Agra

Understand

Name While the heyday of Agra (ahg-rah) was as the capital of the Mughal Empire between 1526 and 1658, the city was founded much earlier. There has been much debate regarding the origin of the city's name. The most commonly-held theory is that it comes from the Hindi-Urdu word agar (अगर), meaning "salt pan", referring to the region's brackish soil; salt was once made in the area by evaporation. Others derive it from the ancient epic, the Mahabharata, claiming that the name comes from Sanskrit agravana (अग्रवन), meaning "grove forest", indicating the first of the many small forests where Krishna frolicked with the gopis of Vrindavan. In the Mughal era, Agra was also known as Akbarabad, which was given by emperor Shah Jahan to honour his grandfather Akbar.

History The recorded history of Agra begins around the 11th century, and over the next 500 years, the city changed hands between various kings, both Hindu and Muslim. In 1506, Sultan Sikandar Lodi, the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, moved his capital from Delhi to Agra. His son Ibrahim Lodi was the last ruler of the Lodi dynasty, as he was defeated in 1526 by Babur, the first Mughal ruler, in the battle of Panipat. Agra fell too, and became the capital of the Mughals, whose rule over Agra was uninterrupted except for a brief period between 1540 and 1556. In 1540, Sher Shah Suri overthrew Humayun and became the ruler of much of North India, including Agra. After Sher Shah Suri's death, his descendants proved unequal to the task of ruling the kingdom, and Hemu, a Hindu general of Suri, became the effective ruler who would later crown himself King Hemachandra Vikramaditya just as the kingdom was facing an assault from the reinvigorated Mughals. In 1556, Hemu was defeated and killed in the second battle of Panipat, and the Mughals regained Agra. Mughals were great builders. Babur built the Aram Bagh (garden of relaxation) modelled after the garden of paradise, where he was eventually buried after his death. His grandson Akbar refurbished the Agra Fort and built the Fatehpur Sikri, an entire city just on the outskirts of Agra. Akbar's grandson Shah Jahan would give Agra its most famous monument, the Taj Mahal, which is the mausoleum of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj is constructed in white marble. It took 20 years to construct, and it is now universally known as a monument to love. Legend has it that Shah Jahan wanted a replica of the Taj constructed in black marble that would be his final resting place. There is no support for this theory, but even if it were true, it would have been unlikely to

Getting there

Agra is 200 km southeast of Delhi and is one of the points of the tourist's Golden Triangle of Agra-Delhi-Jaipur. Agra is also very well connected via rail and road with other nearby cities and tourist destinations, and thus suitable for a day trip from Delhi or as a part of a larger itinerary.

By plane 1 Agra Airport (AGR IATA). Small domestic airport with direct flights from Bangalore, Hyderabad and Navi Mumbai. (updated Feb 2026) Delhi (DEL IATA, HDO IATA and DXN IATA) is the nearest major hub with direct flights from more destinations.

By train

Agra is on the main railway line between the Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Chennai routes, and many trains connect Agra with these cities every day. Some east-bound trains from Delhi also travel via Agra, so direct connections to points in Eastern India (including Kolkata) are also available. There are close to 20 trains to Delhi every day, and at least three or four to Mumbai and to Chennai. In late December and early January (the fog season), because of the reduced visibility, all trains slow down and travel time goes up. The Bhopal Shatabdi, for example, may arrive in Agra well after 10AM, and might return to Delhi well after midnight. From a safety point of view, it is always preferable to travel by train during the winter. If you travel during the high season, you must book your tickets a few days to a few weeks in advance if you wish to make it a day trip, i.e. travelling early in the morning and coming back at a reasonable time at night. Train tickets can be booked online through the Indian Railways website, paying by debit or credit cards, although those issued by foreign banks are often declined. For more information on how to book tickets online, visit the article Rail travel in India. There are several railway stations in Agra, but tourists only need to be concerned about Agra Cantonment, Agra Fort and Idgah stations as almost all mainline trains call here.

Agra Cantonment

2 Agra Cantonment NCR (station code: AGC). Main station and lies southwest of the Taj and the Fort, both of which are a short ride from the station by car or rickshaw. Exiting from any of the gates at Platform 1, you will find an auto stand, and you may catch an auto-rickshaw if you walk a short way from the station, although the drivers may not speak English. There is a prepaid taxi stand right outside that charges a flat rate to any hotel in the city. The station has a food court that also sells cheap, hygienic takeaway snacks such as sandwiches and samosas. If you keep going and cross the road, you will find a bus termi

Getting around

Metro, electric buses, tongas (horse-drawn carriages) and e-rickshaws are readily available and the best way to get to the Taj Mahal. As polluting vehicles are banned around the Taj, you need to use a tonga or an electric auto while travelling in the vicinity. Camels are also available.

By metro

The Yellow Line ( Yellow ) of the Agra Metro conveniently connects the eastern gate of the Taj Mahal with the Agra Fort. Tickets are ₹30 and trains run from 6AM to 10PM.

By rickshaw Auto-rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are available everywhere. Remember to agree on fares clearly in advance. Foreigners should bargain everywhere and bargain hard. Generally, things are available at 40% of the initially quoted fares. Normally, charges for e-rickshaws are ₹150-200 per e-rickshaw, which can accommodate up to 4 people. As a guide, an auto rickshaw from Agra Cantonment station to the Taj is about ₹200 (at least in off-season), and a cycle rickshaw from the Taj to Agra Fort is ₹40.

By bus The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) operates some non-air-conditioned and air-conditioned buses, but they run only on specific routes.

On foot The best way to experience the city is to take a walk on the Mall Road (Sadar). The street is full of handicraft and leather goods shops. You will also find plenty of food items quite unique to the city. You can also walk between the Taj and Agra Fort in about 30 minutes.

See

Agra's top two sights by far are the incomparable Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.

Taj Mahal

1 Taj Mahal (ताज महल / تاج محل Tāj Mahal, literally the "Crown Palace"), Taj Ganj (5 km (3.1 mi) from Agra Cantonment NCR , metro: Taj Mahal Yellow for West Gate, Taj East Gate Yellow for East Gate). Sunrise-sunset (6-7AM until 6-7:30PM, depending on time of year), closed F due to Jumu'ah, and during the Ramadan. Entry closes 30 minutes before sunset. (updated Feb 2026) The Taj Mahal, an immense mausoleum of white marble, is one of the most well-preserved and architecturally beautiful tombs in the world. Built between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal, literally the "Ornament of the Palace", the Taj is one of the masterpieces of the Indo-Islamic architecture. It has a life of its own that leaps out of marble once you understand that it is a monument of love. The Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore called it "a teardrop on the cheek of eternity", while the English poet Sir Edwin Arnold said it was "[n]ot a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor's love wrought in living stones". There is an apocryphal tale that Shah Jahan planned to build an exact copy out of black marble on the opposite side of the Yamuna River. His plans were said to be foiled by his son, Aurangzeb, who murdered three of his elder brothers and then overthrew and imprisoned his father to acquire the throne. Shah Jahan is instead buried alongside his wife inside the Taj. Another urban legend is that the ruler chopped off the hands of the construction workers after building the Taj, so that they could not build another such mausoleum. However, there's no evidence to support this myth. Instead, he provided them accommodation and facilities for their wellbeing at the "Taj Ganj" in front of the complex. Although it is one of the most photographed edifices in the world and instantly recognisable, actually seeing it in person is awe-inspiring. Photos fall short of capturing the real beauty. The grounds of the complex include several other beautiful buildings, reflecting pools, and extensive ornamental gardens with flowering trees and bushes, and a small gift shop. The Taj framed by trees and reflected in a pool is amazing. Close up, large parts of the building are covered with inlaid stonework. Expect a queue to get into the grounds. There are three gates: The western gate is the main gate where most tourists enter. A large number of people visit on weekends and public holidays and entry through

Do

City Walks: Other than the monuments visits, one can also stroll in the local markets in old city area. It's a nice experience to have a walk in one of the oldest parts of the city. Adlabs Multiplex. Interactive cinema. Each viewer holds a wireless remote unit with push buttons and a small LCD screen, enabling them to participate in a trivia game about the theme of the film. The show is called India in Motion, a 25-minute show where the audience will pass through today's India in, or on, a variety of typical vehicles and see the historical events at sites of Mohenjo Daro, Indraprastha and the Taj Mahal, experiencing the bumpy elephant rides with the wind blowing through their hair, or the swaying boat with salty spray on their faces. Before the show there is an interactive quiz on various topics relating to India. ₹150 for a Hindi Show & ₹450 for a show in English. 1 Taj Nature Walk (500 m from the eastern gate of the Taj Mahal, metro: Taj East Gate Yellow ). 7AM-5PM. A forest area of 11 hectares, this park has many landscaped mounds and watchtowers that provide a nice view of the Taj Mahal. There's a lake with many species of fish, birds and aquatic plants. Indian nationals ₹40 (up to 5 years free, 5 to 10 years ₹20), foreigners ₹100. (updated Feb 2026) 2 Yamuna River. One of the holy rivers of India, considered as a goddess in Hindu culture. A tributary of the Ganges which flows from Himalayas and further downstream, while passing through Delhi. (updated Dec 2023)

Parks and lakes 3 Keetham Lake (Sur Sarovar). A picturesque lake off NH 44, and a Ramsar site. The pentagonal lake is home to over two dozen species of resident and migratory birds. The Agra Bear Rescue Facility near the lake is dedicated to rehabilitating previously captured "dancing bears". (updated Feb 2026) 4 Paliwal Park. (updated Feb 2026)

Events 1 Taj Mahotsav (ताज महोत्सव / تاج مہوتسو Tāj Mahotsav): 18–27 February annually (metro: Taj East Gate Yellow ). An annual 10-day festival of art, craft and culture at Shilpgram, near the Taj Mahal. It is inspired by the old Mughal and Awadhi styles prevalent in present-day Uttar Pradesh.

Sports 5 Agra Golf Course (metro: Taj Mahal Yellow ). (updated Feb 2026) 6 Eklavya Sports Stadium. The main stadium of Agra, hosting both cricket and football. (updated Mar 2026)

Buy

Agra has many shops selling stone products, from jewellery to small boxes and plaques with inlay work resembling that on the Taj. The best of these are wonderful, and even the run-of-the-mill ones are rather pretty. Agra is also famous for its leather goods. Consider spending time in Sadar Bazaar for some shopping and cheap food. These markets have gemstones, both precious and semi-precious, cut and polished but unset, and finished jewellery. You can also find chic boutiques, classy leather goods, culturally-designed clothing, and marble markets. Beware of being overcharged. Do not let anyone lead you to a shop, lest the price go up to cover their commission, typically 50%. Be very wary of the promises these people make. Bargain hard. Be prepared to walk away, you can nearly always get the same items in another shop or order items you liked during your visit over the Internet after you return. Expect to encounter petty and greedy shopowners who will resort to every lie in the book to make a sale (with initial markups of 1,000-10,000%). There are many local markets: Sadar Bazar. a sophisticated market, Raja ki Mandi market, Sanjay Place for all the offices, Shah Market for electronics. All of these markets are situated along the M G Road. Hospital Road Market and Subhash Bazar for clothes situated near Agra Fort railway station. Rawatpara market is for spices. Besides these there are many branded shops along the M G Road. Many wholesale marble products are available at Gokul Pura Market near Raja Mandi on M. G. Road which can be easily reached by auto rickshaw, the price of most items are nearly 25% in the retail market. Be careful when buying jewels: lots of stones are fake and the price is comparatively high.

1 Taj Ganj (ताजगंज Tājgañj). A chaotic bazaar in front of the Taj Mahal complex, a stark contrast from the complex's elegant, formal geometric layout. Originally known as "Mumtazabad", the bazaar was built as an integral part of the complex, initially to provide the construction workers with accommodation and facilities for their wellbeing. It eventually became a bustling town and the centre of Agra's economic activity where "different kinds of merchandise from every land, varieties of goods from every country, all sorts of luxuries of the time, and various kinds of necessities of civilisation and comfortable living brought from all parts of the world" were sold. (updated Feb 2026)

Eat

Agra specialities are petha, a type of very sweet candy, and Dal Moth, a spicy lentil mix. Both are also popular souvenirs.

Chaat - Agra is a heaven for any Chaat lover. Chaat can be of various types but there is one thing common among them all is that they are spicy and you will find crowd outside virtually every chaat stall, especially popular places like Double Phatak (near Sikandra) for Mangores. You'll find quality Bhallas and Panipuri at Sadar and Belangunj. Samosa and Kachori are found at every sweet shop that flood the city. Some typical chaat items are Aloo Tikki (made by roasting mess made out of boiled potatoes), paneer tikka (cubes of cottage cheese baked in a tandoor with spices), pani puri or golguppa (small round hollow shells filled with a potato-based filling and a spicy sweet blend of sauces), mangores, Samosaes, Chachori, etc. If you want to savour the typical Agra breakfast have a bite of one of those spicy Berahi and round it off with sweet Jalebies. Sweets - There are quite a few good sweets shops. The best for the famous petha of Agra are at Hari Parwat, a short distance from Agra Fort. Amongst the well-known shops are Panchi's, Bhimsain BaidyaNath and The Pracheen Petha store. There are many types of petha available but, for the authentic experience, try either the plain one (ivory white) or Angoori flavoured (rectangular and yellow pieces soaked in sugar syrup). Other shops in Agra include: Bikanervala, Deviram, Munnalal Petha, Gopaldas, and Ajanta Sweets, Kamla Nagar. You can round off your meal with a Joda (pair) of Pan unique to the city. There is also an abundance of Korean food. There are several restaurants in the Taj Ganj area, catering for the many tourists staying around the Taj Mahal.

Budget 1 Joney's place, Taj ganj. Perfect for early breakfast, when you want to wake up early to visit the Taj at 6AM. Offered are for example toast, coffee and cornflakes. (updated Jun 2022) 2 Manoj Restaurant, Johari Bazar Rd. (updated Jun 2022) 3 Treat Restaurant, South Gate Taj Mahal, ☏ +91 931 969 7497, [email protected]. breakfast, lunch and dinner. Good Indian food (updated Jun 2022) 4 Yash Cafe, 3/137 Chawk Kaghzian, near Hotel Shanti Lodge. (updated Jun 2022)

Mid-range 5 Tea’se Me, 18/159D Hotel M House, Fatehabad Rd. (updated Jun 2022) 6 Berco's Tajganj Agra, Ground Floor, Howard Plaza. Chinese cuisine. (updated Jun 2022)

Splurge

Drink & nightlife

A bottle of Indian beer costs around ₹70-100 in a hotel, but there is virtually no nightlife in Agra outside of cultural shows at some of the larger hotels and restaurants. After getting off the streets of Agra and into your hotel, you will not want to go back anyway.

Amar Vilas Bar, Taj East Gate Rd. noon to midnight. Beer for ₹200 and cocktails for ₹450. The terrace of Amar Vilas Bar provides a view of the Taj. (updated Jan 2018) Downing Street Bar, Howard Sarovar Portico, Fatehabad Road, ☏ +91 562 4048600, +91 562 4048699. High quality of beverages and pleasant ambience. Downing Street Bar offers dishes such as pizza and tandoori chicken from the same kitchen. Mughal Bar, 54, Taj Road, ☏ +91 562 222 6121, +91 562 222 6129. It's in the compound of Hotel Clarks Shiraz’s, Mughal Bar is an open-aired roof bar. It offers some continental delicacies along with Indian ones.

Sleep

Budget Col Lamba Indian Home Stay, 58 Gulmohar Enclave, Shamshabad Rd, ☏ +91 562-3298921. Around ₹700 per person. Shahjahan, South Gate, near police station Tajganj, ☏ +91 562 320 0240, [email protected]. Almost a fancy hotel and restaurant, with a café and a rooftop with great views of the Taj Mahal. Wi-Fi only downstairs in the reception. The staff are very helpful. Five minutes' walk from the Taj. ₹300 for a couple. Dayal Lodge (Budget Hotel in City Centre), 25 New Agra, Dayalbagh Road (towards Dayalbagh), ☏ +91 9219606365, +91 9359848731, +91 562-2524560, fax: +91 562 2524560, [email protected]. Check-in: noon, check-out: noon. Established in the early 1960s, with 16 furnished air conditioned rooms. 24 hr made-to-order meals, in-house laundry facilities, local airport/railway station transfers. Double room with air-con ₹700-800. 1 Friends Paying Guest House ([email protected]), p-6 , Taj Nagri Phase 1, near Shilpgram Rd (southeast of Shilpgram parking lot), ☏ +91 99 1788 5278. Check-in: noon, check-out: 1PM. Family-run guest house 15-min walk east from the Taj. Food, decent Wi-Fi, TV in rooms. Cushion-furnished balcony common area for eating, drinking and lazing about. Double ₹400. Hotel Amba Inn, 1/51, Delhi Gate, Near Raja ki Mandi Railway Station (2 min from railway station), ☏ +91 562 2520779, +91 9412720194. Check-in: noon, check-out: noon. Offers facilities for 22 rooms. There are both double rooms, single rooms, as well as facility for an extra bed. All the rooms are air conditioned, with television. Single ₹550-800, double ₹650-900. Hotel Jaiwal, 3 Taj Road, Sadar Bazar, ☏ +91 562 2363153. ₹75-325. 2 Hotel Kamal (by the south gate of the Taj Mahal), ☏ +91 562-2330126, [email protected]. ₹300-850. Hotel Neel Kanth, Fatehabad Road, ☏ +91 562 2362039. ₹100+. Hotel Raj. Directly in front of the central entry of the Taj Mahal, simple but clean. About ₹800. Hotel Sheela, Tajganj (100 metres from eastern gate of Taj Mahal), ☏ +91 562-2333074, [email protected]. Check-out: 10AM. Commission-free transport bookings, free incoming phone calls, 24 hour hot water. 22 rooms. Laundry facility. ₹500-800. India Inn, Taj Mahal South Gate (as you come out on the street from the south exit, turn left, then almost immediately right down the side of the Taj café, it's at the end of the dusty parking lot 40 m from the café). Check-out: 10AM negotiable. Comfortable enough. ₹300 for a double in off season. Rhine Hostel (Rhine YOGA Hostel), HIG - 2/10, Near Shilpgram Parking, Taj Nagri Phase 1, Taj E

Go next

Bharatpur is about 56 km from Agra and houses the famous bird sanctuary in which you can see thousands of rare birds including Siberian Crane. The Lohagarh Fort remained invincible despite several attacks by the British. Just 32 km from Bharatpur is the Deeg Palace. This strong and massive fort was the summer resort of the rulers of Bharatpur and has many palaces and gardens. Fatehpur Sikri ghost city is a UNESCO world heritage site about 40 km from Agra. Built in the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, the "City of Victory" was the capital of the Mughal Empire for a brief decade and was abandoned in 1586 due to inadequate local water supplies and proximity to the Rajputana areas in the North-West, which were increasingly in turmoil. It includes one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid. Full of well preserved palaces and courtyards, it is a must see for anyone visiting Agra. In order to get a full idea of this site it is better to take a guide (₹450 for 2h for its free entry part) or have a good printed guide. Entry to the site of the mosque (even to the yard) is only without wearing footwear. The vehicle parking is about a kilometre away and Agra Development Authority (ADA) runs some rickety non air conditioned buses to the site entrance, fare is ₹10 per person one way. Entry to the fort area where the palaces are located is ₹610 for foreigners. Mathura is said to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna. There are many beautiful temples in Mathura, including the one built at Shri Krishna's birthplace. Nandgaon was the home of Shri Krishna's foster father, Nand. On the top of the hill is the spacious temple of Nand Rai, built by the Hat ruler Roop Singh. The other temples here are dedicated to Narsingha, Gopinath, Nritya Gopal, Girdhari, Nand Nandan, and Yasodha Nandan, which is half-way up the hill. Nandgaon springs into action every year around March for the festival of Holi, when many tourists flock to the city for the famous "lath mar holi". National Chambal Sanctuary, (70 km away) is a natural sanctuary and the home of the endangered Indian gharial (a relative of the crocodile) and of the Ganges River Dolphin (also endangered). Vrindavan is also a religious place around 50 km from Agra, and quite close to Mathura. There are many temples here devoted to Lord Krishna, a few of the more famous of which are Banke Bihari and the Iskcon Temple.