Best time to visit : October to March
Agra is a beautiful city situated on the banks of River Yamuna in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is also one of the most well known cities across the globe because of the presence of the world renowned wonder, ‘Taj Mahal’. Agra had a glorious past and its history reminds everyone of the Mughal Era when it was ruled by the Emperors like Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan.
Facts
Agra is a historical and an archaeological site with many of its monuments listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Lots of tourists visit this place to know about the history of the Mughal Empire and to see the ultimate requiem of love, the ‘Taj Mahal’, from a Mughal Emperor to his beloved wife. A Taj Mahotsav is organized every year in February to attract both national and international tourists.
The culture and lifestyle of people in Agra has been greatly influenced by the Mughal rulers. Same case is with the food. Agra specializes in the Mughlai cuisine which includes kababs, kormas, tandoori chicken, tandoori fish etc.
Sweet dish called ‘Petha’ is quite famous of Agra and you should not miss tasting it during your trip to Agra. The place is also famous for its snack item called ‘Dal Moth’ which is a must try for every first time visitor.
Your trip to Agra is incomplete without buying the small 'Taj Mahal' souvenirs made of marble. Apart from that, you can also buy other marble made decorative pieces for you and your friends and relatives. You will find many souvenir shops near Taj Mahal. It is recommended to get the things from the Government and UP Tourism approved shops.
Agra is also famous for its leather made items like bags, footwear etc. Buying these items can also be a good idea.
Nearby Places:
- Bharatpur : located at a distance of around 52 km., is famous for its Bird Sanctuary which is one of the excellent bird parks in the world. On every nook and corner of the park, you will find birds chirping on the trees. This place is a heaven for nature lovers, bird watchers and Ornithologists. You can also visit the small temple dedicated to Lord Shiva inside the bird park.
- Mathura : located at a distance of around 56 km., is the birthplace of Lord Krishna and hence, is a pious pilgrim place for Hindus. There are lots of temples in Mathura dedicated to Lord Krishna.
- Vrindavan : located at a distance of around 71 km., is the twin city of Mathura and it is believed that Lord Krishna spent his childhood days in this holy city. The ‘Banke Bihari Mandir’ is the top most tourist attraction at Vrindavan.
There are a lot of tourist attractions in Agra. Hundreds of foreign tourists and history buffs travel to this charming city every day to see these attractions.