Agra is the one of the prominent destinations of the World Tourism map with three heritage monuments - The Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri & Red Fort. The Taj Mahal is a UNESCO world Heritage site and is considered one of the wonders of the world. Agra is 403 kms from Nainital and 363 kilometres (226 mi) west of state capital, Lucknow and 200 kilometres (124 mi) south from national capital New Delhi. The Archaeological Survey of India has decided that Taj Mahal will remain closed on Fridays for the public except for those who go for afternoon prayers. Previously Taj Mahal remained closed on Mondays. Location of Agra :- The Agra district is situated in western U.P. between 27.11' degree Latitude North and 78.0' degree to 78.2' degree Longitute East. Its Altitude is 169 meters above sea level. On the North it is bounded by Mathura District, On the South it is bounded by Dhaulpur District, On the East it is bounded by Firozabad District and On the West it is bounded by Bharatpur. Agra is situated on the bank of Yamuna river. Inside Tajmahal Entrance   Photo of Taj Mahal taken on 1915 during WW1 by a Fighter Plane   History of Agra :- Agra has a rich historical background, which is amply evident from the numerous historical monuments in and around the city. The earliest reference for Agra comes from the epical age, when Mahabharata refer Agra as Agravana. In the sources prior to this, Agra has been referred as Arya Griha or the abode of the Aryans. The first person who referred Agra by its modern name was Ptolemy.   Taj Mahal from Red Fort   Though the heritage of Agra city is linked with the Mughal dynasty, numerous other rulers also contributed to the rich past of this city. Modern Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodhi (Lodhi dynasty; Delhi Sultanate) in the 16th century. Babar (founder of the Mughal dynasty) also stayed for sometime in Agra and introduced the concept of square Persian-styled gardens here. Emperor Akbar built the Agra fort and Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. Fatehpur Sikri remained his capital for around fifteen years after which the city was left isolated in mysterious circumstances. Jahangir beautified Agra with palaces and gardens despite spending most of his time in Kashmir with which he was passionately attached.   Taj Mahal in 1860   Agra came to its own when Shahjahan ascended to the throne of Mughal Empire. He marked the zenith of Mughal architecture, when he built the Taj in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. In his later years, Shahjahan shifted his capital to the new city of Shahjahanabad in Delhi and ruled from there. Shahjahan was dethroned in 1658 by his son, Aurangzeb who imprisoned him in the Agra Fort. Aurangzeb shifted the capital back to Agra till his death. After the death of Aurangzeb, Mughal Empire could not touch its peak and many regional kingdoms emerged. The post-Mughal era of Agra saw the rule of the Jats, Marathas and finally the British taking over the city. Origin and Development of Agra :- Agra is the city of the inimitable Taj Mahal. The story of Agra beigns much earlier then the Taj, However it finds mention in the epic Mahabharata when it was called Agrabana are Paradise. Ptolemy, the famous second century A.D. geographer, marked it on his map of the world as Agra. Tradition and legend ascribe the present city of Raja Badal Singh (around 1475 A.D.) whose Fort, Badalgarh, Stood on or near the site of the present Fort. However, the 12th century A.D. persian poet Salman, too, Speaks of a desperate assault on the forrtress of Agra, then held by one King Jaipal, by sultan Mahmud of Ghazni. It was Mughals who finally nurtured Agra with the finest monuments architects could design : The Taj Mahal of Shah Jhan, Agra Fort of Akbar, Itmad-Ud-Daulah and neighbouring Sikandra are but few of the many that spangle the city, each of which stands in mute testimony to the city's grandur over the ages.   Khas Mahal of Agra Fort - 1875   Tourism In Agra - Agra Tourism - Places to visit in Agra - Visiting Places - Agra Sight Seeing Agra Tourism has also has a number of monuments ranging from the world known structures such as, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri others are tombs such as Sikandra (Akbar's tomb), Mariam's tomb, Itmad-ud-daulah's tomb and Chini ka Rauza. Ram Bagh and Swami Bagh Temple at Dayal Bagh have their own history. Mehtab Bagh & Kalakriti Cultural & Convention Centres, last not the least Full Moon Visit to Taj Mahal. Agra Tourism | Tourism Agra | Taj Mahal Tour | Agra Tour | Agra Fort : Beautiful historical site with stunning view of Taj Mahal across the Yamuna River also known as Lal Haveli. 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 who broke the continuity of red sand stone to create white marble monuments.   Taj Mahal from Red Fort   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.   Taj Mahal from Red Fort   Shahjahan was imprisoned here at the end of his life by his son and it is said he sat in a tower and gazed at the tomb of his beloved Mumtaz all day as there is a wonderful view from the Agra Fort of the Taj Mahal in the distance. Open: All days Timings: Sunrise to Sunset. Distance: 5 Kms. Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb (10 Km) : Along the Yamuna river, on the opposite side from the Taj. The exquisite intricate marble carvings and the perfectly painted and decorated walls and ceiling leave you speechless. Itimad-ud-daulah was built 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. This tomb also features many paintings. Open: All days Timings: Sunrise to Sunset. Distance:10 Kms. Khas Mahal : Situated along the river front is the wonderful elegant marble hall. Built in white marble consists the palace of the King in the middle with a beautiful pool in the front and view of the Angoori Bagh (The Garden). It is flanked on either side with the palaces of the Daughters. The roofs are gilded with Brass now but once used to be plated (covered) with real Gold.   Itmad-ud-Daula's Tomb - Agra 1900's   Weather - Climate of Agra :- Agra features a semiarid climate that borders on a humid subtropical climate. The city features mild winters, hot and dry summers and a monsoon season. However the monsoons, though substantial in Agra, are not quite as heavy as the monsoon in other parts of India. This is a primary factor in Agra featuring a semiarid climate as opposed to a humid subtropical climate. Summer Maximum Temperature is 45°C and Minimum Temperature is about 22°C Winter Maximum Temperature is 13°C and Minimum Tempreature is about 4°C Best Season for tourist to Visit Agra is from October to March. Agra, located on the Indo-Gangetic plain has a continental sub-tropical climate, with long, hot summers from April to September when temperatures can reach as high as 45°C (113°F). During summers dry winds (loo) blow in this region. The monsoon months from July to September see about 67 cm (27 inches) of rainfall annually.   Map of Agra Google Maps     Taj Mahal from Space     Map of Agra   How to Reach Agra - Transportation - Reaching Agra :- Agra By Air Agra Airport - Kheria Air Force Station is about 5 km from city center and is also known as Agra Civil Enclaves. All the major domestic airlines provide flight services to and from the city of Taj. Agra By Railways Agra is on the central train line between Delhi (Station Code: NDLS) and Mumbai (Bombay) (Station Code: CSTM) and between Delhi and Chennai (Station Code: MAS) and many trains like Bhopal Shatabdi, Bhopal Express, Malwa Express, Gondwana Express, Jabalpur - Jammutawi Express, Shreedham Express, Garib Rath, Tamil Nadu Express, Chennai Rajdhni etc. connect Agra with all major Indian cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune, Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain, Jaipur, Lucknow etc. every day. Some east-bound trains from Delhi also travel via Agra, so direct connections to points in Eastern India (including Kolkata) (Calcutta) are also available. There are close to 20 trains to New Delhi and Gwalior Junction every day, and at least three or four to Bhopal, Indore, Nagpur, Mumbai and Chennai.   Taj Mahal   Agra By Road Idgah Bus Stand, Taj Depot, Ford depot and Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT) are the major Bus Stands in Agra and is connected to most of the bigger cities in North India. * From Delhi: NH2, a modern divided highway, connects the 200 km distance from Delhi to Agra. The drive is about 4 hours. The primary access to the highway is along Mathura Road in Delhi but, if coming from South Delhi or Delhi Airport, it is easier to take Aurobindo Marg (Mehrauli Road) and then work up to NH2 via Tughlakabad. * From Jaipur: National Highway 11, a Four lane divided highway, connects Agra with Jaipur via the bird sanctuary town of Bharatpur. The distance of around 255 km can be covered in around 3–4 hours. * From Gwalior A distance of around 120 km, takes around 1.5 hours on the National highway 3, also known as the Agra – Mumbai Highway. * From Lucknow / Kanpur NH2, the divided modern highway, continues on to Kanpur (285 km, 5 hours) and from there to points East ending in Kolkata. From Kanpur, NH25 heads for the city of Lucknow (90 km, 2 hours). Agra has a major Road named as Mahatma Gandhi(MG) Road at the ceneral part known as heart line of Agra. Taxi Tourist can hire a taxi for local sight seeing or agra visit from local taxi stand. A prepaid taxi counter is available at agra cantt railway station. Distance Chart Agra - Distance Between - Agra Distance Chart From Different Cities of India CITY DISTANCE In Kms CITY DISTANCE In Kms CITY DISTANCE In Kms Agartala 2355 Gurgaon 196 Panaji 1709 Ahmedabad 889 Guwahati 1756 Paradwip 1510 Aizawl 2222 Gwalior 118 Pathankot 679 Ajmer 363 Haldia 1336 Patna 812 Akola 955 Hassan 1927 Pondicherry 2154 Aligarh 83 Hissar 367 Porbandar 1283 Allahabad 425 Hubli 1634 Pune 1214 Ambala 394 Hyderabad 1296 Purulia 1043 Amritsar 2507 Indore 1315 Rajkot 1711 Asansol 2013 Jabalpur 1313 Rajeswaram 601 Aurangabad 1006 Jabalpur 611 Rameswaram 2459 Bakhtiyarpur 860 Jaipur 232 Ranchi 986 Bangalore 1858 Jaisalmer 802 Ranippettai 2077 Barauni 923 Jalandhar 567 Raurkela 1208 Barddhaman 1134 Jammu 786 Rohtak 264 Bareilly 212 Jamnagar 1191 Sagar 419 Belgaum 1550 Jamshedpur 1118 Saharanpur 390 Bellary 1663 Jhansi 221 Salem 2061 Bhagalpur 1047 Jodhpur 563 Sambalpur 1349 Bhavnagar 1076 Jorhat 2509 Shahjahanpur 286 Bhopal 541 Kakinada 1645 Siliguri 1281 Bhubaneshwar 1542 Kandla 1070 Shillong 1856 Bikaner 553 Kanniyakumari 2539 Shimla 545 Bilaspur 1096 Kanpur 286 Shivpuri 230 Calcutta 1258 Kochi 2391 Silchar 2082 Chandigarh 440 Kohima 2095 Solapur 1330 Chennai 1892 Kolhapur 1447 Srinagar 1079 Chittardurga 1791 Kota 453 Surat 1083 Coimbatore 2198 Kozhikode 2213 Thane 1154 Cuttack 1517 Krishnagiri 1949 Thanjavur 2249 Dehradun 381 Kurnool 1506 Thiruvananthapuram 2611 Delhi 203 Lucknow 363 Thrissur 2312 Dhanbad 985 Ludhiana 508 Tiruchchirappalli 2195 Dhule 863 Madurai 2304 Tirunelveli 2458 Dibrugarh 2195 Mangalore 2087 Tirupati 1859 Dimapur 2030 Meerut 267 Tuticorin 2439 Dindigul 2238 Moradabad 267 Udaipur 637 Durgapur 1071 Motihari 831 Ujjain 606 Ganganagar 611 Mumbai 1197 Ulhasnagar 1152 Gangtok 1395 Muzaffarnagar 319 Vadodara 927 Gaya 827 Muzaffarpur 915 Varanasi 577 Ghaziabad 221 Mysore 1997 Vijayawada 1563 Ghazipur 649 Nagpur 809 Vishakhapatnam 1677 Gorakhpur 629 Nanded 1187 Warangal 1259 Gulbarga 1488 Nashik 1012     Guntur 1595 Nellore 1819       Rare Photo of Taj Mahal This was how the Taj Mahal was protected from bomber jets in 1942 during world war. It was covered with huge scaffold, to make it look like a stockpile of bamboo and misguide bombers. The covering is still incomplete in this photo. The whole of Taj Mahal was covered but this picture shows only the main dome covered. The govt didnt allow any photographers later to shoot the final scaffold cover. During the India-Pakistan war in 1971, it was protected by covering it with a green cloth and making it almost invisible i.e camouflaged within the greenery around it. Even in 2001, after the Sep 11 attack, Archaeological Survey of India took up the precautionary measure to cover it with cloth and it took them more than 20 days to do that!!   Nainital Tourism offers online booking for various Hotels & Resorts in Agra & whole Uttarakhand.   Taj Mahal Circa 1890   <-- Agra Tour & Travel Packages ->> <-- Agra to Corbett Nainital Tour & Travel Packages ->> Delhi - Agra - Jim Corbett National Park - Delhi - Package (Package for Couple) Delhi - Agra - Nainital - Kausani - Corbett - Delhi - Package (Package for Couple)   Available All Types of Vehicles at Delhi - Agra DELUXE BUSES, INNOVA, INDIGO, INDICA, SUMO, QUALIS, TEMPO-TRAVELER, TAXIS   For Transport Rates - Hotel Booking in Agra - Taj Mahal Tour Packages or Agra Tour Packages Please Call us at 09536-1182-78 or 09027-1555-78 Office Landline Number: 05942- 237476 (10.30 am -6 pm)

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