Fascinating Tours

The present Agra is same as the 'Agrabana' mentioned in the Mahabharata. Agra is considered to be an intrinsic part of Brij Bhumi or the land of Lord Krishna. Historically, the origin of Agra is said to be in the reign of Raja Badal Singh in 1475 AD. Sikander Lodi, the Afghan king made Agra his capital for the first time. The Mughal Emperors- Babur, Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan ruled the northern India from Agra as the capital of the empire. Agra is famous for the Mughal monuments especially the Taj Mahal, whose beauty is known to the entire world. Tours to Agra comprises of visit to the Taj, Agra Fort, Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah, Sikandra and Fatehpur Sikri.

Taj Mahal is one of the most visited and photographed monument in the world. It attracts several thousand visitors every year from all over the world. Taj Mahal is a memorial of love constructed by the Mughal king, Shah Jahan for his most beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Built of white marble with inlay work of precious stones, Taj is like a beautiful poetry written on the stones. It is listed as the World Heritage Site.

Agra Fort was built by Akbar initially as military fortress in 1565 AD. The fort was built of red sandstone. Jahangir and Shah Jahan made several additions and renovations in the fort in the process dismantled many older buildings. On tours to Agra, you must watch out for the Diwan-I-Aam, Diwan-I-Khas, Jahangiri Mahal, Angoori Bagh, Sheesh Mahal and Moti Masjid. Agra Fort is listed as the World Heritage Site.

Tomb of Itmad-ud Daulah was built as a memorial for his father by Noor Jahan, queen of Jahangir. The tomb is considered as the predecessor of the Taj and is often called as Baby Taj.

Sikandra is 4 km from Agra and is famous for the Tomb of Akbar. Akbar had started a tomb for himself during his lifetime but was completed by his son Jahangir. It is built of red sandstone with decorative engravings done with marble. The uniqueness of the tomb is that it is probably the only tomb in India built without a dome.

Fatehpur Sikri, the imperial city of Akbar was built between 1570-1586 AD. Built of red sandstone, the fort looks elegant in the vicinity of the shrine of Sufi Saint Salim Chisti. Although brilliant in construction, the city has a short life span, as it was abandoned soon after its completion due to acute scarcity of water. You must check out the Diwan-I-Aam, Diwan-I-Khas, Panch Mahal, Jodha Bai's Mahal, Palace of Turkish Sultana, Mariam's Mahal, Akbar's Apartments, Anup Talao, Birbal's Palace and Bulund Darwaza on tours to Agra.

The 'Taj Mahotsav' is an annual festival held in Agra, which draws a lot of tourists. This festival is organized from 18th to 27th of February every year. The festival is full of entertainment where tourists can enjoy folk dances, folk songs and dramas performed by celebrities. Relish the authentic Mughlai delicacies in the Taj Mahotsav on tours to Agra.

There is no dearth of shopping on tours to Agra. To take back home as souvenirs are the small marble replicas of the Taj. Decorate your home, gift to your friend or keep it as a memento of fond memories in India, it solves various purposes. You may also find other decorative and useful items made of marble. Agra is famous for leather items such as purses, bags, wallets, shoes and belts. They are really cheap than anywhere else. Brass items particularly for decorative purpose are also found in plenty at Agra. Agra is famous for an Indian sweet meat, Petha. Try it out if you have a sweet tooth.

How to Reach
By Air: The nearest airport at Kheria is 7 km from Agra. There are flights to all major tourist destinations in India like Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi and Khajuraho.

By Rail: The main railhead in Agra is at Agra Cantonment connecting Agra with cities like Delhi, Bharatpur, Jaipur, Lucknow and Varanasi.

By Road: The national highway numbers 2, 3, and 11 pass through Agra connecting it with all the major towns and cities of India.