Overview : Welcome to Agra Travel Guides

Agra is a city that has witnessed many glorious chapters of the glorious reigns of the Emperors and their Empire. Agra is also home to one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, the Taj Mahal, which is also listed among the 7 wonders of the world. Agra tourist destinations are one of the best places to visit in India and the world. Along with Delhi and Jaipur, Agra completes the very famous Golden Triangle of tourism in India. This charming city is located on the bank of the river Yamuna. UNESCO has declared Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, and Taj Mahal as world heritage sites that are all houses in the Royal City of Agra. Situated in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Agra is not only a synonym with the 7th wonder of the world Taj Mahal but also has many majestic monuments standing with their glorious history. This Agra travel guide will help you to explore the city easily on Agra tourism, places to visit in Agra, history, and culture of Agra, as well as with the best time to visit Agra.

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History of Agra

The first reference of Agra can be seen in the world's lengthiest poem and Indian epic literature Mahabharata where the city was mentioned as "Agrevana," which means the border of the forest. It is believed that the city of Agra was established in the year 1504 by the great Lodhi ruler named –' Sultan Sikandar Lodhi,' who was the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. After that, Agra was crowned by many dynasties from Hindu warrior Hem Vikramaditya, followed by the Mughal emperors Babur, Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan. In 1803 AD, when Mughal Empire was taking its last breath, Maratha came into power and renamed the city back to Agra. During the same time, the British also started coming into the supremacy and established Agra Presidency there. When India regained its Independence in 1947 AD, the city was incorporated as a part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, and the city, which was once the capital of India, became the tourist destination in India, and Lucknow became the capital of Uttar Pradesh.

Culture, Traditions, and Cuisine of Agra:

The culture, the traditions, and the customs are the mirror of the people of the particular area. The city of Agra is a melting pot of different cultures and traditions resulting from the different rules of Rajput, Muslim, and British empires that ruled here. The well-nourish culture of Agra is one of the richest cultures in India that fascinates not only Indian but also equally attracts International travelers. The Mughal era was when the city was nurtured by art, architecture, music, poetry, literature, and crafts. Even the monument of yesteryear influences the Mughal era that attracts lakhs of tourists every year.

Culture and Festivals of Agra:

The vivid culture and festivals of Agra tell us about its glorious history. These cultures and festivals give tourists a true flavor of the city and memories for a lifetime. Here are some of the festivals that are celebrated in Agra Every Year –

Taj Mahotsa
Taj Literature Festival
Ram Barat
Kailash Fair

Other Festivals with their own charm and charisma are Art and Craft Classes in Agra, Sheetla Fair, Shilpgram, Ram Navmi, kalakriti Cultural and Conventional Centre Agra, and many more.

Cuisine of Agra:

The travel experience will remain incomplete if one does not get to taste the city's delicious cuisine. Agra is confined to the majestic forts and historical monuments and welcomes its guests with an open heart and mouth-watering delicacies. With its savor of kebabs and other mutton dishes, the Mughal Fare attracts travelers who visit the city. Now the question is, what can you eat in Agra? So, here's the answer.

You can opt for the street food in Agra if you like chaat, paranthas, and other North Indian delicacies. Panipuri, dahi bade/Dahi Bhalla, samosa, kachoris, cheela, and many more are the different spicy and immensely tasty street food. When it comes to sweet dishes, the most well-known sweet item of Agra is its 'Petha.' Petha is a translucent confectionary that is available at several shops. Petha is available in different flavors such as kesaripetha, angooripetha, paanpetha, or the plain sweet Petha are to name a few. People of Agra also love to prepare Mughlai cuisine. The food from the Mughal kitchen is now reached to the common people's house. The food is generally prepared by using cream, curd, nuts, and milk and is cooked in a mix of spices that renders them an exotic flavor. Some of the best Mughlai dishes that you can savor are tandoori chicken, chicken tikkaharabhara, kadhai chicken, mutton afghani and raannmusaaallam are to name a few.

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Places to Visit Agra

The city of Agra, with its name, only brings magnificent monuments that continue to astound all the people, nationally and internationally, to date. There are many places that travelers can visit during their visit to Agra. The best places to visit in Agra are the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Mahakameshwar Temple. Apart from these famous Agra travel places, the other sightseeing spots in Agra are equally informative and marvelous include, which are Chini Ka Rauza, Jama Masjid, Panch Mahal, Akbar's Tomb, Metab Bagh, Dayal Bagh Temple, Balkeshwar Temple, Radhaswami Temple, and Gurudwara Shri Guru Kat al Sahib.

Taj Mahal:

Uncontroversially and without a doubt Taj Mahal, the 7th wonder of the world, is travelers' first and foremost choice to visit. Considered the ultimate sign of love, the Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The monument started building in 1632 AD and was completed in 1648 AD. This building is made up of white marble, and the verses from Koran are engraved on it.

Agra Fort:

This classic instance of Mughal architecture is also known by the name of Red Fort or Lal Quila of Agra. This is the second of the three world heritage sites declared by UNESCO in Agra. The great Mughal Emperor Akbar built the fort in 1565 AD. The fort has many striking places such as Diwan – E -Aam, Diwaan – E- Khas, Anguri Bagh, Khas Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Mina Masjid, Nangina Masjid and the MusammanBurj.

Mahakameshwar Temple:

This is one of the famous temples in Agra, which is situated on the corner of the city. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Shiva. The temple is suitable for tourists visiting the area, such as the Taj Mahal, Jama Masjid, and Agra Fort. There are several markets in the vicinity of the temple. Some of the markets have been there since the time of the Mughals.

Best Time to Visit Agra

Agra is the place of traditional cuisines, arts and jewelry, and majestic monuments like the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri. If you are digging for the best time to visit Agra, you can visit this culturally rich city from October to March. The climate in Agra is generally hot and dry throughout the year. It is only winters when the Agra Climate and its temperature drop down to 7 degrees. The rainy season in Agra is occasional, but it generally starts from July and continues with random rainfall till September.

Getting In Agra

BY AIR

Being one of the most visited places in India, the city of Agra has almost all the possible transportation facilities to the city.

BY ROAD

One can reach Agra from New Delhi, which is approx 240 km away. From Jaipur, the distance is 230 km, and from Lucknow, its 330 Km. Agra is also encircled by many tourist spots such as Gwalior (120km from Agra) and Mathura and Vrindavan. The Road network of Agra is nicely connected to major tourist destinations of North and Central India.

BY RAIL

The well-connected and nicely clustered rails reach Agra by three major railway stations- The Agra Cantonment, Agra Fort, and Raja ki Mandi.

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If you ever get a chance to take the Agra trip, do visit these amazing places once in your lifetime. You will fall in love with the art, culture, lively monuments, and different cuisine of the place. The city will allow you to peak through its majestic sites and be a witness of the glorious history, and the Agra travel guide will help you out.

Customer Reviews

Hoteldekho.com Reviews

( 5 - Excellent Based on 1 review )

jeevanc207
Jaipur
( On january 10, 2022 )

5 - Excellent

Great service and friendly team

Our Rajasthan trip was very unorganized and from day 1 we need to argue for each committed hotel and details. Driver and hotel were not informed in advance and we need to pay 12000/- for the forceful event at the hotel which was never informed to us.