Top 5 Places to Visit in Agra

Agra is famous for being the capital of the Mughal Empire between 1526 and 1658. It is also known for its world-class mouthwatering cuisine but the most attention has been brought to Agra by the world-renowned symbol of eternal love, The Taj Mahal. Millions of people from across the world visit this monument every year making Agra one of the most visited tourist places in the world.

Agra city is located at a reasonable distance from Delhi, the origin of most travel aimed at tourism in India. It has also been blessed with favorable geography, forming one of the pillars of the Indian Golden Triangle of tourism. The Golden Triangle consists of the capital city Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur.

1. The Taj Mahal

Splendidly located on the banks of River Yamuna in Agra, the Taj Mahal stands tall as a symbol of eternal love. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The monument is completely constructed by using Ivory-white marble.

The Taj Mahal is a great example of Indo-Islamic architecture. It took the skilled workers 17 years to chisel and carve the intricate details that you can see for yourself on the arches and walls of the monument. The glowing white of the Taj Mahal is complemented by the lush green manicured gardens and azure waters of the fountains along the path leading up to the main compound.

• Timings: Opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes 30 minutes after the sunset.
• Closed on Friday
• Time Required: 2 hours
• Entry Fee: Indian Citizens INR 50 - Foreign Visitors: INR 1100 - Entry is free for all children below 15 years
• How to Get There - The Taj Mahal in Agra is easily accessible by road from all the major nearby cities including Delhi and Jaipur.

2. Agra Fort

Agra is almost synonymous with the Taj Mahal, so it's only justified that the Taj Mahal may be the only monument of stature and worthy of visiting. This is where you will be wrong. This historical Mughal capital has so much more to offer than just one of the seven wonders of the world.

One such outstanding monument is Agra Fort, also known as Lal-Qila. It is an architectural marvel completely built using red sandstones that housed the Mughals until 1638. Due to its sheer massive size, it is also referred to as the walled city. The Agra Fort hosts several marvelous structures within its walls like Diwan-e-Am, Sheesh Mahal, Moti Masjid, and many more such breathtaking architectural wonders.

• The monument is sure to capture the hearts of all visitors with its intricate architecture that oozes an old-world charm of the Mughal era.
• Timings: Sunrise to Sunset
• Time Required: 2-3 hours

• Entry Fee: For Indian nationals, the fee is INR 40 and for foreigners, it is INR 550.
• How to Get There - It is conveniently located at a distance of just 2.5 kilometers from the Taj Mahal. All sorts of local transports, including rickshaws and cabs are available for hire.

3. Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur Sikri is a remnant of the glorious Mughal Architecture located just an hour’s drive away from the Agra city center. This small town is built predominantly with red sandstones. Akbar constructed Fatehpur Sikri to honor Sheikh Salim Chisti who predicted the birth of the Mughal heir during Akbar’s visit to the fascinating city of Sikri.

The monuments in and around Fatehpur Sikri are a great example of Mughal architecture and intricate workmanship of the olden era. Fatehpur Sikri houses many great monuments like Paanch Mahal, Tomb of Salim Chisti, and the massive Buland Darwaza - a 180-foot-tall historical wonder that is a sight to behold.

Once a glorious city, now reduced to the remains of its historical past is a must-visit for anyone interested in the intricacies of Indo-Mughal culture and architecture.

• Timings - N.A
• Time Required - 1 day
• Entry Fee: For Indian citizens, the fee is INR 50 and for foreign nationals, it is INR 610.
• How to Get There - Situated just 40 kilometers from Agra, you can reach Fathepur Sikri by local buses, taxi cabs, or even rickshaws that frequent the Agra-Fathepur route. You can also reach Fatehpur Sikri by train, with the nearest railway station located just 3 kilometers from the fort.

4. Itimad-ud-daulah's Tomb

One of the most uniquely occurring Mughal establishments is the tomb of Itimad-ud-daulah. It is often referred to as the draft or an inspiration for arguably the greatest Mughal monument, The Taj Mahal.

This monument is groundbreaking in many ways, including the shift in architectural style of the Mughals of the time. This is also the first monument in India to be entirely built of white marble.

The mausoleum was commissioned by Nur Jahan, the wife of Jahangir in memory of her late father Mir Gheyas Beg. The tomb appears to be a jewelry box left out in the garden due to its symmetrical design. The appearance and grandiose of the monument almost gives the feeling of visiting the Taj Mahal, just without the overcrowding.

• Timings : 8:00 AM - 12:00 AM
• Time Required: 1-2 hrs
• Entry Fee: The fee for Indian citizens is INR 30 while the entry fee for Foreign nationals is INR 310. Entry for children below 15 years is free.
• How to Get There - The tomb is pretty close to the city center. You can use one of the many local travel options like auto-rickshaws, e-rickshaws, and so on to get to the tomb. There are also local buses to help you reach your destination.

5. Wildlife SOS

Wildlife SOS is one of the lesser-known jewels tucked away behind the grandiose and intricacy of the Mughal architectural wonders in and around Agra. But this is something you should not miss if you have the chance to experience it. It was set up in 1995 as a non-profit organization and its a one of a one-of-a-kind wildlife sanctuary. It is a completely cruelty-free wildlife sanctuary where animals are cared for and protected.

There are two facilities of Wildlife SOS both on the outskirts of Agra and approximately at a distance of 20-minute car ride from each other. One is focused on rescuing abused elephants and providing them with a nurturing environment to rehabilitate. The other, called the Wildlife SOS bear sanctuary is focused on rescuing sloth bears and freeing them from the barbaric ritual of bear dancing.

• Timings - There are numerous 2-hour slots throughout the day. The first slot starts at 9 AM and the last set of tourists leave for their visit at 4 PM.
• Time Required - 2 hours
• Entry Fees - The entry fee charged by the Forest Department for Indian citizens is INR 50 and for foreign nationals, it is INR 500. The wildlife sanctuary accepts INR 1500 as a donation that goes towards the development of the sanctuary and helping the animals with better living conditions.
• How to Get There - The sanctuary is located on the outskirts of Agra so it is advisable to travel there by car or a cab. Public transportation isn’t readily available to and from the sanctuary.

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