baraat is organized annually before the festival of Dussehra. It is celebrated as ‘barat’ or marriage procession of Lord Rama. The festival is actually a part of the re-enactment of Ramleela which finishes into the celebrations of Dussehra with the execution of effigy of Ravana by Lord Rama. ‘Janakpuri’ the palace of Sita is setup at a venue where the ‘baraat’ arrives. The procession highlight is the colorful and decorated ‘Jhankis’ that are carried. The venue is where the fair takes places and people of faith flock here to witness the wedding. The idols of Lord Rama and his brothers are decorated with jewels and are placed on a chariot which is a part of the procession.
Things to do in Agra
Taj Mahal at Sunrise and Sunset
The best view of the Taj Mahal is during sunrise. There are fewer crowds, the air is cool and pleasant. Sunset is another time to enjoy the white marble masterpiece.
Taj Nature Walk
Many different locations in the city offer great and artistic views of the Taj Mahal. One such spot is 500m away located on the East gate road of Taj. It is a maintained lush 180 acre garden that has 20 ft high watch towers for perfect views of the white marble magnificence. It is advisable to visit during sunrise and sunset to get splendid views.
Taj Mahal for five nights during full moon
It is said that during the full moon the light from the moon illuminates the Taj Mahal not seen on a regular light. It is a sight to behold for one and all. It is available to seen for five days around new moons. The tickets can only be bought a day in advance and entries are also limited.
Nearby Excursions
Fatehpur Sikri
Perched atop a rocky ridge, 37 KM west of Agra, Fatehpur Sikri came into being centuries ago as a city of victory for Emperor Akbar. The city’s red sandstone architecture and intricate carvings give a dreamy experience.
Bateshwar
Bateshwar, an ancient temple complex and an important spiritual and cultural centre for Hindus, is located at a distance of 70 Km from the city of Taj , Agra. The place is named after the presiding deity of the region BATESHWAR MAHADEV (another name of Lord Shiva). The temple complex consists of more than 100 temples dedicated to lord Shiva. The temples are all lined along the crescent shaped curve of the river-front and several have ghats (steps) leading down to the water. Said to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna’s mother, Bateshwar is associated with numerous myths and legends. Several ancient scriptures refer to it as Surajpur in honour of its founder Raja Suraj Sen, Lord Krishna’s grandfather.
Keetham Bird Sanctuary
Keetham Bird Sanctuary – Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, also known as Keetham Lake, was established in 1991 by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department. It is home to more than 165 species of resident birds & migratory birds. The sanctuary also has the population of more than 300 of pythons. It is also one of the biggest bear resue centre of India for dancing bear.
It is a small, but important bird sanctuary of Uttar Pradesh. It comprises of fresh water wetland, popularly known as Keetham jheel. Seeing the large number of migratory as well as resident birds arriving in this wetland year – after- Year, the area was declared a Sanctuary in 1991.
Unique for scenic beauty, religion-cultural heritage and rich assembling of fauna and flora, It has been named after Soordas – the great poet of Hindi literature, who was born blind and whose place of birth is said to be within the boundary of this sanctuary.
A huge lake surrounding by dense and luxuriant vegetation is a rare experience and picturesque sight in the semi-arid part of the country. Situated close to the important city of Agra, this sanctuary, though small in size is very rich in avifauna. It is an important birding destination for ornithologists.
Mathura
Located at a distance of 49 KM from Agra, Mathura is the birthplace of Lord Krishna. Dotted with magnificent temples depicting the various phases of Lord Krishna’s life it takes the devotees back to the divine era.
Chambal Sanctuary
Chambal Sanctuary Sanctuary (just 10 Km from Bateshwar) an opportunity to explore the natural, cultural and historical heritage of the Chambal Valley. More then 600 Sq kilometers stretch of the river was designated as the National Chambal Sanctuary and given protected areas status. The sanctuary currently boasts of 242 species of resident and migratory bird species, Marsh crocodiles (muggers), gharial (gavials), eight species of turtles, and Gangetic dolphins.
Hotel Akash Inn and Hotel Ashok Palace are budget-friendly hotels in Agra, located near the Taj Mahal. Perfect for travellers seeking comfortable hotels near Taj Mahal Agra with easy access to major attractions.
Useful Links
Address
2565 A2, Shilpgram Rd, beside Prateek Enclave, Taj Nagari, Tajnagari-1, Agra, Dhandhupura, Uttar Pradesh 282001
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