Agra

Agra is most famous for the Taj Mahal, but we have to say that the rest of Agra is pretty ordinary. We stayed at the ITC Mughal Agra, which was magnificent. It was a shame we only had 2 nights there, because the hotel would have been wonderful to spend a few days relaxing away from the hustle and bustle of Indian street life. It has a beautiful pool area, the rooms were well appointed and the food was excellent.

Unfortunately the surrounding area where the hotel was situated was not the sort of place where you would wander around. In fact as you travel throughout India you will notice that every hotel you stay at has very tight security, most of them are gated, and you have to show that you are a guest to enter the premises. I think this speaks volumes about safety in India.

So what did Agra offer? Well, actually it offered a few wonderful experiences, especially being able to enjoy a sunset and sunrise at the Taj Mahal. You will not be disappointed with this experience.

Agra Fort – there is nothing small about Agra Fort. It is a well maintained monument and was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638 when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. There are several important buildings inside the fort which are all part of the tour:
- Khas Mahal – this enclosure was the private residence of the Mughal Emperor. It is an airy edifice, overlooking the specially laid Angoori Bagh (grape garden). Windows closed with jali (intricately perforated decorative stone screens) provide fabulous views of the riverfront. The two copper-roofed pavilions built in the Bengali traditions were meant for prominent ladies of the harem.
- Musamman Burj – an octagonal tower where the Mughal Emperor spent his last years as a prisoner. The windows and verandah area overlook the Taj Mahal in the distance.
- Diwan-I-Khas – this was a hall for private audiences inside the Khas Mahal enclosure.
- Diwan-I-Aam – this was a hall for public audiences situated just outside the Khas Mahal enclosure.
Taj Mahal – the Taj was commissioned by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, as a posthumous gift and lasting monument to her after she died in childbirth. It sits on 42 acres of land and is believed to have cost 32 million rupees when built, so the cost today would be in the billions. Construction was started in 1632 and the mausoleum was completed in 1643, while the surrounding buildings and garden were finished 5 years later. There are no words to describe actually being at the Taj. It is such a magnificent structure and depending on the time of day you go, and the weather you experience, every visit will be different. We were fortunate to see it rising out of the mist on our first day, and then a beautiful setting sun the next day. I suspect that in the high season it would be difficult to get to see anything with the large crowds, so we would strongly suggest trying to visit the Taj on the cusp of the tourist season. Once inside the tomb no photos are allowed, although plenty of tourists seemed to ignore this rule!
Fatehpur Sikri – this is a town in the Agra District of Uttar Pradesh and was founded as the capital of the Mughal Empire in 1571 by Emperor Akbar. The city and imperial palace was built to commemorate the Sheikh who had predicted the birth of Akbar’s son, Jahangir. It was abandoned by Akbar in 1585 when he went to fight a campaign in Punjab, and then it was completely abandoned by 1610 supposedly because of lack of water supply.

Travel Tips

Crowds, crowds and more crowds. You will fight to get decent photos without hundreds of tourists in them, so patience on the journey is an essential item to pack.

Travel Alerts

Being in a tourist group gives a certain amount of security, especially as your belongings are safe on the bus when you leave it for sightseeing. But, as always, the tourist should be careful to keep bags closed, and expensive items out of sight.
It is best not to wander outside your hotel at night unless you organise a cab for safety reasons.