The Taj Mahal is an icon of India and one of the pinnacle traveler sights in the world, drawing hundreds of thousands of site visitors to the metropolis of Agra each year. This breathtaking landmark is each bit as notable as you have imagined. But whilst most vacationers would possibly be keen to break out Agra’s pushy touts and arduous crowds as quickly as they’ve left the Taj Mahal, you must think about sticking round a bit longer.
The Taj Mahal is simply one of many splendid locations to go to in Agra. While here, you can discover the traditionally sizeable Agra Fort; journey the impressively lovely Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah; see one of the biggest mosques in India at Fatehpur Sikri; and discover respite in Mehtab Bagh, a serene park in the shadows of the Taj.
Animal lovers, take note: Agra boasts two compassionate flora and fauna tasks (the Agra Bear Rescue Facility and the Elephant Conservation and Care Center) that welcome travelers to examine about some of India’s most cherished creatures.
Don’t let different travelers persuade you there may be nothing to see in Agra except the Taj Mahal. Plan your time out to this heritage warm spot with our listing of the pinnacle points of interest in Agra.
1. Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
You’ve considered it in records books, on postcards, and in social media posts. But now, you’ve got made your way to India, and you subsequently have the danger to see this bucket listing vacation spot in actual life.
The superb shape dates again to the seventeenth century. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan was once heartbroken after his cherished wife, Mumtaz Mahal, handed away at some stage in childbirth, and determined to pay tribute to her with a white mausoleum. Construction took greater than 20 years to entire and required the manpower of round 20,000 laborers.
There’s by no means a terrible time to see the Taj Mahal, however it is well worth getting right here early–the constructing looks to radiate at sunrise. Tourists can enter the UNESCO World Heritage Site with the aid of the west and east gates. Once inside, discover the decorative gardens, which characteristic calming water aspects that mirror the Taj. Then, head interior the Taj itself and admire its best symmetry and white marble with problematic floral cavings and semiprecious stone inlays.
Sightseeing round the Taj Mahal complicated continues at the Kau Ban Mosque, west of the Taj, and the Jawab, a constructing supposed to reflect the mosque and hold symmetry on the essential structure’s japanese side.
Hot tip: Hang on to your Taj Mahal ticket–it offers you same-day reductions on entry to different close by sights round India, inclusive of Fatehpur Sikri and Itimad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb.
Address: Dharmapuri, Forest Colony, Tajganj, Agra
2. Agra Fort
Agra Fort
Agra Fort
The Taj Mahal isn’t always the solely UNESCO World Heritage Site in Agra–the town is additionally domestic to Agra Fort, a centuries-old pink sandstone fortress that was once as soon as the imperial metropolis for a succession of Mughal rulers.
Sightseeing right here is like wandering round a town inside a city. The most exceptional constructing at Agra Fort is Jahangir Mahal, a huge palace that blends wonderful Hindu-inspired points (like overhanging enclosed balconies) with Central Asian architectural factors (such as the signature pointed arches). Inside, travelers can see the gilded central court docket the place royal female as soon as exceeded their days.
Tourists can additionally take a look at out a vary of different noteworthy structures, along with Anguri Bagh (a courtyard with puzzle piece-like outlines of gardens round water channels), Khas Mahal (a palace with pavilions made of white marble and pink sandstone), Musamman Burj (an octagonal tower with elaborate marble inlay work), and Diwan-i-Khas (a gathering corridor presenting a pair of black and white marble thrones).
With so a whole lot to see, Agra Fort will require at least a few hours on your itinerary. It makes for a awesome afternoon quit after a morning at the Taj Mahal.
3. Itimad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb
Itimad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb
Itimad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb
On the banks of the Yamuna River sits any other one of Agra’s high-quality structures: Itimad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb. The mausoleum incorporates the stays of Mirza Ghiyas Beg, a Persian legit who served the Mughal empire, as properly as his wife.
Legend has it that this rings box-like tomb was once absolutely the proposal for the Taj Mahal, incomes it the nickname “Baby Taj.” The purple sandstone and marble shape facets 13-meter-high hexagonal towers on every corner.
The most noteworthy factor about this attraction, though, is that it was once the first shape to use pietra dura, the iconic Indian inlay approach that makes use of semiprecious stones to create ornamental floral designs in marble. You’ll see exceptional geometric patterns, depictions of vases and cups, and refined flower bouquets from ground to ceiling of the swish structure–reminiscent of these on the Taj Mahal.
Despite its beauty, Itimad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb receives a long way fewer site visitors than different sights round Agra, making it an best location to recognize the stunning aspects barring the crowds.
Address: Moti Bagh, Agra
4. Mehtab Bagh
Mehtab Bagh gardens and the Taj Mahal
Mehtab Bagh gardens and the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal nearly appears to prolong throughout the Yamuna River at Mehtab Bagh (Moonlight Garden), a rectangular backyard complicated measuring 300 meters on every side. It’s the solely final park in a sequence of almost a dozen Mughal-built gardens in the area.
The park has some extraordinarily flowering timber and bushes–a stark enchancment from its country in the mid-1990s, when the website was once simply a mound of sand. The Archeological Survey of India is tough at work restoring Mehtab Bagh and has already planted Mughal-era plant life to assist convey the website online lower back to its unique glory.
The panorama aligns flawlessly with the gardens of the Taj, making it one of the satisfactory locations in Agra to get a view (or a photo) of the wonderful structure–especially at sunset. Outside of the gates to the complex, you can store for Taj Mahal trinkets and different souvenirs from marketers in the area.
Address: Dharmapuri, Forest Colony, Nagla Devjit, Agra
5. Subhash Emporium
A memento keep in Agra
A memento keep in Agra
The sleek sights round Agra will make any traveler fall in love with marble inlay. If you discover your self keen to take a piece of this craftsmanship domestic with you, head to Subhash Emporium. The boutique has a decades-strong recognition as the go-to vicinity to store for stone handicrafts in Agra.
Inside, you may discover lots of travel-friendly marble inlay souvenirs, like floral coaster sets, animal statuettes, small boxes, and candle holders. The keep additionally sells large items, like lamps, tabletops, and carved-marble trays, that it can ship at once to your home.
Even if you do not choose to shop, it is well worth swinging by using Subhash Emporium for its charming demonstrations–one of the pinnacle matters to do in Agra. The skilled craftspeople right here will exhibit you the particular artwork of inlaying small portions of polished stone into challenging marble–which would possibly make the excessive fees of these objects appear barely extra reasonable.
Address: 18/1, Gwalior Road, Opp BSNL office, Shahzadi Mandi, Agra
6. Akbar’s Mausoleum
Akbar’s Mausoleum
Akbar’s Mausoleum
For almost 50 years, emperor Akbar the Great dominated the Mughal kingdom, tripling its empire to encompass most of the northern half of of the Indian subcontinent. His stays (along with these of two of his daughters) can be discovered at what is now one of the most famous traveller sights in Agra, Akbar’s Mausoleum.
The complicated elements a fantastic sandstone and marble tomb with placing marble inlay in a range of colors. The shape is surrounded via Mughal gardens that are domestic to deer, antelope, monkeys, and even a few peacocks.
If you appear to tour with a compass, whip it out at this site. You’ll note that the tomb faces east–a distinction to almost all different Mughal tombs, which factor towards Mecca.
Address: Sikandra, Agra
7. Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri
Just an hour’s force from the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri makes for a profitable day day out from Agra. The city, as soon as the capital of the Mughal Empire some five hundred years ago, was once constructed by using Akbar as a salute to the well-known Sufi saint, Shaikh Salim Chishti, who precisely expected the start of an heir. Residents deserted the metropolis no longer lengthy after it was once built, when water substances ran too low.
Tourists can now discover the well-preserved stays of this purple sandstone ghost town, nevertheless surrounded with the aid of a fortification wall. Check out the Jama Masjid, a mosque and one of the first structures completed in the city. Then, discover the three palaces, constructed for every one of Akbar’s wives. They mix a range of religious-inspired architectural patterns that honor the women’s character spiritualities.
Finally, get off the crushed route and stroll to Hiran Minar, a round spiked tower included with stone elephant tusks, atop which Akbar himself supposedly gazed at wildlife.
Dig in deeper to this splendid web site with a go to to the Archaeological Museum, close to the Diwan-i-Am important gate. It carries 4 galleries stuffed with treasures from the Mughal generation and beyond, such as gray ware pot shreds, terra-cotta lamps, mini human heads in stone, earrings molds, and a lot more.
8. Agra Bear Rescue Facility
Sloth bear
Sloth bear
Between its reverence for cows and its temples devoted to unique creatures, India has a charming relationship with animals. But no longer each subculture has been variety to four-legged creatures. Case in point: Dancing sloth bears.
For lots of years, India’s Kalandar community has poached sloth undergo cubs, pushed a crimson warm poker and coarse rope thru their muzzles and yanked on the string to pressure them to put on painful “performances” for a paying audience. India prohibited the merciless exercise in 1972. However, the mistreatment continued–leaving animal rights activists, such as Wildlife SOS, to retailer the victimized bears.
You can see round one hundred thirty of these rescued dancing bears playing, foraging, and hiking bushes at Agra Bear Rescue Facility. Visits to the core consist of a tour guided through an specialist who can shed mild on India’s vanishing natural world and conservation efforts. It’s an insightful experience, and all proceeds go towards rehabilitation efforts.
Address: Inde, National Highway 2, Muranda, Agra
9. Elephant Conservation and Care Center
Sloth bears are not the solely focal point for Wildlife SOS–the animal safety organisation additionally takes care of abused elephants at a sanctuary simply 30 kilometers outdoor of Agra. On excursions of the facility, you can see extra than 20 rescued elephants that have been pressured to work in harsh conditions. Lucky vacationers may additionally even be invited to assist put together lunch for the tusked mammals.
While you will truly have different possibilities to engage with elephants on your time out to India, journeying the Elephant Conservation and Care Center is by means of some distance one of the most moral (and fulfilling) methods to get up shut to these one of a kind creatures.
Address: Near Sachdeva Institute of Technology Thurmura Ghari, NH2, Mathura
10. Agra’s Old City
View over Agra’s Old City
View over Agra’s Old City
For an real seem to be at the existence of Agra’s present-day residents, take a heritage strolling tour round the Old City. The three-hour tour teaches vacationers about Agra’s architecture, history, culture, and avenue meals as they wander round the neighborhood.
You’ll get the threat to see what every day lifestyles is like for Agra locals, research the place to go for the fine views of the Taj Mahal, and give up through the bustling wholesale spice market for an explosion of shade and aroma. Come hungry–the tour information will additionally take you to Agra’s oldest candy keep for some treats.
11. Gurudwara Guru ka Tal
Gurudwara Guru ka Tal
Gurudwara Guru ka Tal
Mughals may also have unfold Islam in the course of this section of India, however the location round Agra is additionally domestic to a religious Sikh community. Many of them make pilgrimages to Gurudwara Guru ka Tal, a non secular middle close to Agra.
This peaceable vicinity used to be constructed in the seventeenth century, and present day vacationers can see the eight towers that continue to be of the structure’s authentic dozen. Tourists can additionally experience free ingredients from the neighborhood kitchen–perfect for refueling earlier than a outing lower back to the city.
Address: Chennai-Delhi Highway, Maharishi Puram Colony, Agra
12. Kalakriti Cultural & Convention Center
The Kalakriti Cultural & Convention Center is on a mission to deepen tourists’ grasp of Indian artwork and culture. Every nighttime at 6:30pm, it places on a overall performance of “Mohabbat-the-Taj: The Saga of Love,” a dramatic musical that brings the legendary love story of the Taj Mahal to life. Expect Bollywood-inspired dance and track in the course of the hour-long show. Afterward, head to the center’s handicrafts showroom to store for intricately designed marble inlay souvenirs and different treasures.
Address: 41/142, A/1 VIP Road-Taj Mahal Road, Fatehabad Road., Agra
13. Jama Masjid
Jama Masjid
Jama Masjid
One of India’s greatest mosques can be observed in the ancient core of Agra, just throughout from the Agra Fort. Still the city’s fundamental mosque, the Jama Masjid used to be constructed at some stage in the seventeenth century underneath the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. The hanging pink sandstone shape stands atop a platform, and facets amazing white marble inlay with blue-washed ceilings and walls. Throughout the interior, travelers can see sleek inlaid panels comparable to these at the Taj Mahal.
The Friday prayer provider attracts large crowds to the Jama Masjid, however backyard of that time, it is surprisingly empty. The mosque encourages vacationers to study silence when travelling this sacred place.
Address: Jama Masjid Road, Kinari Bazar, Hing ki Mandi, Mantola, Agra
14. Chini ka Rauza
Chini ka Rauza
Chini ka Rauza
After traveling Itimad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb, head one kilometer north to see Chini ka Rauza, a funerary monument that homes the tomb of Afzal Khan Shirazi, who served as the high minister for Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.