FREE HolidayIQ Newsletter Deals, holiday ideas & more
About Agra Tourism
Known for the world's most beautiful monument of love, the Taj Mahal, Agra is where the Mughals lived out their theatrics of power and intrigue, of love and piety, of ambition and heartbreak... Yes Agra has seen it all...held it and lost it to now become an important holiday destination on a tourist agenda. Agra
may have had a long innings as a religious and commercial hub for over
three centuries but the Mughals turned the old city over its head and
created a vibrant centre of power from where they dictated the fate of Hindustan.
Situated in the rich alluvial plains of the Ganga and Yamuna Rivers in western Uttar Pradesh, Agra lies about 200km southeast of Delhi...The
city was an emblem of Mughal power and ambition, but it was also their
home and they filled it with gardens and graceful palaces, settled
their families and set up their places of leisure and worship.
After a series of successive raids on India, Babur a chieftain of Ferghana in Central Asia, routed the ruler Ibrahim Lodi at the battle of Panipat in the winter of 1525. With no one else to oppose him Babur with his son Humayun set out for Agra, the old Lodi stronghold and set the scene for a long rule of the Mughals in India. The city which is first referred to in the Indian epic Mahabharata as Agrabana, was the headquarters of Sultan Sikandar Lodi in 1506. The Mughals ruled Hindustan from here from 1526-1658.
Visitors to Agra may find the plethora of monuments, gardens and bazaars a bit daunting, but everyone returning to the city ends up having a favourite that they want to revisit - not the least of which may be the Taj - while for others it may be the surprisingly well preserved palace of Dara Shikoh, the sufi son of emperor Shah Jehan. Three of these Mughal-era structures are UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. However, no visit to Agra city is really complete without a trip to nearby Sikandra, where the remains of Emperor Akbar were interred. An excursion to the atmospheric ruins of Fatehpur Sikri, the abandoned capital of Akbar, is a must-do. The ruins offer a revealing insight into the mind of an inspired and highly evolved visionary ruler in Mughal India.
Travel tips, How to reach, travel warnings etc. One can hire an auto if money is the concern or else taxi is the best option. Avoid public transport. Avoid being duped by the
Taj Mahal Attractions - The city of Agra, being the capital of Mughal Empire for a long time, was witness to construction of numerous buildings on an elaborate scale.
Taj Mahal Blog - The Taj Mahal is an architectural marvel formed of the fusion between Indian, Persian, Turkish and the Islamic styles.
Official Websites
Government of Uttar Pradesh - Uttar Pradesh Government portal covering diverse topics including health, tourism, culture, climate, Tenders and e-Governance.
Uttar Pradesh Tourism - Uttar Pradesh Tourism Government portal - Official website of Dept. of Tourism, covers Uttar Pradesh Entry formalities, Places of Interest in Uttar Pradesh, List of Tourist Guides in Uttar Pradesh and Transportation in Uttar Pradesh.
Other Useful Links
Weather - Weather forecast for Agra with a fast, easy to use interface. Includes weather maps, graphics and radar images.
Tourism Guild of Agra - This web site provides all the relevant information required for you to plan your next Holiday to Agra.
