Places to visit in Agra — Talking about the heritage cities of India, Agra would surely be in the top 5. Agra is one of the most picturesque and photographed cities of India. And the major courtesy for this is of course Taj Mahal and the other Mughal monuments.
If you have been a history lover in your school time, you would be delighted to visit Agra and see all those grandeur monuments in reality that you forever saw printed in your books. Agra is not a very big city but a very rich one when comes to exploring. The street food along with the monuments takes the vibe of the city to the next level.
The old streets, the way of living, the shopping streets, and of course the Mughal monuments cover the major things to do in Agra. And on that note, here are some of the most famous places that you must visit in Agra if you are there in the city.
P.S — Do not forget your travel camera because you would need it every freaking time because Agra is ohh so picturesque and beautiful. You would want to capture the beauty from all sides and all the angles and we are not even kidding. Also, do not visit Agra during the peak summer season as that time is not favorable for exploring at all.
#1. Taj Mahal Agra
Starting with the best or infect with one of the seven wonders of the world which is none other than Taj Mahal. Apart from being the epitome of love it is also an epitome of beauty, grace, finesse, and tamed architecture. Taj Mahal is more than just being called as ‘made out of love for his wife’.
For someone who has been to the Taj Mahal knows that each wall of the monument speaks about craftsmanship in architecture. It is said that the beauty of the monument can’t be copied and we can’t agree any more with this fact that it is true to the core. The four royal entrances or the gates of the Taj Mahal are so pretty in itself that it can’t be explained in words.
Visit the Taj Mahal as early as possible so that there isn’t enough rush so that you can capture the beauty of the monument perfectly. And the sunrise and the sunset views of the Taj Mahal are gorgeous as well. These are experiences to take back from Taj Mahal Agra. The boat ride from the opposite side of the Taj Mahal also happens and if you get a chance, do try that out too.
The Taj Mahal timings for the public are from 6 am to 6.30 pm. There is also a garden in front of the Taj Mahal that you must explore as well because it is pretty and you also get a place to chill for some time.
#2. Agra Fort
Just nearby to the Taj Mahal is the Agra fort which is another gorgeous monument and point of interest in the Taj city. Agra fort is famous by the name of Red Fort because it is made of red sandstone and is entirely red in color. The fort is a lavish and a sturdy one.
The walls of the fort look strong, sturdy, thick, and protective from a distance as well. Like Taj Mahal, this was also built by Shah Jahan which was also a residence for the Mughals back then. Since it was the home of the Mughals, they made it extravagant with huge walls to keep themselves protected from the enemies.
You can explore the fort from inside and it is a huge one so make sure that you have enough time in your hand for this. Of course, you will find a lot of photographers and bloggers clicking a lot of pictures at different spots because it is a picturesque place where you can find some fabulous backdrops.
Your trip to Agra is not complete without being to the Agra fort for sure because from the outside it just looks like a huge building but there is enough to explore from the inside. Do visit the place after you are done visiting Taj Mahal because it is near and you can cover these two places in a single day.
#3. Tomb of Akbar
A very beautiful tomb that you must visit in Agra has to be the Tomb of Akbar which is extravagant and lavish. It is one of the most striking masterpiece from the Mughal era whose beauty and charm is next level. Like this monument is important, Akbar was one of the most important and successful king of Mughal era. It is located in the suburbs of Agra in Sikandra.
It is a monument that is pyramidal in shape and is four tiered. It has amazingly high walls and the topmost part of the tomb is built of marbles. There are 4 minarets in the tomb and the white minarets will again give you the feels of Taj Mahal and the whole tomb is made of red sandstone again. Along with this, deep red sandstone are added to the whole texture which makes it more beautiful.
The construction is really very beautiful and you would love being around this tomb. The history and the architecture would keep you glued to the place for a longer time. You can again click tonnes of beautiful pictures at the beautiful corners over here. The garden and the gallery and basically everything of the tomb is so gorgeous to miss. The tomb that you see is the false tomb and the real tomb is in the basement which again shows the intelligence of the Mughal architecture.
If you are at Sikandra area, you can visit some more places of interest over there. You can keep one whole day for exploring this area.
#4. Mehtab Bagh
( Places to visit in Agra )
Credit: Mehtab Bagh Travel
The most and peaceful garden to visit in the Agra city is the Mehtab Bagh which is so pretty to miss out on. This one is just opposite to the Taj Mahal. Mehtab Bagh is a chaar bagh which means four garden. It is constructed in a four garden style complex from which you can view the Taj Mahal completely.
The garden is open from the time of sunrise to sunset so you can visit the place whenever you would want to. Also, this place is preferred by the nature lovers and the photographers. You can view the Taj Mahal in a gorgeous sight here. The photographers click some amazing pictures of the Taj Mahal from this garden. Taj Mahal actually acts like a backdrop from this garden.
This garden is built on the banks of Yamuna river which makes the whole scene even prettier. You can visit the garden to view how beautiful it is, to see another view of the Taj Mahal, to click some pictures, to just de-stress without the worries of the world, to have a nature walk, and to enjoy basically.
You are sure to have a fabulous time at this garden. You must save some time and visit the place. Also, the pools of this garden reflect the view of the Taj Mahal during the evening time which is so incredible.
#5. Itmad — ud- Daulah
( Places to visit in Agra )
Credit: Nayra Ali
This is again a great reference of the presence of Mughal architecture in India. When you count about the best Mughal monuments in the country, you cannot ignore this masterpiece for sure. This is also referred to as the Baby Taj because the construction style of this masterpiece is somehow similar to the Taj Mahal.
The cut stone technique that was involved in the construction of this monument is same as that of the Taj. In fact, this was officially the first Mughal monument that was built with the white sandstone. Unlike other monuments that were built by the Mughal kings, this monument was built by Nur Jahan, the wife of Jahangir and the daughter of Mirza Ghiyaz Beg. She built this for her father.
The architectural style of the Itmad — ud — daulah is Islamic and the towers of the tombs are in Persian style. So, it is a blend of Islamic and Persian style which has turned out to be exceedingly gorgeous. There are gardens, outbuildings, etc to explore around the tomb apart from the tomb. The intricate detailing and the carvings done on the walls of the tomb are too gorgeous to ignore. They make everything more beautiful.
Also, one interesting feature to notice overall in the tomb are the finely carved Alissa. You will feel major Taj Mahal feels here but with a solid twist, so do visit the place rather than just reading about the resemblance.
Conclusion
Agra is rich in heritage, culture, street food, and tradition. It is one of that Indian city in which you can experience the rich Mughal and Indian architecture at its best. You can have a splendid 4 to 5 days of leisure trip in Agra and of you choose the best season to visit the place then the weather will be in your favor too.
Agra has some amazing boutique hotels, hostels, and amazing places for stay in the city. If you are someone very fond of taking pictures and photography then hands down you will return with a lot of gorgeous pictures at some of the most stunning backdrops. You can even head out for a quick weekend trip to Agra and visit the famous places. Cheers to adventure and happy tripping!
