Agra City Guide

The Taj Mahal is unquestionably one of Agra's most popular attractions. It is not only famous in India, but it is also a world-famous monument. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his dead wife Mumtaz, and it symbolises the emperor's deep love for her and the sadness he felt when she died.

The Taj Mahal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's most admired Mughal masterpieces. It is nothing short of poetry crafted in marble. Designed by Ustad Ahmed Lahauri, it is influenced by Indian, Persian, and Islamic architectural styles. The Taj Mahal took 21 years to build (from 1632 to 1652) with over 20,000 workers working night and day.

The Taj Mahal, described by legendary poet Rabindranath Tagore as a teardrop on the face of eternity, never fails to impress tourists. Take a leisurely stroll through the grounds or simply sit and admire the beautiful reflective pools and exquisite gardens.

This huge red sandstone fort spans 94 acres and is located 2 kilometres northwest of the Taj Mahal, running parallel to the Yamuna River. The Agra Fort was first occupied by Sikarwar Rajputs before being captured by Delhi's Lodi rulers. Emperor Babur took over the fort in 1526, after the Lodis were defeated in the Battle of Panipat.

The dilapidated fort was extensively renovated by Akbar using red sandstone, which took over 4,000 workers eight years to complete. The Delhi Gate and the Lahore Gate are the most striking of Agra Fort's majestic gates. The Elephant Gate, located between two red sandstone towers, is another magnificent entrance. Despite their magnificence, only the Amar Singh Gate is presently open to visitors.

Mehtab Bagh, a garden on the banks of the Yamuna River, was built by Emperor Babur and was the last of a series of 11 such gardens built along the river's east bank. The Taj's gardens are perfectly aligned with Mehtab Bagh, making it the best place to view the Taj Mahal from across the river.

Only one of the four sandstone towers that once marked the corners of Mehtab Bagh remains today. The gardens also have a large pond on the outskirts that resembles the Taj Mahal. A small tank is located in the centre of the garden, along with water channels that enhance the beauty of the natural scenery.

Enjoy the wide walkways, breezy canopies, lovely pools, fountains, and fruit trees at Mehtab Bagh.

Mariam's Tomb, a kilometre north of Sikandra (an Agra suburb), is the final resting place of Marium-uz-Zamani Begum, Akbar's wife and Jahangir's mother. It is a massive sandstone structure with intricate carvings covering its outer walls, despite being largely simple in design.

Unlike other Mughal monuments, the tomb is devoid of domes, with large chhatris adorning the building's corners instead. The tomb's architecture is a distinctive blend of Islamic and Hindu styles that were prevalent during the reigns of Akbar and Jahangir. The tomb's interiors are divided by a grid of crisscrossing corridors, and Mariam's grave is located in a vault beneath the tomb's surface.

Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary is situated on the Delhi-Agra Highway (NH2), 20 kilometres from Agra. The sanctuary, which covers 7.97 square kilometres, was designated as a National Bird Sanctuary in 1991.

It is a wonderful place for a relaxing outing with your loved ones because it is home to the stunning man-made Keetham Lake. Sur Sarovar attracts more than 106 species of migratory birds each year, including the little grebe, cattle egret, purple heron, darter, common teal, and pintail.