PLACES OF INTEREST IN AGRA, ACCESSIBILITY AND MUCH MORE.

PLACES OF INTERESTA Glorious Heritage

Open: All days except FRIDAY 
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.
Distance: 9.7 Kms. (East gate) 
Phone: 2330498

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal was built by a grief stricken Emperor Shahjahan as a memorial to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. A world-renowned wonder, Taj Mahal sits pretty on the northern side of this green paradise. It looks the same from all the four sides! The Quranic inscriptions on its four entrances are carved in such subtle increase in size that may appear to be of the same size from top to bottom! Shahjahan invited master craftsmen from as far as Italy and Persia to help design his ambitious tribute to love.

The Taj Mahal is phenomenal not in the beauty alone that shines forth, but in the deep planning and design that went into its making, and the ethereal idea of immortalizing love. Delicate carvings in marble vie with gorgeous pietra dura for attention. Lapis-lazuli, Cornelian, Mother of pearl, Agate and Emerald are inlayed in floral and geometrical patterns in the marble itself. This enchanting mausoleum, on the bank of river Yamuna started in 1631 and it took 22 years to complete with the help of an estimated 20000 workers.

Open: All days 
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.
Distance: 4.7 Kms. 
Phone: 2960457

The Agra Fort

The great Mughal Emperor Akbar commissioned the construction of the Agra Fort in 1666, A.D. although additions were made till the time of his grandson Shahjahan.

The forbidding exteriors of this fort hide an inner paradise. There are a number of exquisite buildings like Moti Masjid - a white marble mosque akin to a perfect pearl; Diwan-I-Am, Diwan-I-Khaas, Musamman Burj - where Shahjahan died in 1666 A.D. Jahangir's Palace; Khaas Mahal and Shish Mahal.

Open: All days 
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.
Distance: 11 Kms.

Chini Ka Rauza

Mausoleum of Shahjahan's prime minister and Persian poet Afzal Khan Aalmi entitled "Maula Shukrullah, Shirazi" buit in 1635, exhibits fine use of glazed tiles. A curtain raiser to an exotic Persian art style, which finds itself a home in Agra.

Open: All days 
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.
Distance: 9.5 Kms.

Taj Nature Walk

A beautiful natural forest cover spread over 70 hectares of area just 500 mtrs away from the eastern gate of Taj Mahal . An excellent view of the Taj can be found from the different mounds of the park. Flora & Funa of different species are found here.

Open: All days 
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.
Distance:10 Kms.

Samadh of Soamiji Maharaj

It is a tribute to the founder of Radha Swami faith. Devout followers believe the service, purifies the soul. At soamibagh their services bears fruit in an edifice as spectacular as the Taj Built in white and coloured marble, it is continuously being decorated for more than 100 years now with extra-ordinary feast in stone and gems.

Open: All days 
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.
Distance:9.2 Kms.

Ram Bagh

One of the earliest Mughal gardens, believed to be laid out by Mughal Emperor Babur, the founder of Mughal dynasty. It is said that Babur was temporarily buried here before being taken to Kabul in Afganistan.

Open: All days 
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.
Distance: 14 Kms.

Mehtab Bagh

Mehtab Bagh is located on the left bank of river Yamuna opposite to the Taj Mahal. The garden complex is a huge square measuring approximately 300m X 300m and in straight alignment with the Taj Mahal. The excavation has revealed a huge octagonal tank on the southern periphery : baradaris or pavilion on the east and west: a small octagonal tank at the center and a gateway at the northern wall.

Open: All days 
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.
Distance:11 Kms.
Phone:2280030

Itimad-ud-daula's : Tomb (Baby Taj)

This exquisite marble tomb was made by Emperor Jahangir's queen, Nurjahan , in the memory of her father Mirza Ghias Beg during 1622-1628 A.D. Built entirely in white marble and inlaid with semi-precious stones, this mausoleum on the bank of the Yamuna River, exhibits a strong Persian influence.

Open: All days 
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.
Distance: 13.7 Kms.
Phone: 2641230

Sikandra

It is the mausoleum of Emperor Akbar. It represents his philosophy and secular outlook, combining the best of Hindu and Muslim architectures in a superlative fusion. Completed in 1613 A.D., it is one of the well preserved monument.

Open: All days 
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.
Distance:14.5 Kms.

Mariyam's Tomb

This unique tomb in red sandstone was built in memory of Emperor Akbar's wife Mariyam Zamani. The tomb has some exceptional carvings.

Open: All days 
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.
Distance: 7 Kms.

Jama Masjid

The building with rectangular open forecourt was constructed in 1648A.D. by Shahajahan's daughter, Jehanara Begum. Of particular importance is its wonderful assimilation of Iranian architecture.

Open: All days 

Temples

Mankameshwar Mandir, Rawali, Balkeshwar Mandir, Prithvinath Mandir, Rajeshwar Mandir , kailash Mandir, Renuka Dham hanidev at Runakata, Sainath Rakabganj etc.

Open: All days 

Bauddhmath

Buddha Bihar, Near Agra Fort Bus stand (Monastery)

Open: All days 

Gurudwaras

Guru ka Tal Gurudwara, Sikandra Mathura Road, Maithan Gurudwara, Fulatti Hathighat Gurudwara etc.

Open: All

Churches

Cathedral St. Peter's, St. Patricks, Baptist Church, Sai Ka Takia, Catholic Church,Sadar Bazar, St. Marry' s Pratapura, St. Paul's Khandari etc

Open: All days 

Mosques

Jama Masjid near Bijlighar, Royal Mosque Taj Mahal, Sheikh Salim Chisti Dargah, Fatehpur Sikri

Open: All days 
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset.

Jain Temples

Digambar Jain temple, Taj Ganj, Tirthadham, Mangalayatan, Sasni, Aligarh, Chintamani Parshwanath, Roshan Mohalla, Dadabari, Shahganj etc.

ACCESSIBILITY

Air

Kheria airport is 13 km from Taj Mahal.

• Travel Corporation of India, Hotel Clarks Shiraz, 54, Taj Road, Tel : (0562) 2226521-22-23
• Kingfisher Airlines, (operational only during season) Airport - 2400693

Rail

Agra is connected to the major cities of India. Agra Cantt. Railway Station, Enquiries, Tel: 139.

Road

Agra is well-connected to the following cities by road: Mathura, Delhi, Chandigarh, Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Jhansi, Chitrakoot, etc. Agra's distance by road, from the main cities is as follows : Delhi 203 km, Khajuraho 393 km, Gwalior 118 km, Jaipur 237 km, Calcutta 1287 km, Varanasi 657 km, Mussoorie 417 km, Mumbai 1204 km.

• UPSRTC Bus Stand, Idgah, Enquiries, Tel : (0562) 2420324
• UPSRTC Bus Stand, Opp. Power House, Enquiries, Tel : (0562)2464557
• Rajasthan Roadways near Idgah Bus Stand (0562) -2420228
• ISBT, near Transport Nagar, N.H.-2 Ph-0562-2603536
• Interstate Bus Terminus 95BT, Transport Nagar Ph: (0562)- 2603536

Local Transport

• Taxies: Air Conditioned/non air-conditioned taxis are available, without meter, at the railway stations, airport, hotels and at travel companies.
• Other transport: Un-metered auto-rickshaws, tongas and cycle rickshaws are available, rates of which are negotiable.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Travel Agents

• Uptours, Tourist Bunglow, Raja ki Mandi, Ph: (0562) 2850120, 2851720
• Travel Corporation (i) Hotel Clarks Shiraz, Ph: (0562) 2226521-23
• Tour Aids (i) VIP road Taj Mahal - 2230741, 2230794
• Travel Bureau, Fatehabad Road, Ph: (0562) 2331118
• Taj Tour & Travels Fatehabad Road Ph: (0562) 2231367

Airlines Offices

Kheria airport is 6 Kms. from Agra town.

• Travel Corporation of India, Hotel Clarks Shiraz, 54 Taj Road, Tel : (0562) 2226521-22-23.
• Kingfisher Airlines, (operational only during season) Airport - 2400693.

Conducted Tours

Conducted Tours to Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri conducted by UP State Tourism Development Corporation Daily (Friday Closed) from 10:30 to 18:30 hrs. and Fatehpur Sikri (only) Daily from 10:15 to 15:00 hrs. Bookings and Reservation from UPTOURS, Rahi Tourist Bunglow, Raja Ki Mandi Railway Station, Agra Ph: (0562) 2850120, 2851720. Taj Khema, Near Taj Mahal or Tourist Information Counter, Agra Cantt. Railway Station Ph : (0562) 2421204 or, and also at UP Tourism 64 Taj road, Agra.

Rahi Tourist Bungalow instead of Taj khema.

Entertainment auditoria
Light & Sound Show at Agra Fort, browse to linked with home page
Agra Music paradise, Jasoria Enclave Fatehabad Road Ph-4008369, 0091-9837092269
(Indian Music live cincert-Free for forgners tourists)

Guide Services

Government approved tourist guides can be contacted at India Tourism Office, Mall Road, Agra Tel : (0562) 2226368 and UP Tourism Office 64, Taj Road. Ph.: (0562) 2226431.

FOR ACCOMODATION AND DETAILS OF HOTELS CLICK HERE.