Agra is famous for the Taj Mahal. Most visitors stay one night in Agra or visit the Taj Mahal during a daytrip from Delhi. Maybe you have some time to kill during your stay in Agra? In this article I give you a few interesting options to visit during your stay in Agra.
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Agra Fort
Until 1638 Agra Fort was the residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty. In 1638 the capital moved from Agra to Delhi and the last residents were the Marathas before they were captured by the British. Agra Fort is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site and is located 3km west of the Taj Mahal. You can walk through the Shahjahan and Taj Garden to reach Agra Fort from the Taj Mahal.
Shahjahan Garden
If you like to escape the city a visit to the Shahjahan Garden is a nice alternative to hang around. It’s a beautiful place to go for a run in the morning as well. It’s a public park and safe to walk around during the day. Most of the entrances are closed at night but it is possible to find a way in. Don’t go into the park alone when it gets dark because the area doesn’t have proper lighting and you might feel a bit unsafe when you walk in the park alone.
Taj Nature Walk
The Taj Nature Walk is a 70 hectare park with paved walking trails. It is located on the right bank of the Yamuna river and 500 meters from the Taj Mahal. From here you can see the Taj Mahal above the treetops of the forest colony. There are many birds, peacocks and animals around here and over 50 varieties of flowers. There is an entrance fee for this park.
Taj Ganj
Taj Ganj is the area south of the Taj Mahal and the most touristy area of Agra. The Taj Ganj is located at the south entrance gate of the Taj Mahal. This lively neighbourhood as many markets, guesthouses, shops to buy souvenirs and many multi-cuisine restaurants with a rooftop. Some of the rooftops have a view of the Taj Mahal.
Mehtab Bagh
The Moonlight garden (Mehtab Bagh) is located on the north side of the Yamuna river. The garden is perfectly aligned with the Taj Mahal and has a square shape with measures of 300 x 300 meters. During the monsoon the park can be flooded. The Mehtab Bagh was the last garden built along the Yamuna river of the in total eleven gardens built by the Mughals.
Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri is a village in the Agra District in Uttar Pradesh and 40km west of Agra. It is a wonderful fortified ancient cluster of red sandstone buildings. The site has a mosque, tombs, several halls, palaces and gardens.
The city itself was founded to be the capital of the Mughal Empire in 1571 but was completely abandoned in 1585 when Emperor Akbar left for Punjab. Before the Emperor Akbar visited the village of Sikri to consult the Sufi. He predicted the birth of a male heir to the Mughal throne. Akbar built his new capital in Sikri after Prince Salim was born in Sikri.
In 1803 the British used the monuments of Fatehpur Sikri as an administrative centre until 1850. During this period the palaces and other monuments were renovated if needed.
In The World’s Jungle -Travel Blog
Read about other great destinations in India, such as the city of Lakes, Udaipur or the Pink City, Jaipur. Both cities are located in Rajasthan. Are you travelling to south India? Go and explore the colonial architecture in Kochi, or work on your tan at the golden sand beach of Varkala while staying in an eco-bungalow.
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