Situated
on the west bank of the river Yamuna, Agra is much like
any other north Indian city. One of the major cities of
the state of Uttar Pradesh, Agra is known all over the
world for the Taj Mahal, the profound symbol of love.
The old part of the city is located to the north of the
fort, while the cantonment area to the south is the
modern part. Famous as the city of Taj, Agra was seat of
power for Mughals and remained the capital of India in
the 16th and 17th centuries. The monuments of the city
are imposing reminders of the Mughal splendour. The
population of the city is 1,400,000, which includes
Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and Sikhs. Hindi,
Urdu and English are the main languages spoken in the
city.
Climate & Clothing
Agra's climate is just like Delhi's, summers are hot and
the winters are chilly. The temperature in summer soars
up to a maximum of 46°C, while during winters the
temperature falls to a minimum of 2°C. The city
experiences monsoon rains between July and September.
Agra can be visited any time of the year, but one must
avoid the hot summers and rainy season. The ideal time
to visit the city is between the months of October and
March. For summer season cotton cloths are suitable,
while for winters woollen clothes are required to beat
the cold.
Accommodation at Agra Hotels
Some of the most popular hotels in the city are Hotel
Clarks Shiraz (5 Star/ 54, Taj Road), Jaypee Palace
Hotel and Convention Centre (5 Star/ Fatehabad Road),
Welcome Hotel Mughal Sheraton (5 Star/ Taj Ganj), Taj
View Hotel (5 Star/ Fatehabad Road), Trident Hilton Agra
(4 Star/ Fatehabad Road), Hotel Agra Ashok (5 Star/ 6-B,
Mall Road) and Holiday Inn (4 Star/ Sanjay Place) among
others.
Tourist Attractions of Agra :
»
Taj Mahal : The most famous Mughal monument was
built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz
Mahal. The 350 year old building is designated as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
» Agra Fort : Constrcution of this
majestic fort was commenced by Mughal Emperor Akbar in
1565 and additions were made right through the time of
his grandson, Shah Jahan. Principally a military
structure in Akbar's time, the fort became partially a
palace by the time of Shah Jahan.
» Itmad-ud-Daulah : Situated to the
north of the Agra fort, Itmad-ud-daulah is the tomb of
Mirza Ghiyas-uddin Beg. The tomb was built by his
daughter Nur Jehan, in between 1622 and 1628, and is of
particular interest, as many of its design elements
foreshadow the Taj.
» Akbar's Mausoleum : Located at a
distance of 10 kms from Agra, this is the tomb of
Emperor Akbar. The architeture of the tomb is a
combination of Hindu and Muslim styles.
» Fathehpur Sikri : The World Heritage
Site is located 40 kms west of Agra. Fatherpur Sikri
remained the capital of Mughals from 1570 to 1586.
Airport
Kheria airport is 7 kms from the city centre and 3 kms
from Idgah bus stand. Indian Airlines operates daily
tourist shuttle flights from Khajuraho, Varanasi to
Agra. Flights from Delhi take 40 minutes to reach Agra.
Local Modes of Transport
Local modes of transport include taxi, tempo,
auto-rickshaw and cycle rickshaw. Prepaid taxi and autos
are available from the railway station to different
parts of the city. Bicycles can be hired on hourly
basis. In the Taj area diesel or petrol vehicle are not
allowed, battery-operated buses, horse driven tongas and
rickshawas are available to get to the Taj Mahal.
Shopping
Agra
is well known for its Taj, but the city is a shopper's
paradise also. The city is famous for leather goods,
jewellery, brassware, carpets, embroidery work and
marble items inlaid like the pietra dura work on the Taj.
Visitors can buy leather chappals (sandals), purses,
bags, decorative items and other leather produts
manufactured by locals. Other must buy items are sandal
and rose wood items, sold in the handicraft emporiums
and shops. Agra is also popular for its sweets 'Petha'
and 'Gazak' and saltish snack 'Dalmoth'. Main shopping
areas of the city are Taj Mahal complex, Sadar Bazaar,
Kinari Bazaar, Raja-ki- Mandi and Sanjay place. The
Govt. Emporia or Souvenir Shops approved by U.P Tourism
are also recommended for shopping.
