Agra

From MyVacationsTo

Agra is a city in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, some 200 km from the Indian capital city of New Delhi. Agra is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world. There are three UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort in the city and Fatehpur Sikri nearby.

The city has little else to recommend it. Pollution is rampant (both industrial, in the form of smog, and human, in the form of raw sewage and trash). There is no doubt that tourism is the major industry of the city. Tourists have to live with the touts and hawkers who swarm like bees around them at every monument, mosque, temple or palace. That said, the sites are some of the wonders of the world and no trip to India is complete without at least one visit to the Taj.

Contents 1 Understand 1.1 History 1.2 Climate 2 Get in 2.1 By plane 2.2 By train 2.3 By bus 2.4 By Road 3 Get around 4 See 4.1 Taj Mahal 4.2 Agra Fort 4.3 Other sights 4.4 Gardens 5 Spending your time in Agra 6 Buy 7 Eat 7.1 Multi Cuisine 7.2 Buffet 7.3 Mughalai 7.4 South Indian 7.5 Chinese 7.6 Cafes & Bakeries 7.7 Western Food 7.8 Typical Agra Food 7.9 Bar 7.9.1 Chaat 7.10 Sweets 8 Drink 9 Sleep 9.1 Five Star Hotels 9.2 Four Star Hotels 9.3 Three Star Hotels 9.4 Deluxe 9.5 Budget Accommodation 9.6 Camping Sites 9.7 Supplementary Accommodations 9.8 Paying-Guest Accommodation 10 Get out 10.1 Fatehpur Sikri 10.2 Bharatpur 10.3 Chambal Safari

[edit] Understand

[edit] History

Agra, Once the capital of the mughals, has a rich historical background, which is amply evident from the numerous historical monuments in and around the city. Agra has as many as Three World Heritage Sites namely Taj Mahal, Agra Fort & Fatehpur Sikri. The earliest reference for Agra comes from the epical age, when Mahabharata refer Agra as Agravana. In the sources prior to this, Agra has been referred as Arya Griha or the abode of the Aryans. The first person who referred Agra by its modern name was Ptolemy. Though the heritage of Agra city is linked with the Mughal dynasty, numerous other rulers also contributed to the rich past of this city. Modern Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodhi (Lodhi dynasty; Delhi Sultanate) in the 16th century. Babar (founder of the Mughal dynasty) also stayed for sometime in Agra and introduced the concept of square Persian-styled gardens here. Emperor Akbar built the Agra fort and Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. Fatehpur Sikri remained his capital for around fifteen years after which the city was left isolated in mysterious circumstances. Jahangir beautified Agra with palaces and gardens despite spending most of his time in Kashmir with which he was passionately attached. Agra came to its own when Shahjahan ascended to the throne of Mughal Empire. He marked the zenith of Mughal architecture, when he built the Taj in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. In his later years, Shahjahan shifted his capital to the new city of Shahjahanabad in Delhi and ruled from there. Shahjahan was dethroned in 1658 by his son, Aurangzeb who imprisoned him in the Agra Fort. Aurangzeb shifted the capital back to Agra till his death. After the death of Aurangzeb, Mughal Empire could not touch its peak and many regional kingdoms emerged. The post-Mughal era of Agra saw the rule of the Jats, Marathas and finally the British taking over the city

[edit] Climate

From April to mid-June, temperatures are scorchingly hot, and the monsoon rains deluge the city in July and August. In winter, especially December and January, temperatures can dip to near-zero and quite often the city is blanketed in thick fog. The best time to visit the city is from Mid January to April and from September to Mid December.

[edit] Get in

Agra lies at a distance of 200 km from New 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 like Goa, Mumbai, Kolkatta, Chennai, Udaipur, Jaisalmer etc.

[edit] By plane

As for February 2007, there are no scheduled services to Agra's airport.

[edit] By train

Agra Cantt is the main railway station and lies southwest of the Taj and Agra Fort. The station is very close to both Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. There are frequent trains to Delhi as well as other parts of the country. There's a prepaid taxi stand right outside that charges a flat Rs.120 to any hotel in the city.

Agra Fort railway station is right next to the Agra Fort, but is infrequently serviced by the interstate express trains. But you will find trains to eastern part of the country (Kanpur, Kolkatta, Gorakhpur etc) from here.

There is another station by the name of Raja Ki Mandi which is in the heart of the City.

Many trains go from Delhi to Agra, with a journey time of nearly 3 hours. The best of them is the Bhopal Shatabdi, the fastest train in India, which leaves New Delhi at 6:15 AM and can bring you back at 10:40 PM. The journey to Jaipur takes around 4 hour by train no. 2988 which leaves Agra Fort Railway Station at 6:25 PM and reaches Jaipur at around 10:20 PM.

There is also a special luxurious tourist train - 'Palace on Wheels' from New Delhi which covers Jaipur, parts of Rajasthan and Agra.

[edit] By bus

Besides the trains,Aeroplanes, there are a number of buses which connect Agra with New Delhi. It takes around 4-5 hours to reach Agra by bus. There are basically three interstate bus stands, one interstate bus stands located at transport nagar is only for other state's bus services except U.P. Roadways.Taj Mahal is 12 kilometers far from this bus stand. Idgah Bus Stand is main bus stand located in the heart of the city. taj mahal is 8 kilometers far from Idgah Bus Stand. Third bus stand is famous with the name "Bijlighar Bus stand" located near Red Fort Agra. Taj Mahal is 6 kilometers far from this bus stand. several kilometers west of the Taj and southwest of the Red Fort is the primary bus stand for intercity travel.

[edit] By Road

From Delhi

It's only 200 km from Delhi, but perennially congested National Highway 2 can turn what should be a 2.5-hour jaunt into an 8-hour nightmare. Take the train instead.

From Jaipur

A distance of around 255 Km can be covered in around 4 hours on National highway 11.

From Gwalior

A distance of around 120 KM, takes around 2 hours on the National highway 3 (Agra- Mumbai Highway)

From Lucknow / Kanpur

From Lucknow take National Highway 25 to Kanpur a distance of around 90 KM. From Kanpur take NH2 to Agra a distance of 286 KM, a journey of around 5 hours from Kanpur and Around 6.5 Hours from Lucknow

[edit] Get around

Autorickshaws and cyclerickshaws roam the streets and loiter outside tourist spots, Rs.50 is enough for most any trip on either. Agree fares clearly in advance (always per vehicle, not per person) and don't let yourself be taken to any souvenir shops — if they're persistent, threaten to get out, and carry out the threat if they still don't take the hint.

[edit] See

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

When planning your sightseeing, take heed of the convoluted entry fee system: for Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Itmud-ad-Daulah, Sikandra and Fatehpur Sikri, you must pay a Rs. 500 levy to the Agra Development Authority in addition to the prices mentioned below. Once paid, the levy is valid for all sights, but only for one day.

[edit] Taj Mahal

One of the Three world heritage site in Agra, Taj Mahal[1] is an immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, the Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage.

Tourists from all over the world visit Agra not to see the ruins of the red sandstone fortress built by the Mughal emperors but to make a pilgrimage to Taj Mahal, one fo the world’s most famous architectural wonders, in a land where magnificent temples and edificies abound to remind visitors about the rich civilization of a country that is slowly but surely lifting itself into an industrialized society.

The postcard picture of Taj Mahal does not adequately convey the legend, the poetry and the romance that shroud what Rabindranath Tagore called "a teardrop on the cheek of eternity". Taj Mahal means "Crown Palace" and is in fact the most well preserved and architecturally beautiful tomb in the world. It is best described by the English poet, Sir Edwin Arnold, as "Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones." It is a celebration of woman built in marble and that’s the way to appreciate it.

There is an apocryphal tale that Shah Jahan planned to build an exact copy out of black marble on the opposite side of the river. His plans were foiled by his son, who murdered three elder brothers and overthrew his father to acquire the throne. Shah Jahan is now buried alongside his wife in the Taj Mahal.

Different people have different views of the Taj but it would be enough to say that the Taj has a life of its own that leaps out of marble, provided you understand that it is a monument of love. As an architectural masterpiece, nothing could be added or substracted from it.

Despite being one of the most photographed edifices in the world and being instantly recognisable, its physical presence is awe-inspiring. Not everything is in the photos. 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.

If you're taking a camera, beware that because the Taj is white your camera may underexpose your photos. If it's a film camera you won't find out until it's too late. Overexposure by 1 or 2 stops is recommended.

About Taj On a platform 22' high and 313' square. Corner minarets 137' tall. Main structure 186' on a side, dome to 187'. The mausoleum is 57 m (190 ft) square in plan. "The central inner dome is 24.5 m (81 ft) high and 17.7 m (58 ft) in diameter, but is surmounted by an outer shell nearly 61 m (200 ft) in height."

When to go: The Taj is open from 6 AM to 7:30 PM every day except Friday. Entry costs Rs. 250 (plus levy) for foreigners and Rs. 20 for Indians. Get there as early as possible to beat the crowds, and plan to visit the Taj at least two different times during the day (dusk and dawn are best) in order to experience the full effect of changing sunlight on the amazing building. It is also utterly stunning under a full moon.

There are night viewing sessions on full moon days where you are allowed to observe the Taj Mahal from Agra Fort at midnight and later allowed to visit the monument in the complex and observe the marvellous and divine creation under the full moon. Night visits are only possible on the nights of a full moon and the two days before and after (so five days in total).

Location: The Taj is located pretty much in the middle of town. Expect a line 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 turn up on weekends and public holidays and entry through the western gate may take hours. The southern and eastern gates are much less busy and should be tried on such days.

Security: Security is tight, so leave behind any pocketknives, as well as chewing gum, cigarettes, or anything that could mark the building. Cell phones are not permitted inside the main enclosure area: you have to check them in first at a booth nearby. Do this before you get into the VERY long line to get in.

[edit] Agra Fort

The fort is similar in layout to the Red Fort in Delhi, but considerably better preserved, as much of Delhi Fort was razed by the British after the Mutiny. As much as palace as a defensive structure, it is also constructed mainly from red sandstone and was started by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565 and added to by Emperor Shah Jahan who ended up a prisoner in the fort which has a beautiful view of his masterpiece, the Taj Mahal, on a clear day.

Akbar, king at 14, began consolidating his empire and, as an assertion of his power built the fort in Agra between 1565 and 1571, at the same time as Humayun's Tomb in Delhi.

You can get to the fort by a cheap city shuttle bus from the north gate of the Taj. You can recognize the right bus among the many private ones by asking bystanders which one it is, and avoiding the ones they direct you to. Entry to the fort is Rs.250 (plus levy).

[edit] Other sights

• Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra (10 km north of Agra on the Agra Delhi highway). The tomb of Akbar lies here in the centre of the large garden. Akbar started its construction himself but it was completed by his son, Jehangir who significantly modified the original plans which accounts for the somewhat cluttered architectural lines of the tomb. Four red sandstone's gates lead to the tomb complex: one is Muslim, one Hindu, one christian and one is Akbar's patent mixture. Akbar's mausoleum is open from sunrise to sunset.

• Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb. Empress Nur Jehan built Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, sometimes called the Baby Taj, for her father, Ghias-ud-Din Beg, the Chief Minister of Emperor Jahangir. Small in comparison to many other Mughal-era tombs, it is sometimes described as a jewel box. Its garden layout and use of white marble, pietra dura, inlay designs and latticework presage many elements of the Taj Mahal.

• Mariam's Tomb, west from Akbar's Tomb on Agra-Delhi highway. Constructed by Jahangir in the memory of his mother Mariam Zammani a title bestowed upon her,. The grave is made of white marble. Though this building is in a ruined condition, yet it has in its vicinity, a Christian Mission School and a church. It is also said; Akbar himself made that it in the memory of his Christian wife.

• Jama Masjid. A large mosque attributed to Princess Jahanara Begum, built in 1648 during the reign of the father Shah Jahan. Notable for its unusual dome and absence of minarets.

• Chini Ka Rauza. A memorial dedicated to the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan, Allama Afzel Khal Mullah Shukrullah of Shiraz, notable for its dome of blue glazed tiles.

[edit] Gardens

• Soami Bagh, 10 km north of Agra. The white marble samadhi of the Radah Soami religion is currently under construction. It was started in 1904 and is nor expected to be completed until sometime next century. You can see pietra dura inlaid marblework actulally being worked on. Soami Bagh is 2km north of Agra and can be reached by bus or cycle.

• Ram Bagh. The first Mughal gardens, built by the first Mughal Emperor Babar, 500 m North of the Chini Ka Rauza.

• Mehtab Bagh, directly across the Yamuna River from the Taj Mahal. These botanical gardens give you an opportunity to view the Taj at a remove from the crowds of tourists. The trip takes about 30 minutes from the center of town by autorickshaw and will cost about Rs 200. Entrance to the park is Rs 100 for foreigners. Alternatively, walk past the entrance and straight to the sandy banks of the river: the view of the Taj is every bit as lovely (perhaps more so, since the barbed wire fence surrounding the gardens will be behind you), although you may have to deal with aggressive touts.

[edit] Spending your time in Agra

Agra presents a great lot of things for its domestic and international tourists, who throng the city everyday, with the load going up during the cool months of November - February. It gets terribly hot during April-July, and its advisable to venture out of your hotel room only during mornings or evenings.

If coming from Delhi by car, make a stopover at Sikandra (Akbar's Tomb) to get a first hand feel of the Mughal architecture. The next monument one should consider visiting is Agra Fort which is magnanimous, finally you should visit the TAJ MAHAL. If you are still not tired of seeing too much of Mughal architecture, visit the Baby Taj - Etmad-ud-allah. Finally one should visit the walled city of Fatehpur Sikri, which is en-route to Jaipur.

You can splurge at the hotels of Agra - which can range from the top of class Oberoi Amarvilas to a small budget one. Most of the hotels are at Fatehabad Road and Tourist complex, the ones in Sanjay Place and central city are more suited for business travellers.

You can spend time in shopping for traditional marble handicrafts from various emporiums, but make sure you do not get cheated, which is highly probable and strike a good bargain. Buy Agra specialities - Petha, Dalmoth, leather shoes. Do not pay much attention to touts, guides, travel agents, who would look every tourist as a golden goose.

One can consider spending time in Sadar Bazaar for some shopping and enjoying chaat food. For buying stuff of international brands, visit the malls - Pacific Taj and TDI Mall which are adjacently situated. 3 more malls are coming up - RAP Adlabs, Omaxe Wedding mall and Ashok Cosmos. One can catch a movie at a multiplex at Fun Cinemas (Pacific Mall) and soon to be opened Rave (TDI Mall).

By late 2007, Agra would have Adlabs multiplex, which would make visitors have multi sensory cinema experience (first of its kind in Asia). The show would be called 'India in Motion', which would be a unique 25 minute six-dimensional show where viewers can not only see the movie, but also experience it through every other sense – sight, smell, sound, touch, motion and interaction.

The 5-star hotels of Agra are great value for money in terms of amenities, food and pleasure, as compared to other cities of India. Agra is also becoming a favoured choice of big business houses, who want to organise conferences, dealers meet, showcases, exhibitions and other big events, as the city has large convention centres at Jaypee Palace and ITC Mughal.

[edit] Buy

Foreign Travellers:

Agra has many shops selling various stones 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.

Beware of being overcharged. Do not let anyone lead you to a shop, lest the price go up to cover their commission. Bargain hard. Be prepared to walk away - you can nearly always get the same items in another shop. The Guide and Drivers who take you around have a commission rate of nearly 50% - yes half the money that you spend in Agra lines the pockets of these touts. Be very wary of the promises these people make. Also remember that in these globalized times, you can always order stuff you liked in your visit over the internet after you return.

Agra is famous for it leather Shoes and other leather goods and there are few very good manufacturers all round Agra.

Domestic Visitors: Agra's Petha and Dal Moth are famous through out India dont forget to eat the stuff while you are there. The foreign travellers generally find these local delicacies too spicy or sweet to be palatable.

[edit] Eat

[edit] Multi Cuisine

• Food Court, Pacific Mall
• Bikanervala, Bye Pass
• Prem Food Court, Bye Pass
• Bagh-e-Bahar (Mughal Sheraton)

[edit] Buffet

• The Grand Buffet (Jaypee Palace)
• Taj Bano (Mughal Sheraton)

[edit] Mughalai

• Peshawri (Mughal Sheraton)
• Mughal Room (Clarke's Shiraz)
• Moti Mahal Delux (Upcoming), TDI Mall
• The Spice Pavilion (Jaypee Palace)
• Revolving Restaurant (Deedar-e-Taj)
• Capri, Hari Parvat
• Achaman, Bhagwan Talkies
• Solitair, Hari Parvat
• Kwality, Surya Nagar

[edit] South Indian

• Dasa Prakash, Baluganj and Sanjay Place
• Deccan Pavilion (Hotel Jaypee Palace)
• Laxmi Vilas, Sadar
• Udipi, Tourist Complex
• Dosa Plaza, Pacific Mall

[edit] Chinese

• Mandarin (Hotel Yamuna View), Mall Road
• Mahjong Room (Mughal Sheraton)
• Lee and Chan (Pacific Mall)
• Jhankar (Taj View Hotel)

[edit] Cafes & Bakeries

• My Kind of Place (MKOP), Sanjay Place & Pratapura
• Dreams, Hari Parvat
• Cafe Coffee Day, Sanjay Place & Sadar
• Pavilion Cafe (Jaypee Palace)
• Bansuri (Clarks Shiraz)
• Cakes and Bakes (Clarks Shiraz)
• Ashiana (Taj View Hotel)

[edit] Western Food

• Pizza Hut, Fatehabad Road
• Pizza Corner, Sadar Bazaar
• Dominos, Sanjay Place
• McDonald's, Sadar Bazaar & TDI Mall

[edit] Typical Agra Food

• Ram Babu Parantha, Sikandra & Belanganj
• Chimanlal Puri, Johri Bazar
• Bhagat Fast Food, MG Road
• Ajanta Fast Food Restaurant, Kamla Nagar
• Deviram, Belanganj & Deewani

[edit] Bar

• Maikhana (Mughal Sheraton)
• On The Rocks (Jaypee Palace)
• Mughal Bar (Clarks Shiraz)
• Khayyam Bar (Clarks Shiraz)
• Saqui (Taj View Hotel)

[edit] 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

Some typical chaat items are Bhalla (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.

You will find chaat almost everywhere in Agra but some of the must visit places are Double Phatak (near Sikandra) for Mangores, you will find quality Bhallas and panipuri at sadar and belangunj. Samosa and Chachori are found at every sweet shop that flood the city

If you want to savour the typical Agra Breakfast do remember to have a bite of one of those spicy Berahi and round it off with sweet Jalebies

[edit] Sweets

There are quite a few good sweets shops all round the city

• Bikanervala
• Deviram
• Panchi Petha
• Munnalal Petha
• Gopaldas

Do remember to round of your meal with a Joda(Pair) of Pan unique to the city.

[edit] Drink

Most hotel staff will be happy to find you a warm bottle of Indian beer for around 70-100 rs.

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 won't want to go back anyway.

[edit] Sleep

[edit] Five Star Hotels

• Hotel Jaypee Palace[2], Fatehabad Road, Tel : 2330800-20

• The Oberoi Amarvilas[3], Taj East Gate Road, Tel : +91 562 2231515

• Welcomgroup Mughal Sheraton[4], Fatehabad Road, Taj Gaj, Tel : :(91) (562) 2331701. Fax :(91) (562) 2331730 mughal.sheraton@itcwelcomgroup.in

• Clark Shiraz[5], 54, Taj Road, Tel : (0562)2226121 - 27, 29-32 info@hotelclarksshiraz.com

• Taj View[6], Fatehabad Road, Tel : (0562)2232400-18 Fax: 91 562 2232420, E-Mail: tajview.agra@tajhotels.com

• Hotel Trident[7], Fatehbad Road Tel : (0562)2331818, 2331800

• Agra Ashok, 6-B, Mall Road, Tel : (0562)2361223-4-5

[edit] Four Star Hotels

• Hotel Holiday Inn[8], M.G. Road.

• Hotel Haward Park Plaza, Fatehabad Road, Tel : (0562)2331870-78, Email : hpp@sarovarhotels.com

[edit] Three Star Hotels

• Hotel Pushp Villa[9], Fatehabad Road, Tel : (0562) 2334301-2, 2230681-83 , 3090267, 3090268, Fax : 091 + 562 + 2334303, Email : info@hotelpushpvilla.com

• Hotel Man Singh Palace[10], fatehabad Road Tel: (0562)2331771-5, Email : sales.agra@mansinghhotels.com

• Hotel Amar[11], Fatehabad Road, Tel : (0562)2331885-39

• Hotel Atithi[12], Fatehabad Road, Tel: (0562)2330879, 2230040

• Grand Hotel, 137, Station Road, Agra Cantt. Tel : (0562)2364014, 2364320

• Park Plaza [13]

[edit] Deluxe

• Mumtaz, 181/2, Fatehabad Road, Tel : (0562)2361771-75

• Novotel, Fatehabad Road, Tel : (0562)2368282

• Agra Deluxe, Fatehabad Road, Tel : (0562)2360110.

• UPSTDC Tourist Bungalow, Station Road, Raja-ki-Mandi, Tel : (0562)2150120, 2151720

• Taj Khema, Eastern Gate Taj Mahal, Tel : (0562)2230001

• UPSTDC Gulistan Tourist Bungalow, Fatehpur Sikri, Tel : 05613-282490

• Hotel Kant, Fatehabad Road, Tel: (0562)2331332

• Hotel Sunrise, Sector -1 , Vibhavnagar, Agra 282 001, India Tel: +(91) (562) 2330602/03/04 Fax: +(91) (562) 2330605.

[edit] Budget Accommodation

• Dayal Lodge, Dayalbagh Road, Agra, Tel: 91-562-2856251; 91-9219606365

• Jaiwal, Taj Road, Sadar Bazar, Tel : (0562)2363152

• Neel Kanth, Fatehabad Road, Tel : (0562)2362039

• Kim, Fatehabad Road, Tel : (0562)2369412

• Vandana, Fatehahad Road, Tel : (0562)2261232

• Chakra view, Vibhav Nagar, Tel : (0562)2365609

• Badshah, Fatehahad Road, Tel : (0562)2269738

• Basera, Ajmer Road, Tel : (0562)2363641

• Safare, Shamshabad Road, Tel : (0562)2360013

• Rose, 21 Old Idgah Colony, Tel : (0562)2369786

• Sunrise, Shamshabad Road, Tel : (0562)2360315

• Imperial, M.G. Road, Tel : (0562)2361500

• Sapna, M.G. Road, Tel : (0562)2151520

• Amar Palace, Rajpur Chungi, Tel : (0562)2267705

• President Hotel, M.G. Road, Tel : (0562)2364266

• Shilaza Hotel, Delhi Gate, Tel : (0562)2360070

• Amba Inn, Delhi Gate

• Swami Sofitel, Delhi Gate, Tel : (0562)2351444

• Sheetal Tourist Home, Idgah, Tel : (0562)2369420

• Panch Ratan, Sanjay Place, Tel : (0562)2350442

• Anjuman, by Pass Road, Tel : (0562)2381233

• Park View, Fatehabad Road, Tel : (0562)2360079

• Vaishali, by Pass Road, Tel : (0562)2351490

• J.K. Hotel, by Pass Road, Tel : (0562)2352379

• Tourist Rest House, BaluGanj, Tel : (0562)23514903, 2363961

• Hotel Dharmalok, Raja ki Mandi, Ph : (0562)2261377

• Hotel Sahil, Baluganj, Ph : (0562)2261794

• Hotel Diamond, Sarai Khoja

• Hotel Akbar, 196, Field Marshal Cariappa Road, Tel : (0562)2363312.

[edit] Camping Sites

• UPSTDC Taj Khema, Eastern Gate Taj Mahal, Tel : (0562)2330140.

• Highway Inn, Vibhav Nagar, Shamshabad Road, Tel : (0562)2360458.

• Hotel Akbar Inn, 21 Mall Road, Tel : (0562)2363242

• Lauries, Partap Pura, Tel : (0562)2361019

• Mayur Tourists Complex, Fatehabad Road, Tel : (0562)2360302, 2360310

[edit] Supplementary Accommodations

• Youth Hostel, Sanjay Place, M.G. Road, Tel : (0562)2365812.

• District Board Guest House, Baluganj, Agra. Tel : (0562)2363065

• PWD Inspection Bungalow, M.G. Road, Agra Cantt.

• Railway Retiring Rooms, Agra Cantt. Railway Station, Tel : 131

• Railway Retiring Rooms, Agra Fort Railway Station, Tel : (0562)2364163.

• Archaeological Survey Rest House, Fatehpur Sikri Campus.

[edit] Paying-Guest Accommodation

The city also has paying-guest accommodation, the details of which can be obtained from the local Tourist Office.

[edit] Get out

[edit] Fatehpur Sikri

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Fatehpur Sikri is a world heritage site. A must visit for any tourist coming to Agra. Built during the second half of the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for only some 10 years. The complex of monuments and temples, all in a uniform architectural style, includes one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid.

Prime Attractions of Fatehpur Sikri

'Buland Darwaza' This gate can be approached from the outside by a 13-metre flight of steps which adds to its grandeur. The gate erected in 1602 AD to commemorate Akbar’s victory over Deccan is the highest and grandest gateway in India and ranks among the biggest in the world.

'The Jami Masjid' One of the largest mosques in India, Jami Masjid was built in 1571 AD. Inside, there is a vast congregational coutyard. To the right, at the corner, is the Jammat Khana Hall and next ot this is the tomb of the royal ladies. To the left of the Jami Masjid is the Stone Cutters’ mosque, the oldest place of worship at Fateh Pur Sikri. It is entered through the eastern entrance known as the Buland Darwaza.

'Dargah Of Sheikh Salim Chisti' To the North of the Mosque is the Dargah of Shaikh Salim Chishti. This Dargah was built in 1570. Here, childless women come for blessings of the saint. Even Akbar was blessed with three sons, when he came here. The lattice work in the Dargah is among the finest to be found any where in India.

'Diwan-I-Am' The journey to the royal palace begins with Diwan-I-Am or the Hall Of Public Audience. This hall was also used for celebrations and public prayers. It has cloisters on three sides of a rectangular courtyard. To the west is a pavilion with the Emperor’s throne. Beautiful jali screen on either sides separated the ladies attending the court.

'Diwan-khana-I-khaas' To the right is an apparently looking two storeyed building, with corner kiosks, known as diwan-khana-I-khaas or Hall Of Private Audience. On entering it, one finds only a single vaulted chamber. In the centre stands a profusely carved column supporting a collosal-bracketed capital. Four narrow causeways project from the centre and run to each corner of the chamber. It is believed that Akbar’s throne occupied the circular space over the capital and the corners were assigned to the four ministers.

'Turkish Sultana’s House' To the left of the Pachisi Board is the Turkish Sultana’s house. The house, as its location at the corner of Anup Talao shows, was a pavilion for repose, attached to the pool. The geometrical pattern on the ceiling is reminiscent of Central Asian carvings in wood.

'The Treasury' To the left of the Diwan-I-Khaas is the Treasury or Ankh Michauli, once believed to have been used for playing the game, comprising three rooms each protected by a narrow corridor which were manned by guards.

'Daulat khana-I-khas' Located in the corner to the left is the emperor’s private chamber. It has two main rooms on the ground floor. One housed Akbar’s library while the larger room was his resting area. On the first floor is the Khwabgah or the bed-chamber. It was connected with the Turkish Sultana’s house, the Panch Mahal, Mariam’s House and the Jodha Bai’s palace by corridors.

'Palace of Jodha Bai' To the left of the Sunehra Makan is the largest and the most important building in the royal palace, named after Akbar’s Rajput wife, Jodha Bai. This spacious palace was assured of privacy and security by high walls and a 9 metre guarded gate to the east. The architecture is a blend of styles with Hindu columns and Muslim cupolas.

'Hawa Mahal And Nagina Masjid' To the right of Jodha Bai’s palace is Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds. This small-screened wind tower faces the garden and is attached to the palace. The garden is laid out in the Char Bagh style with straight walls intersecting at right angles and divided by shallow channels.

'Birbal’s Palace' To the north west of the Jodha Bai’s Palace is the 2 storeyed palace occupied by Akbar’s two senior queens- ruqnayya begum and salima sultan begum. It has two storeys-four rooms and two porches with pyramidical roofs below and two rooms with cupolas and screened terraces above. The building combines hindu and muslim atyles of srchitecture.

'Sunehra Makan' Opposite to the Diwan-I-Khas is the palace of Akbar’s Rajput wife, Mariam-Uz-Zamani. This two-storeyed building is richly adorned by gold murals in Persian style. The beams have inscriptions of verses by Akbar’s brother, Faizi.

'Panch Mahal' To the right of Sunehra Makan is the elegant, airy 5 storeyed pavilion, the Panch Mahal. Each floor over here is smaller than the one below and it rises to a single domed kiosk on top supported by four columns providing a magnificent view of the city and its environs.

[edit] Bharatpur

Bharatpur is about 56 KM from Agra and houses the Famous bird sanctuary in which you can see thousands of rare birds including the Sibarian Crane. There is the Lohagarh Fort, which remained invincible despite several attacks by the British. Just 32 kms 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.

[edit] Chambal Safari

Chambal Safari Lodge, 80 kms south of Agra on the Rajasthan - UP - MP border in the Chambal valley. Declared a natural sanctuary, this relatively untouched area is teeming with wild life and folklores of a bygone era. The Chambal Safari allows you to go exploring at your own pace. Take a cruise on the river, ride a jeep in the ravines, go for a camel ride along the sandy beaches, walk through sunlit fields or just laze around under the sun. End the day looking up a starlit sky basking in the warmth of old-world hospitality.

Mela Kothi' Chambal Safari Lodge, Village and P.O. Jarar, Bah, District Agra. Tel.: +91-94126 51921, Mobile: +91-9837415512, Email : rpsjarar@chambalsafari.com

Agra Office :

Jarar House, Mathura Road, Agra 282 002. Tel.: +91-562-5534205.