Introducing Agra
Agra’s magnificent white marble Taj Mahal stands like a bulbous beacon, drawing tourists like moths to a wondrous flame. Despite the hype, it’s every bit as good as you’ve heard. While Agra itself is a sprawling, bloated and polluted industrial city that few travellers seem to have a good word for, the Taj is not a stand-alone attraction. The legacy of the Mughal empire has left a magnificent fort and a sprinkling of fascinating tombs and mausoleums, while the Yamuna River provides a suitably sacred backdrop. The Mughal emperor Babur established his capital here in 1526, and for the next century Agra witnessed a remarkable spate of architectural activity as each emperor tried to outdo the grandiose monuments built by his predecessors.
Advertisement
The city has a lively but chaotic chowk (marketplace) and plenty of places to stay and eat, but the hordes of rickshaw-wallahs, touts, unofficial guides and souvenir vendors can be as persistent as the monsoon rain.
Many tourists choose to visit Agra on a whistle-stop day trip – made possible by the excellent train services from Delhi. However, Agra’s attractions are much more than can be seen in a day, and if you have the time you can enjoy several days’ sightseeing with side trips to Fatehpur Sikri and Mathura.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Tips & articles
-
Side trips from the Taj Mahal
27 August 2011
What? You mean there’s other stuff to do in Agra apart from seeing the Taj Mahal? You bet there is.Agra’s...
-
The world’s most beautiful buildings
13 July 2011
Straight away we’ll say that this isn’t a top 10 list. There are just far too many styles of buildings,...
-
Top 5 views of the Taj Mahal
26 November 2010
You can keep your Sydney Opera House, your St Basil’s Cathedral, even your...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
-
-
RE: Side trip from Delhi
by elflick27 14 September 2011
I went to Fatepur Sikri (near Agra), and loved it. Its an 'abandoned' city. Theres a mosque there thats very busy and teeming with guides.…
-
RE: Side trip from Delhi
by Chhotu 14 September 2011
If you have very less time maybe you can visit Agra > Fatehpur Sikri >Bharatpur > Deeg > Mathura / Vrindavan. Robert
