There are very few cities in the world that can match the history and heritage of Agra. Located at a distance of 204 km south of Delhi, Agra is the single most famous attraction in  your India tours and travel. Situated on the west bank of River Yamuna, Agra's architectural splendour is reflected in the glorious monuments built by the Mughal emperors who ruled India for more than 300 years.

Agra is the city so well known all over the world for the famous monument of love, the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal was constructed by Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is a heavenly sight at any part of the day: it is believed to blush at dawn or sunset, and appears to float in moonlight.

In the mid 16th century and earlier 17th century, Agra witnessed frenzied building activity and it was during this time that the Taj Mahal was built. At that time, Agra became one of the principal cities of the Mughal Empire. When Akbar chose Agra as his capital he laid the foundation of the Fort of Agra. After the Taj Mahal, this was one of the most important group of buildings. The fort was just one of the many large fortified residences that the emperor wanted to have at various strategic points of his empire.

Barely 40 km from Agra is a city built of red sandstone called Fatehpur Sikri. The city was built by Emperor Akbar but he never lived in it due to the shortage of water. The city is a fine blend of Mughal and Hindu architecture. The Fatehpur Sikri mosque was said to be built on the lines of the holy mosque in Mecca.

Four kilometres from Agra is the mausoleum of Akbar. The construction of this beautiful monument was started by Akbar himself and the structure reflects the perfect blending of Hindu, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist and Jain motifs.

The other monuments in Agra are the Jama Masjid or the Jami Masjid, the Chini-Ka-Rauza, the Dayal Bagh Temple, Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb and Mariyam Tomb.

Agra is not only a famous tourist destination but is a shoppers paradise too. There are plenty of shopping areas and shopping malls where one can buy the specialities of the place. Agra is famous for the Taj Mahal made out of marble, the markets are bound to have replica of the Taj in marble being sold as decorative, gift item or as souvenirs.

The city is the hub of handmade leather items. The local artisans are good at making leather sandals, purses, bags and decorative items. Local gift shops also stock brass decorative pieces and stone carved images. The city is also famous for the zari and embroidery work and its handmade carpets and durries.

Reaching Agra:

The city is connected to Delhi, Khajuraho and Varanasi by Indian Airlines and private airlines.
Agra is an important railway station of the Central Railway and is served by Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Chennai/Bangalore/Hyderabad and Delhi-Kolkata trunk lines. The city is connected to all parts of the country. Agra has three major railway stations - Agra Cantt, the principal station, and Raja-ki-Mandi are on the main trunk lines and Agra Fort, for trains to Jaipur.

Agra is on National Highway No. 2 (Delhi-Mumbai) and is very well connected by road network. The national highway from Delhi is a four-lane double carriageway with very good, smooth surface, and carries medium to heavy traffic. The 200 km distance from Delhi can easily be covered in less than four hours.

Agra is also very well connected with bus services to all the major centres in the region. Regular deluxe coach services are operated between Agra and Delhi, Jaipur, etc. Many tour operators also run same-day and overnight tours from Delhi and Jaipur to Agra with air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned coaches.