Best Things to Do in Agra – Travel Guide

Agra is a city where you may learn about a glorious time in history. The numerous monuments erected inside and outside of Agra serve as reminders of the city’s lengthy past. The epic Mahabharata refers to Agra as “Agravana,” which in Sanskrit means “heaven,” in the first reference to the city. Ptolemy, a well-known geographer from the second century A.D., was the first to refer to Agra by its current name. Sikandar Lodi, the head of the Lodi family, created the Modern Agra in the 16th century. Agra’s architectural splendor peaked at the time Shah Jahan abdicated the Mughal monarchy.
On the Yamuna River’s bank, the city is located in Uttar Pradesh’s western region. Although the Taj Mahal’s magnificent charm draws tourists to Agra from all over the world, it is not the only attraction there. There is a trail of intriguing mausoleums and graves to visit in the city. Agra appeals to both shopaholics and foodies with its opulent crafts like Pietra Dura (marble inlay) work, rugs, leather products, and the decadent Petha.

Location	Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
History	The city of Agra has a long history dating back to the epic Mahabharata and was referred to as “Agravana,” which means “heaven” in Sanskrit. It was later referred to as Agra by Ptolemy, a 2nd-century A.D. geographer. Sikandar Lodi, the head of the Lodi family, created the modern Agra in the 16th century. The city’s architectural splendor peaked during Shah Jahan’s reign in the Mughal monarchy.
Location	Located on the banks of the Yamuna River in the western region of Uttar Pradesh
Attractions	The Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Jama Masjid, and a variety of mausoleums and graves, as well as shopping and culinary experiences like Pietra Dura work, rugs, leather products, and the famous Petha sweet.

THINGS TO DO IN Agra

Taj Mahal
One of India’s three World Heritage Sites is the Taj Mahal. The monument is located in a tranquil Mughal Garden and is erected on a marble platform with its back to the Yamuna River. The Taj Mahal’s four sides exhibit perfect symmetry and spectacular vaulted arches decorated with Pietra Dura scrollwork and Quranic passages written in calligraphy with inlaid jasper. One of the locations in India that photographers and foreign tourists visit the most frequently is this wonder of architecture. Onlookers are fascinated by how pristine the Taj Mahal still seems now as it did when it was initially constructed.
Rudyard Kipling referred to the Taj Mahal as “the personification of all things pure,” and he wasn’t using wordplay; the Taj is unquestionably the purest manifestation of beauty. It is an enduring poem carved into white marble and the best demonstration of an emperor’s devotion to his queen. It was constructed in 1631 on the banks of the River Yamuna in honor of Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved wife and queen of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Mumtaz Mahal passed away while giving birth to their son, and her final request to her husband was “to build such a tomb in her memory which the world has never seen before.” The magnificent mausoleum was constructed over a 17-year period with the help of 22,000 men and 1000 elephants.

Agra Fort
Emperor Akbar ordered the construction of a sizable red sandstone fort on the Yamuna River’s banks in 1565, and his grandson Shah Jahan continued the project. A 21.4 m high defensive wall surrounds the fort, which is semi-circular in shape. Parts of the fort are still reserved for use by the Indian Army because it was primarily intended as a military building. It was converted into a palace by Shah Jahan, and after his son, Aurangzeb overthrew him in 1658, it served as his gilded prison for eight years. The fort is home to a complex network of structures, including huge underground areas. The only entrance is through the Amar Singh Gate to the south. From here, a path ascends directly to the substantial Moti Masjid.
The open Diwan-e-Aam, where Shah Jahan heard petitions or complaints from the public, is right before this. Near the Diwan-e-Aam throne, a tiny stairway leads up to a sizable courtyard. A stunning Nagina Masjid made of white marble is to the left. Diwan-e-Khas, which formerly housed Shah Jahan’s fabled Peacock throne and the diamond Koh-I-Noor, Shish Mahal, a palace with walls covered in small mirrors, and Khas Mahal, the white octagonal tower and palace, are further sites worth visiting within the Fort. The enormous Jahangir’s Palace, made of red sandstone and likely constructed by Akbar for his son Jahangir, is located to the south of the fort.

Jama Masjid Agra
One of the largest mosques ever constructed by the Mughals in India is the Jama Masjid. Shah Jahan’s daughter, Jahanara Begum, built the forecourt of this Masjid in 1648 AD, which is rectangular and open. Built with red sandstone and white marble, the architecture of this monument is exquisitely done while emulating Iranian architecture. About 5,000 laborers were needed for the construction of the Jama Masjid, which took six years to complete.

Ram Bagh
Ram Bagh, one of the earliest Mughal gardens, is thought to have been created by Babur, the Mughal Emperor, and creator of the Mughal Dynasty. The Garden is only three kilometers from the Itmad-Ud-Daula Tomb and 500 meters from the Chini ka Rauza. It is the oldest garden in Agra and was built in 1528. It is a haven in the middle of a busy bazaar. Before being transported to Kabul, Afghanistan, Babur is claimed to have been briefly interred here. Babur founded it, and Jahangir’s wife Noor Jahan subsequently rebuilt it.

Nagina Masjid Agra
Agra Fort is home to the stunning mosque known as Nagina Masjid. It’s close to Moti Masjid. This mosque’s prayer room is exquisitely designed and the building is made of pure white marble. The Mosque that was constructed in the Machchi Bhawan’s northwest corner was created for the Emperor’s private usage. It contains a prayer room on the west and a court with marble flooring that is surrounded by walls to the north, south, and east. Three domes cover the top of the prayer chamber, which is likewise fashioned of marble. The mosque’s entrance is a three-arched façade with cusps that is supported by thin piers. The arches on each side only contain seven cusps, while the larger, central arch has nine cusps.

Guru Ka Taal
Agra is home to the renowned Gurudwara Guru Ka Taal. Four out of the ten Sikh gurus are claimed to have visited this location since building on it began in the 1970s. This Gurudwara is significant historically and religiously and draws a lot of visitors and devotees. Numerous thousands of followers come here annually to honor the revered Sikh guru. This stunning building is regarded as one of India’s most exquisite architectural wonders. This Gurudwara draws tourists from far and wide to marvel at the intricate stone carvings.

Sikandra/Akbar’s Tomb
The red-sandstone and marble monument, which lies beyond the city in the western part, was started by Emperor Akbar and finished by his son Jahangir. Its inside is decorated in fine calligraphy that symbolizes the principles of Din-e-Ilahi, a religious movement founded on the union of principally Hinduism and Islam as well as other religions, and which was initiated by Emperor Akbar. The Mughal emperor Akbar is buried in Sikandra, and his grave is located here in a dim room. Another draw of the location is the surrounding garden, which is designed in the Char Bagh style.

Itmad-Ud-Daula
This tomb, a work of art in both design and structure, was created in 1623–1628 AD at the request of Empress Noor Jahan in honor of her father Mirza Ghias Beg. This elaborate tomb is regarded as the forerunner to the Taj Mahal. It is entirely made of white marble and exudes a glittering beauty to guests.

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