Situated on the banks of the river Yamuna, Agra is one of the most popular tourist getaway destinations in India. It hosts one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the mighty TajMahal. The city has a perfect blend of architecture, heritage, and culture of the country. All in all, a package which one might not wish to miss while in or visiting India. If you are in Delhi, then a short itinerary to Agra might prove to be a fruitful one. There are several options to reach Agra from Delhi, some of which are listed below.
Delhi to Agra via bus
Quite a few bus operators run from Delhi to Agra on a daily basis. The average time taken from Delhi to Agra is approximately around 3 hours 36 minutes. A few of the bus operators that run on Delhi to Agra routes are Hans Travels, Srinath Travels, Amar Travels, Shikar Travels, Southern Express Travels, Mahalaxmi Travels, PRTC, UPSRTC, RSRTC, etc. The average fare for the AC category is around INR 300. This also varies on the operator and the type of bus that you opt for.
Delhi to Agra via train
The distance from Delhi to Agra by train is 188 km and it takes around 1 hour 45 minutes to reach. Quite a few trains run daily from Delhi to Agra. To name some popular trains, we have ASR CSTM Express, Jhelum Express, Punjab mail, Bhopal express, Bhopal Shatabdi express, etc. The fastest train from Delhi to Agra is Gatimaan express traveling at 99 miles per hour.
Delhi to Agra via road
Delhi and Agra are at a driving distance of 221 km and take 2 hours 40 minutes to travel. Choosing a local taxi operator might turn out to be a bit pricey if you are an amateur traveler. They might charge you on the higher side without you having the knowledge of it.
It is recommended to book an Agra to Delhi cab from genuine online sources enlisted for cab services. Cab booking websites such as GozoCabs, Makemytrip, Savaari, etc. provide fair and reasonable prices for road trips. You can consider booking your cab for your Delhi to Agra by car from GozoCabs at affordable prices starting from INR 1360.
Staying in Agra
Agra is a comparatively safe place to stay for tourists. Having said that there are few precautions that one needs to take for a smoother trip across Uttar Pradesh. While many tourists come here for a one-day stay but it’s worth staying for several days to explore the entire city and have a glimpse of other stunning architectural structures apart from the TajMahal. Fortunately, many hotels are only within the reach of 2km from all three entrances of the TajMahal. On the lines of Taj East Gate Road, one can find hotels of all ranges including The OberoiAmarvilas. If you’re a bit tight on your budget, then you can opt for staying in TajGanj. But if your soul seeks some luxury treatment, head towards Fatehabad Road where you can witness the finest range of hotels and shops.
Top places to visit
Here in this section we will list out with brief descripton of some of the beautiful place that you must want to visit once you are in Agra.
TajMahal
Located on the banks of the river Yamuna, the TajMahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the loving memory of his third wife, Mumtaz. It has a tomb of Shah Jahan too. The water fountains and the alcoves all along in addition to the monument are a treat to the eyes. This massive monument was conferred with the title of the UNESCO World heritage owing to its stunning and evergreen beauty.
Timing: 6 AM to 6 PM all days except Friday
Entry Fee: INR 50 for Indians
INR 1300 for foreigners
Additional INR 200 for the entrance in the main museum
Free for children below 15 years
Fatehpur Sikri
Structured out of red sandstone, Fatehpur Sikri is located at a distance of around 40kms from the city of Agra. Again entitled as the World Heritage by UNESCO, this fortified area houses Jama mosque, BulandDarwaza, Palace of JodhaBai, and Tomb of SalimChisti among a few of the famous monuments. The view of the Fort is at its best during the sunset which one might not afford to miss.
Timing: 6 AM to 6 PM all days except Friday
Entry Fee: INR 10 for Indians
INR 250 for foreigners
Agra Fort
This fort is situated on the banks of river Yamuna and the architectural artistryof the same is at par excellence. The reason why it’s being popularly known as LalQila is the usage of sandstone throughout. It is situated at a distance of 2.5kms from the TajMahal. Stunning structures such as Moti Masjid, JahangiriMahal, Diwan-e-Khaas, etc lies within Agra Fort’s premises. A certain part of this fort is accessible only to the Indian Army and is not open to the public as of now.
Timing: Sunrise to sunset
Entry Fee: INR 40 for Indians
INR 550 for foreigners
Free for children below 15 years
MehtabBagh
Situated to the north of TajMahal, MehtabBagh serves as a perfect spot to view the former in all its elegance from the fountain side right at the gate entrance. MahtabBagh is adorned by four tower-like structures made out of sandstone with a massive tank in the center. On full moon nights, the reflection of the TajMahal on the water is absolutely gorgeous. Mehtabbagh currently homes to delightful scenery of flora and fauna which just adds up to the park’s beauty.
Timing: 6 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee: INR 30 for Indians
INR 200 for foreigners
ChinikaRauza
Also called as China Tomb, this is the tomb of Allama Afzal Khan and was built in the 17th century. The tiles used in the construction of this tomb are known to have been imported from China and having an amalgamation of Indo-Persian style and are one of a kind. The interior of this giant structure is adorned with inscriptions from Quran and marvelous paintings.
Timing: 24 hours
Entry Fee: Free
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Photo by Florian Weichelt