Agra - At a Glance
1. Best Time To Visit: August to March
2. Official Language: Hindi
3. Languages Spoken: Hindi, Urdu, English
and Braj Bhasha
4. Climate: Semi-Arid
5. Main Attractions: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort,
Musamman Burj, Meena Bazar, Jahangir
Mahal
#1 Taj Mahal
One of the seven wonders of
the world, the Taj Mahal needs
no introduction. It is the
undisputed symbol of India all
over the world. Located on the
southern bank of Yamuna, Taj
is a white marble mausoleum
built by Shah Jahan in the
memory of his beloved wife
Mumtaz Mahal. Surrounded
by gardens, the Taj Mahal is
an epitome of love. Marked
with beautiful calligraphic
engravings, the walls of the
wonderful facade are a treat to
the eyes.
#2 Agra Fort
The Agra Fort is a UNESCO
World Heritage site. Rebuilt by
Mughal Emperor Akbar, it is
just 2.5 kms away from the Taj
Mahal and is considered the
sister monument of the Taj. The
red sandstone Fort has
witnessed many wars and
acquisitions. It is spread over an
area of 94 acres and has a semi
circular architecture. The Fort
has four gates, amongst which
the Delhi Gate and the Lahore
Gate are the prominent ones.
The fort houses other spots of
historical significance like the
Meena bazar, Muasamman Burj
and Jahangir Mahal.
#3 Muasamman Burj
Musamman Burj was built by Shah
Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz
Mahal. It was built between 1631–
1640 and offers exotic views of the
Taj Mahal. The Musamman Burj is
made of delicate marble with
ornamental niches so that the
ladies could move around without
coming out in public gaze. The
walls are decorated in pietra dura
style. With a beautiful carved
fountain in the center, the chamber
has a marble dome on top and is
surrounded by a verandah. It is said
that Shah Jahan spent the last
days of his life here and died while
adoring the Taj Mahal.
#4 Jahangir Mahal
Jahangir Mahal is the most
noteworthy building inside the
Agra Fort. The Mahal was a
palace for women, and was
used mainly by the Rajput
wives of Akbar. It has a blend
of Hindu and Central Asian
architecture. It later became
the residence of empress
Noor Jahan. The complex has
a huge bowl called Hauz-i-
Jahangiri, which is carved out
of a single piece of stone and
was used as a container for
rose water.
#5 Fatehpur Sikri
Located almost 35 kms away from
Agra, Fatehpur Sikri was built by
Akbar. The city is the home of some
of the prominent monuments of
Mughal architecture like Diwan-i-
Khas, Panch Mahal, Tomb of Salim
Chisti and the famous Buland
Darwaza. Fatehpur Sikri served as
the capital of Mughal empire for a
brief period. Fatehpur Sikri sits on
rocky ridge, 3 kms in length and is 1
km wide. The palace city is
surrounded by a 6 km wall on three
side with the fourth being a lake at
the time. The city was constructed
using Indian principles exhibiting the
religious broad mindedness of Akbar.
Itimad-ud-Daula
Located on the left bank of the
Yamuna river, the mausoleum
of Itimad-ud-Daula is set in a
large cruciform garden, criss-
crossed by water courses and
walkways. The area of the
mausoleum itself is about 250
sq ft, and is built on a base
that is about 540 sq ft and
about one meter high. It is also
referred to as Baby Taj. Its
garden layout and use of white
marble, inlay designs and
latticework present many
elements of the Taj Mahal.
Mughal Heritage Walk
The Mughal Heritage Walk is a one
kilometre loop which is a part of
community development programme. It
connects the agricultural fields with the
Rajasthani culture, river bank connected
with the ancient village of Kuchhpura,
the Heritage Structure of Mehtab Bagh,
the Mughal aqueduct system, the
Humanyun Mosque and the Gyarah
Sidi.
Mankameshwar TempleThe Mankameshwar Temple
is one of four ancient temples
dedicated to Lord Shiva
located on the four corners of
Agra City. It is located near
the Jama Masjid and is
about 2.5 kilometres from the
Taj Mahal. Being located in
the old city, the temple is
surrounded by markets, many
of which date back to the
Mughal Era. The Shivlinga is
covered with silver metal and
is said to be founded by Lord
Shiva himself.
Tip: Try the special silver
coated paan which you will
get near the temple.
Mughlai Food
Apart from the architecture, the
Mughals also left a dominant
stamp on the cuisine of Agra.
Marked with creamy, boldly
flavoured curries; lots of ground
and whole spices, dried fruits and
nuts; roasted meats, the
gourmets are up for a treat.
Chaat
Drawing inspiration from Delhi,
Agra is famous for its chaat. The
aloo ki tikki (it’s a fried potato and
chickpea patty that’s smashed
open and topped with grated
ginger and a spicy-sweet brown
sauce) which is also called bhalla
in Agra is an all time favourite.
Bedai and Kachori
It is a standard breakfast
menu of Agra. The bedai
(sometimes spelled berahi)
is a fried, puffy bread, much
like kachori, served with a
bowl of spicy green sabzi
dotted with chunks of potato
and a dollop of curd. A
serving of jalebi completes
the breakfast menu.
Dalmoth
Dalmoth is a traditional
namkeen, or savory dry
snack, in Agra, made from
fried lentils, nuts, spices,
and oil. Crispy, spicy, and a
little greasy, the dalmoth
serves as a perfect snack
with a cold beverage.
Petha
Well after Taj Mahal, the only
thing that can woo your heart in
Agra is the Petha. It comes in
many varieties: plain (white);
kesar (saffron); with nuts; in
colorful shades of pineapple,
coconut, mango; in small balls
or rectangular chunks; served
dry or in some syrup. It can be
very soft, chewy, and a bit
syrupy inside, or harder and
chewy, but it’s always sweet
and usually rather floral in
taste.
Sadar Bazar
It is the most popular market in
Agra. Sadar Bazar can offer
anything you wish to take home
from Agra. It is populated with
leather shops, petha outlets,
handicrafts and garments stores,
among other things. Located
west of Khari Baoli, the market
is conveniently located pretty
close to the Agra Cantt Railway
Station. The market opens at
around 11:00 in the morning and
closes at around 11:00 in the
night and is closed on Tuesdays.
Kinari Bazar
Kinari Bazar is a street market of
Agra. Situated amongst the
narrow streets behind Jama
Masjid, Kinari is a colourful
market. Kinari is an amalgamation
of many bazars each specialising
in different wares. You’ll find
clothing, shoes, fabrics, jewellery,
spices, marble work, snack stalls.
Even walking in this bazar is an
experience in itself.
Raja ki Mandi
Raja ki Mandi is famous for its
linen shops. From the latest
fashion to the cliché types, you
can find all sorts of clothes in this
market. The market is situated
around a railway station which
also shares the same name.
Sanjay Place
Sanjay Place is the financial hub
of Agra. Populated with shops,
restaurants and cinema theatres,
Sanjay place is located between
the Paliwal Park & M G Road. So
for a byte of some decent
recreation, Sanjay Place is the
place to go.
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