While exploring the city of Agra, you are immediately transported to the time when the city was ruled by the Mughals with royalty, grandeur, power, and elegance oozing out from every corner of the city. Heaven for history enthusiasts, Agra boasts of its glorious past and rich heritage. Dotted with many monuments, fort, tombs, gardens, and temples, Agra is one the most famous weekend tour from Delhi. Today this medieval city has made tremendous progress in terms of infrastructure and hospitality, with numerous newly ushering luxury hotels and contemporary cafes every day.
A part of the Indian Golden Triangle Tour, Agra lies in the lower right corner with Jaipur in the left and Delhi in the center of the triangle.
How to reach Agra:
Easily accessible by car, bus, or train, Agra is one of the best weekend getaways from Delhi or Jaipur. Jaipur being 240 km from Agra, opt for same day Agra tour from jaipur. You can also go for same day Agra tour by car from Delhi which is 200 km from Delhi.
When to visit:
Agra can be visited all around the year. However, visiting from October to March is recommended to enjoy pleasant weather.
Where to stay in Agra:
Agra knows best to indulge its tourists in extraordinary experience with a plethora of luxury hotels and even for travelers on a budget.
Luxury- If you are willing to spend a hefty amount then you can stay in one of the high-end luxury hotel of Oberoi Amarvillas which is the closest to the Taj Mahal with every room overlooking the monument.
Value- If you are looking to opt for a value for money stay then ITC Mughal Agra would be the best. It is just a short drive from the Taj Mahal and has beautiful gardens and a pool.
Budget- If you want to stay in a budget friendly place then you can stay in Zostel Agra. It is a social hostel where you will encounter fellow travelers to share your experience with.
What to visit:
When visiting Agra, including the three UNESCO certified World Heritage Sites in your itinerary is a must. The first needs no introduction which is the Taj Mahal while the others are Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.
Day 1: Saturday
We recommend you to take a car or train from Delhi or Jaipur on the weekend and reach Agra by afternoon. Visit the Agra Fort, Itimad-ud-Daulah, and Sikandra. You can lunch in any of the restaurants to enjoy the Mughlai cuisines. Stroll around the beautiful gardens to have a surreal experience of the Mughal Era. You can shop for marble inlay handicrafts and Taj miniatures as souvenirs and leather shoes, two things Agra is very famous for. Don’t forget to enjoy the delicious sweet Agra-ka-Petha and spicy Agra-ki-Chat in Sadar Bazaar. You can enjoy a light evening in any of the newly opened up rooftop cafes in Agra with great music and ambience to have a nice time with your family or friends. Head back to your hotel.
Day 2: Sunday
Taj Mahal opens up in the morning at 6:30. We recommend you to take the Sunrise Taj Mahal tour which is the most comfortable as you can easily avoid the scorching heat and the bustling crowd during the daytime. Also, visit Mehtab Bagh for a completely different view of the Taj with River Yamuna in the backdrop. You will get the best shots for your photographs from here. You can have the delectable Bedai-Kachori for breakfast after your early morning delightful walk in the Taj Mahal.
You can then head straight to the fortress of Fatehpur Sikri. Exploring the abandoned city, you will experience the rich heritage, the mighty power, and sheer elegance with which the Mughals lived. After lunch, you can then head back to Delhi or Jaipur by evening.
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