Agra is synonymous with the Taj Mahal, a sight as beautiful as it is imposing. We recommend arriving in the evening and staying overnight (Agra is a 3-1/2 hour drive from Delhi), so you can visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise when temperatures are cooler and crowds are smaller.
Work with Indagare to design the perfect itinerary for an immersive journey. Our travel experts know the destination inside and out, and they can make recommendations based on your travel needs and preferences.
To make a visit less daunting (the Taj Mahal receives a reported 15,000 visitors each day), we’ve mapped out how to schedule a short trip. The best way to experience the city is with a private guide and some special, behind-the-scenes access. Here is just one example of what our destination experts can create for you.
The best time to see the Taj Mahal is just before and during sunrise, so Indagare recommends having your private guide meet you at your hotel before 6am to whisk you to the entrance gates via golf buggy. India’s most famous sight has won the hearts of locals and travelers since its construction in the early 17th century. The towering palace is a symbol of Indian ingenuity and appreciation of beauty and love; it was built by the Mogul emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
Return to your hotel for a poolside lunch and swim. Trips in India are high impact and there is not a lot of down time, so we recommend enjoying relaxed moments when you have the opportunity. As temperatures begin to go down, head to the Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A 94-acre walled city located across town from the Taj Mahal, the fort’s heyday was in the 16th century, when it was the Mogul rulers’ imperial city.
Before dinner at your hotel, stop into Kohinoor Jewellers, a jewelry showroom known for its emeralds and collection of needle paintings, or three-dimensional embroidered panels. The next morning, en route to Delhi or Jaipur, detour for a private guided tour of Fatehpur Sikri, an abandoned red sandstone city from the 16th century. The hauntingly beautiful architecture is a combination of Hindu and Muslim styles, expressing the Mughal Emperor Akbar’s vision of synthesizing the two cultures.
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Back in the 1990s as you entered Agra from Delhi, you would pass dancing bears on the highway. Their keepers kept them chained and forced them to dance so they could raise money from tourists who took their photos. But...
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered one of the most spectacular Mughal forts in India. The red sandstone and marble fort located across town from the Taj Mahal covers 94 acres and was built in the 16th and 17th...
Located 40 kilometers west of Agra, the ancient city of Fatehpur Sikri is considered by many to be the most beautiful ancient structure in India. The UNESCO World Heritage Site served as the pleasure palace of Emperor Akbar from 1571...
A jewel of Mughal architecture that predates the Taj Mahal, Itmad-ud-Daulah is a small monument on the banks of the Yamuna river that was built by the stepmother of Shah Jahan. For those who are spending two nights in Agra,...
Take a kilometer walk along the banks of the Yamuna river and through Kachpura village. Guides can discuss community projects in Agra and lead you to a wonderful view of the Taj Mahal. Indagare members can contact the Bookings Team...
The most famous monument to love and, according to some, the most stunning building in the world, the Taj Mahal was built in the 17th century by Moghul emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved third wife, Mumtaz Muhal....
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