Travel to Agra

Travel to Agra

Population : 956,000
Distance : 194 kmfrom Delhi

¤ Historic Prespective

Agra is not synonymous with just the Taj Mahal. The earliest reference to the city is found in the Hindu epic, Mahabharata, which refers to it as Agrabana – the city of paradise.
However, the town remained insignificant until Sikandar Lodi of the Delhi Sultanate made it his seat of power in 1505.
It was here that Babur defeated the Rajput king Rana Sangha in the Battle of Khanua in 1527, to sow the seed of the Mughal Empire, which blossomed over the next 200 years. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the sumptuous courts of Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan transformed Agra into a sophisticated, luxurious, man-made paradise.
When the fortunes of the Mughals dwindledin the 18th century, the pre-eminence of Agra too declined.

Today, the town is a bustling industrial and commercial hub, and the phrase ‘Go to Agra’ has a different connotation. The reference is to the psychiatric hospital in the area – the jocular implication being, that you need to check out your mental health.

¤ Agra At A Glance

A visit to the city is like being transported back in time. Situated on the banks of the Yamuna, its narrow crowded streets and boulevards are medieval in structure, while its bazaars are splashed with colour and gaiety – which is the hallmark of the city.
All sorts of stuff, especially leather goods, local handicrafts and imitation inlay work on marble (including miniaturised Taj Mahals) jostle for shelf space in the shops. Its pethas (pumpkin sweet), dalmoth (fried peas) and sumptuous Mughlai food are worth a try.
The streets of Casablanca or Cairo could not have been very different in the middle ages.
Although Muslims comprise just a tenth of the population of Agra today, the town retains its Islamic character, reminiscent of the time when it held centre-stage in Indian politics – during the halcyon days of the Mughal Empire.

Travel to Agra : Agra is home to India's most popular tourist attraction Taj Mahal, with about 3 million visitors each year. The name Taj Mahal is a diminutive of Mumtaz Mahal, consort of Mughal Emperor Shahjahan famous for constructing many historical buildings. Taj Mahal is said to have taken 20,000 men more than 20 years to build and considered to be the greatest monument to love. A travel to Agra is something of an absolute must for every traveler. Everybody dreams of laying eyes on the wonder that is Taj Mahal.

Agra is well connected by air to Delhi, Khajuraho and Varanasi. Trains from the other parts of the country connect Agra. The city is also well connected by rail to different places in India. The main railhead is the Agra Cantonment station. Agra is connected with most of the Indian cities by road.

Agra is well connected to other cities in India by rail, road, and air.

Travel to Agra by Air

There are regular flights and trains from other cities of India especially Delhi its closest metropolis and an International gateway.

Travel to Agra by Rail

There are numerous trains from Delhi that connects Agra with a total journey time of three hours.

Travel to Agra by Road

We can arrange for you AC or Non AC coaches and cars for your tour to the city of Taj with helpful guides.

Travel in Agra

For local transport, taxis and auto-rickshaws are your best bets. Cycle rickshaws are also available.