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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 - 7 November 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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Friday Flashback – The Taj Mahal & Red Fort in Agra, India
Blog: GoBackpacking - 6 November 2009
On the overnight train from Varanasi to Agra, I saw my first purple sunset and met a Parisian by the name of Laura, who would eventually show me around her home town. Agra surprised me in that even the budget backpacker hotels had stunning views of the Taj Mahal, at least on the rooftop where meals [...]Buy travel insurance from Worldnomads.com (Lonely Planet's preferred carrier) No related posts.
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the Taj.
Blog: Leave Me Here - 27 October 2009
Possibly our greatest day in India, the Taj was legit. Cmon Tuk, Leeetts go! Oh My Stoked. Taj! Inside and out with some home comforts for Dinner Seriously.
