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City and Fort comprises the Agra Fort and the south bank of the Yamuna River, west of the Taj Mahal.
Get in
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See
[edit | edit source]Agra Fort
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- 1 Agra Fort (आगरा क़िला Āgrā Qilā) (metro: Agra Fort Yellow ). It 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 a palace as a defensive structure, it is also constructed mainly from red sandstone and much white marble in the palace section of the fort.
Emperor 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. The emperor added to the fort and ended up a prisoner in it. The fort has a beautiful view of its masterpiece, the Taj Mahal, on a clear day.
You can get to the fort by rickshaw from the Taj Mahal for around ₹45-50. Entry to the Fort is ₹600 plus a levy of ₹50 if you have not already paid for the Taj Mahal.
There are left luggage services at the Fort where you can store your bags at no cost. A fine of ₹5,000 applies if you lose your luggage ticket. Eating is not allowed.
There are also audio guides available at the Fort, which you can rent for a cost of ₹100 in English and other foreign languages (German, French, Spanish) or ₹60 in Indian languages such as Hindi or Bengali.
The Agra Fort buildings include:
- 2 Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience). This building separates the outer court from the inner court and has a marble platform for the emperor's throne.
- 3 Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience). Built completely of marble, this is where the emperor received special visitors.
- 4 Jahangiri Mahal (Jahangir's Palace). The principal zenana (palace for women belonging to the royal household) of the Fort. It was built for the Hindu wives of Akbar, especially his chief wife Mariam-uz-Zamani, popularly known as "Jodha Bai". There is a huge bowl called Hauz-i-Jahangiri that is carved out of a single piece of stone. This was used as a container for fragrant rose water.
- 5 Mina Masjid (Heavenly Mosque). A mosque built, entirely of white marble, by Shah Jahan for his personal use. It is enclosed and secured on all sides by high walls, and has a small open court in front of the three-arched prayer-chamber. There is no ornamentation and is simple.
- 6 Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque). A Friday mosque.
- 7 Musamman Burj (Shah Burj). An octagonal tower built by Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is said that there was a small marble palace built by Akbar at this site, which was later demolished by Jahangir to erect new buildings. The tower looks out over the River Yamuna, offering what is traditionally considered to be one of the most poignant views of the Taj Mahal. It is here that Shah Jahan along with his favorite daughter Jahanara Begum had spent his last few years as a captive of his son Aurangzeb. He laid here on his death bed while gazing at the Taj Mahal.
- 8 Nagina Masjid (Gem Mosque, Jewel Mosque).
- 9 Shah Jahani Mahal (Shah Jahan's Palace). A palace between the white-marble Diwan-i-Khas and the redstone Jahangiri Mahal. It is the earliest attempt of emperor Shah Jahan to convert an existing redstone building in accordance with his taste.
- 10 Sheesh Mahal (Glass Palace). A stunning palace adorned with intricate mirror work and glass mosaics. It served as a royal dressing room and exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of the Mughal era.
- 11 Tomb of John Russel Colvin.
Cemeteries, tombs and memorials
[edit | edit source]- 12 Jaswant Singh ki Chatri (Rajwara, Balkeshwar, east bank of Yamuna). Jaswant Singh ki Chatri is the only Hindu monument built in Agra during the Mughal rule. It is a memorial cenotaph dedicated to Rani Hada, wife of Amar Singh Rathore. Upon her husband's death, Rani Hada committed sati. Raja Jaswant Singh, the younger brother of Amar Singh, built the chatri in 1644-58 CE.
- 13 Mariam's Tomb (west from Akbar's Tomb on Agra-Delhi highway). Constructed by Jahangir in memory of his mother Mariam Zammani. 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 it in the memory of his Christian wife.
- 14 Roman Catholic Cemetery. Roman Catholic Cemetery in Agra predates the Taj Mahal. It dates back to the time of Akbar (ruled 1556 - 1605). The earliest grave dates back to 1611 and is of an Armenian named Khwaja Mortenepus. The star attraction of the cemetery is the tomb of William Hessing (1740 - 1803), a Dutch commander of Agra Fort under Maharaja Daulat Rao Scindia. The red sandstone tomb was constructed by his wife and is designed along the lines of the Taj Mahal, but not an exact copy. It is often referred to as the Red or Baby Taj. The Ellisa Memorial, Tomb of General Perron's children and many of the other tombs are built in Islamic style. Also, many of the Armenian graves have epitaphs in Persian.
- 15 Sikandra (10 km north of Agra on the Agra Delhi highway). Open from sunrise to sunset. 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 Jahangir, who significantly modified the original plans, which accounts for the somewhat cluttered architectural lines of the tomb. Four red sandstone gates lead to the tomb complex: one is Muslim, one Hindu, one Christian, and one is Akbar's patent mixture.
- 16 Tomb of Firoz Khan Khwajasara. Firoz Khan Khwasara was the caretaker of Shah Jahan's harem. It is a sandstone tomb with four corner towers and intricate jali works.
Gardens
[edit | edit source]- 17 Soami Bagh (10 km north of Agra). The white marble samadhi of the Radha Soami religion. Construction started in 1904 and is not expected to be completed until sometime in the next century. Visitors can see pietra dura inlaid marblework actually being worked on. Soami Bagh is 2 km north of Agra and can be reached by bus or cycle.
Places of worship
[edit | edit source]- 18 Guru ka Tal (at Delhi-Agra Highway, between Transport Nagar and Sikandra), ☏ +91 562 260 1717, gurukataal@yahoo.in. A historical gurudwara dedicated to the ninth Guru, that is Guru Tegh Bahadur. The gurudwara is at the place where Tegh Bahadur offered voluntary arrest to emperor Aurangzeb.
Churches
[edit | edit source]- 19 Akbar's Church. Akbar's Church dates back to 1598 and was built under the patronage of Emperor Akbar by Jesuit Fathers from Goa. Akbar's son, Jahangir, helped in the further expansion of the church. However, his son Shah Jahan demolished the church in 1635, only to rebuild it a year later. Again in 1758, the church was looted by the Persian invader Ahmed Shah Abdali. In 1769, the church was rebuilt. In 1835, the church went through further extension.
- 20 Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic Cathedral of Agra) (near Akbar's Church). Constructed in 1848, it dominates the nearby Akbar's Church. It is built in Baroque style.
- 21 St John's Church (near Mariam's Tomb). Oldest Protestant church of Agra.
Muslim sites
[edit | edit source]- 22 Great Idgah. An eidgah where Muslims would come together during Friday prayers.
- 23 Jama Masjid. A large congregational mosque attributed to Princess Jahanara Begum, built in 1648 during the reign of her father, Shah Jahan. Notable for its unusual dome and absence of minarets.
Temples
[edit | edit source]- 24 Dayal Bagh Temple (Soami Bagh Samadh). Dayal Bagh Temple in Agra, the headquarters of the Radha Soami Satsang movement, is renowned for its ongoing construction, stunning white marble architecture, and intricate carvings. Founded in 1904, it serves as a spiritual and meditation centre, attracting devotees worldwide.
- 25 Mankameshwar Temple, Rawatpara (near Agra Fort NR , metro: Mankameshwar Yellow , a simple cycle rickshaw can take you there for a fare of ₹20). Listen to the aarti as some claim it purifies your soul. It is the most visited temple by locals, and during festive seasons, it's so crowded, disrupting the traffic in the nearby areas.
Do
[edit | edit source]- 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 Eklavya Sports Stadium. The main stadium of Agra, hosting both cricket and football.
- 2 Meher Theatre.
Events
[edit | edit source]- Ram Barat (राम बारात Rām Bārāt): September–October annually. An annual three-day Hindu festival in Agra. The venue chosen is different for every year, and is elaborately decorated with lights and flowers for Janakpuri. On the first day, marriage procession is undertaken. The area is lit up with thousands of lights and there is non-stop music, and the cinemas run film shows throughout the night to accommodate the migratory crowd. These three days can be seen as a large carnival where people from all walks of life come together to have a great time.
Parks and lakes
[edit | edit source]- 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".
- 4 Paliwal Park.
Buy
[edit | edit source]Eat
[edit | edit source]Budget
[edit | edit source]- 1 Manoj Restaurant, Johari Bazar Rd.
Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]| This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
| Budget | Under ₹1,000 |
| Mid-range | ₹1,000–6,000 |
| Splurge | Over ₹6,000 |
Budget
[edit | edit source]- 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, dayallodge@gmail.com. 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.
- Hotel Jaiwal, 3 Taj Road, Sadar Bazar, ☏ +91 562 2363153. ₹75-325.
- 1 Youth Hostel, Sanjay Place, MG Rd, ☏ +91 562 2154462. ₹50-₹125.
Mid-range
[edit | edit source]- 2 Hotel Clarks Shiraz, 54, Taj Rd, ☏ +91 562 222 6120. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. ₹3,950-5,670.
- Laurie's Hotel, Mahatma Gandhi Rd, ☏ +91 562 2364536, fax: +91 562 2268045. An old colonial hotel from the British era, some say it hasn't been upgraded since, Laurie's retains some of the charm of travelling in India during the Raj. Rooms with very high ceilings (fans, no aircon) lead off from verandahs with nice lawns outside. A swimming pool is closed in the winter. One can get British era service with 'bed tea', excellent freshly made chicken curry and rice to order, and creaky plumbing. Some people will love it, others may hate it.
Splurge
[edit | edit source]- 3 Fairfield by Marriott Agra, 119/8 & 120/8, Ashok Cosmos Mall, Wazirpura Road, Civil Lines, Sanjay Place, ☏ +91 562 4075555. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. ₹3,601 per night.
- 4 Holiday Inn Agra MG Road, 16/2/8, MG Rd, Sanjay Place, Civil Lines, ☏ +91 562 423 3333. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. ₹6,100-6,300.