Sightseeing in Agra - what to see. Complete travel guide

Fabulous Agra. Many know this city as the home of the Taj Mahal, but this is not really correct because there are many other landmarks in this marvelous city. There are many must-see architectural landmarks in Agra, the likes of which are simply not available anywhere else in the world. However, when planning a vacation in Agra, tourists need to keep in mind that this city is full of dangerous places for inexperienced travelers.

It is not clearly known when the first settlement on the site of modern Agra appeared. The earliest sources date back to the 11th century and mention the assault on the fortress of Agra. Everything changed at the beginning of the 16th century. Sultan Sikandar Lodi conquered the area and made the order to establish a new city, Agra. He made Agra the capital instead of Delhi in 1504. The year 1526 was very important for the city as it became the capital of a giant empire. After that event, several emperors claimed the throne.

Each of these emperors made something to develop the region, so Agra became an important and powerful city in the middle of the 17th century. This is the time when the internationally acclaimed Taj Mahal and Agra Fort were built. They still remain the main landmarks of the old city. However, the period of decline was already soon to begin. Emperor Aurangzeb decided to move the capital to another city, Aurangabad. Starting from this moment, the importance of Agra decreased. The city’s economy was in decline and its army became weak. This fact made Agra an easy target for troops of the Jat Kingdom and Marathas. In the 19th century, the British took over the leadership in the region. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The Indian country is rich in traditions that European tourists may not be familiar with. It is important to wash hands before eating and afterward. Local restaurants and cafes serve bowls with water for this purpose. If there are several people at the table, it is prohibited to start eating until the oldest person present starts their meal. Don’t forget that it is important to keep silence while eating.

Food served at local restaurants belongs to one of the oldest and most popular cuisines in the world. Almost all dishes contain vegetables, and there are many vegetarian dishes because many local people do not eat meat. Besides that, there are many rice and fish dishes, dairy products, and baked food. Generous use of spices is the main peculiarity of Indian cuisine. The combinations of spices can be even shocking for unprepared Europeans. Tea is the most popular drink in Agra. Local people often drink tea with milk or even with spices.

Agra is a very interesting city that never ceases to attract many tourists every year. Foreigners come to see this medieval city that hasn’t lost its original charm. Narrow streets of Agra are full of shops that offer silver and gold jewelry. Old buildings and the architecture of Mughals amaze visitors with their ancient elegance and attention to details.

Agra became famous much thanks to the Taj Mahal. The Mughal emperor Shan Jahan commissioned the building of the Taj Mahal to house the tomb of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The emperor loved his wife and ordered to bury him in this mausoleum as well. Nowadays, tourists from all over the world come to Agra to admire the gorgeous building. The mausoleum is built on the bank of the Yamuna River. The Taj Mahal has marble décor and is completely covered with poems from the main book of all Muslims – the Quran. When looking at this building, it feels like it is floating in the air and not standing on the ground.

Consider visiting the nearby small city of Fatehpur Sikri during your stay in Agra. Founded by a 16th-century Mughal emperor, Fatehpur Sikri is famous as the “City of Mosques”. There are many legends about the appearance of this city. In accordance with one of them, the emperor desperately wanted to have a son and he was praying to Allah on the site of Fatehpur Sikri. Allah heard his prayers and gave the emperor the long-awaited heir. After that the emperor made an oath to memorize this important site and build a city that would attract many people and amaze them with its beauty.

The emperor made exactly as he had promised. Every year, thousands of tourists visit Fatehpur Sikri to enjoy the beauty of its landmarks. Numerous squares and the mint give us an opportunity to find out more about the appearance of Fatehpur Sikri and see the works of ancient architects.

Tourists can reach Agra from the Indian capital using the Shatabdi Express trains. It will take roughly two hours to get to the city. Besides these fast-speed trains, tourists can buy tickets to any train heading to Kolkata, Mumbai, and Gwalior. All these trains make a stop in Agra. Tourists can also take a bus that will bring them to the city in three hours. Do you prefer to make car rides? Then you can simply get a taxi.