Agra is a city about 200 kilometers east of India’s national capital, Delhi. It’s one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and was once the capital of the Mughal Empire. It is a major tourist attraction, not just because of the incredible Agra Fort but it is also the home of the famed Taj Mahal. Both sites have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites but the Taj is also considered one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
I took the two hour fast train from New Delhi Railway Station at dawn and arrived in Agra at 8:00 am. It was a very similar experience to Delhi with Tuk-Tuk drivers immediately trying to take me somewhere I didn’t want to go. Luckily Uber works here too. I stayed at a place called Hotel Taj Resorts, that was actually really nice and quite affordable around 30 USD per night. The hotel was located in the East Gate area of the Taj Mahal, so first thing I did after a much needed nap was walk to the Taj!
The Taj Mahal Gate itself is pretty magnificent to behold and through the arch way you can see the iconic mausoleum. Surrounding it on three sides are red sandstone walls built for defense and inside the complex are several outlying buildings which are pretty incredible feats of Mughal architecture. The outlying mausoleums house several of Shah Jahan’s wives and his favorite servant.
The outlying building to the west of the Taj is a mosque and another one mirrors its directly to the east. They believe the building to the east was made purely for architectural balance and may have been used as a guest house.
The Taj Mahal means “Crown of the Palaces,” and is a mausoleum that contains Shah Jahan’s favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is widely considered one of the most beautiful buildings ever created. This is a place I’ve wanted to see for quite some time and I wasn’t disappointed!
Being July the weather was pretty much unbearable in terms of heat and humidity but with it being the low season for tourism, I was able to enjoy the Taj with only a hundred or so other people rather than thousands. It was incredible.
After the Taj the next place I went was Agra Fort, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. This was the main residence of the Mughal dynasty until they moved the capital to Delhi in 1638.
The fort can be better described as a walled city. There are quite a few buildings to see inside, some of them were closed for renovations.
I’ve been to a lot of forts around the world but this is definitely a must see if you are in Agra, it’s absolutely beautiful.
After my visit of the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort it was time to return to my hotel and get some much needed rest. Being out all day in the sun during India’s hottest months can really take it out of you. Plus I had a flight to catch the next day to Mumbai…
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