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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.
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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
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India with children
23 June 2009
Sound daunting? It needn’t be - with these tips, you’ll be whisking them round temples before...
Agra
Recommended things to do & see
- Entertainment (2)
- Restaurants (14)
- Shopping (3)
- Sights (8)
- Hotels & hostels
Related Groups
Our favourite Agra Blogs (beta)
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Lady in the Golden Triangle
Blog: A Lady in London - 23 December 2009
Destination #1: DelhiMy most recent adventure was a very last-minute trip to India. Two weeks before I left, I bought a plane ticket and wrangled a visa from the crazy India visa office in London. I spent a few hours one morning booking seven trains and three flights. I found hotels, packed, and made sure I wasn't forgetting anything. With all that done, I jetted off to Delhi in a comfy seat on a 747 thanks to a last-minute upgrade from BA.
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Out of Delhi, Out of Dodge
Blog: Passed Ports: images and anecdotes from our travels - 21 December 2009
After only 2 full days in Delhi we decided to get out of dodge. Though Delhi has some nice sites (the Jama Masjid mosque – India’s largest – was especially impressive), they were not enough to make up for the constant noise, honking and filth that dominate the city. I’ve been in plenty of loud, dirty, [...]
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Holy Cow!
Blog: the reX-Files.ca - 6 December 2009
By Monika Terfloth – Part 8 of 10 of the Mother in-law in Nepal and India series. Hello All! Seriously, I don’t know where to begin. So much of what I have seen defies description! We landed in New Delhi a day later than expected, so we will have a brief stay in Delhi before we return [...]
