Where is Agra?
Agra, a powerful city of the medieval times, is situated in the state of
Uttar Pradesh in Northern India. The city is a part of the great northern
plains and lies on the west bank of the river Yamuna. The city stands at a
distance of 204 km south of Delhi.
What is the city famous for?
Agra is famous for the Taj Mahal which was erected by the Mughal emperor
Shah Jahan in remembrance of his beautiful consort Mumtaz Mahal.
How will you gain access?
At a distance of 6 km from the Sadar Bazar lies the Kheria Airport of Agra.
The city is well connected by Indian Airlines' and Allinace Air's flights to
Delhi, Khajuraho and Varanasi. By plane, it takes 35 minutes to reach Delhi
from Agra. The Shatabdi Express and the Taj Express leave from New Delhi and
Hazrat Nizamuddin Station respectively to reach Agra Cantt. Railway Station
in 2 hours alone. By road, it takes 4 hours to reach Agra from Delhi.
What does the climate say?
The city of Agra faces extremes of temperatures. Summers (April to June)
are extremely hot and the temperature touches a maximum of 45 degrees
centigrade. Winters (October to February) are cold and foggy. Heavy rainfall
can be experienced during the monsoon months extending from July to
September.
What magnetises people?
» Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal, in the heart of the city of Agra, is an eternal tribute of
Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to his beautiful and faithful consort Mumtaz
Mahal. The mausoleum elegantly stands amidst the well-laid lawns, with a
splendid waterway leading to it. The complex also houses a mosque which is
thrown open every Friday for customary prayers.
» Agra Fort
The construction of the Agra Fort began in 1156 during the reign of the
great Mughal emperor Akbar and was completed in 1605 during the reign of his
grandson Shah Jahan. The fort is a
fantastic example of the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. The
fort stretches over a length of 2.5 km along the banks of the river Yamuna.
The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb deposed his father Shahjahan and imprisoned
here in the very fort.
» Fatehpur Sikri
At
a distance of 40 km from Agra, stands the very historical city of Fatehpur
Sikri. The city was built to symbolise the power of Akbar's empire, to
convey Allah's massage to mankind and to put forth the wonders of Islamic
architecture. The monuments in Fatehpur Sikri include Panch Mahal, Buland
Darwaza, saint Salim Chishti's Tomb, Diwan-e-Aam and Diwan-e-Khaas. Akbar
erected the towering Buland Darwaza to commemorate his victory over the
rulers of Gujarat. The gigantic arch soars up to a height of 176 feet above
ground level.
» Itimad-ud-Daulah's Tomb
The Itimad-ud-Daulah's Tomb houses the body of Mirza Ghiyas Beg, the father
of Mughal empress Noor Jahan. The tomb was erected to represent a silver
jewel box in marble. Noor Jahan got the mausoleum built between 1622 and
1625 AD. The brilliant artwork on the walls of the tomb is truly worth a
visit.
» Sikandara
Sikandara lies at a distance of 3 km from Agra. The place is the site of
Akbar's tomb. The construction of the tomb began during Akbar's reign and
the was completed by the Mughal emperor Jehangir. A gigantic arch is the
entrance to the tomb. The tomb is wonderfully surrounded by well-laid lawns.
The entrance is decorated with fine marble inlay work. The inner surface of
the dome bears beautiful images of flowers, geometric designs and Islamic
calligraphy.
Which are the nearby hotels?
Accommodating
in Agra can prove to be a lifetime experience considering the wide range of
luxury and world-class hotels available in the city. The luxury and deluxe
hotels of Agra include names like Hotel Amarvilas (near the Taj Mahal),
Hotel Jaypee Palace (10 km from Agra airport) and Hotel Mughal Sheraton (10
km from Agra airport). Among the first class hotels are Hotel Trident Hilton
( a few minutes walk from the Taj Mahal), Hotel Clark Shiraz (7 km from Agra
airport) etc. And there are budget hotels like Hotel Savoy (12 km from
airport), Hotel Sunrise (8 km from airport) etc.
Where should you shop?
The city of Agra abounds in shopping malls and marketplaces selling Taj
Mahal in miniature, gift items, decorative items, souvenirs etc. Agra is
famous all over for its leather industry. So one can buy leather sandals,
bags, purses, belts and other leather goods. The city is also known for its
sweets- 'Peetha' and 'Gazak'. Chief shopping areas include the Taj Mahal
Complex, Sanjay Place, Sadar Bazar and Raja Ki Mandi.
