Agra

Home of the Taj Mahal, with three Mughal World Heritage sites (the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and the city of victory, Fatehpur Sikri), and easy extensions to Mathura, Vrindavan and birdwatching at Keoladeo.

Agra lies in western Uttar Pradesh, India, on the south bank of the Yamuna River. In the 16th–17th centuries it was the capital of the Mughal Empire, leaving three World Heritage sites (the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri), and together with Delhi and Jaipur it forms India's "Golden Triangle." Core areas to visit: ① The Taj Mahal and Mehtab Bagh, the garden across the river, which offer two angles for sunrise and sunset; ② Agra Fort and the old city, where the area around Jama Masjid and Kinari Bazaar has a lively street atmosphere; ③ On the east bank of the Yamuna, the "Baby Taj" tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, the Chini Ka Rauza (China tomb) and Ram Bagh; ④ Akbar's Tomb at Sikandra in the northwest suburbs; ⑤ Day trips: Fatehpur Sikri, 40 km to the southwest, Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur further west (birdwatching), and the Krishna holy sites of Mathura and Vrindavan, about 55 km to the northwest. Getting there: the Gatimaan/Vande Bharat Express from Delhi takes about 1 hour 40 minutes to Agra Cantt station, or about 3.5 hours by self-drive via the Yamuna Expressway; in the city, get around by chartered car, tuk-tuk or Uber, and fuel-powered vehicles are banned within 500 m of the Taj Mahal. Climate: Oct–Mar is cool and dry, the best season, with morning fog in Dec–Jan; Apr–Jun is scorching, sometimes above 45°C; Jul–Sep is monsoon rain. Suggested stay: 2 days. Notes: the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays; foreigners pay far higher ticket prices than locals at the sights; beware of guides and tuk-tuk drivers who take you to shops.

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Itineraries