A Day Trip to Agra
A day trip to Agra from Delhi is a worth taking tour. Agra is popularly known for two things – One ‘The Taj Mahal’ and second ‘Petha’, a sweet soft candy.
Also known as ‘Symbol of Love’, The Taj Mahal in Agra is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and it is an emblem of pride for all Indians. In fact, many times, India is identified by Taj Mahal itself. For foreign tourists, no trip to India is complete without visiting Agra and witnessing the iconic Taj Mahal.
Second popularity of Agra is the special dessert – “Petha”. Although Petha is now widely available in the northern part of India but it was first started from Agra. It is said to have been originated in the kitchen of the Mughals and it supposed to be their special dessert.
Agra is about 210 Kms from Delhi with a driving time of approximately 4 hours. So, you can go for the same day trip to Agra from Delhi. Spend your day witnessing the renowned Taj Mahal, The Tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daulah and Agra Fort and by evening, you can return back to Delhi.
Best Time to Visit Agra
Although one can take a trip to Agra during any time of the year but, summers are generally not recommendable to make a visit to the place as during the months of May-June, sometimes the temperature in Agra reaches beyond 45° C. During the day time in summers the heat is unbearable. During monsoons, the sky remains cloudy so you might not feel excited during the trip.
The ideal time I would suggest to visit the city of Taj is from October till March. In fact, Oct-Nov and Feb-Mar are the best months to make a visit to Agra, as during this time the temperature remains pleasant and the visibility is also much clear.
Places to visit in Agra
The Taj Mahal – One of the most popular tourist attractions of the country, The Taj Mahal in Agra is among the Seven Wonders of the World and it is one of the UNESCO’s world heritage site as well. It was built by Shah Jahan – The Mughal Emperor, in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz. The monument was constructed in the 17th century and was entirely built using white marble. Taj Mahal is the USP of India and it is visited by many Indian and foreign tourists throughout the year. Click a few photos with different poses and capture this beautiful image to recall this event in future.
Before taking a trip to Agra, please ensure that you are not travelling on Friday, as Taj Mahal remains closed on Fridays.
(Entry Fee for Taj Mahal: Indian Citizens – INR 50 & Foreign Visitors – INR 1100. If someone wants to enter the mausoleum then he/she has to pay INR 200 additional)
Agra Fort – Also known as “Lal Quila” – Red Fort of Agra or The Agra Fort was built by Emperor Akbar in 1573 and it was once the former residence of the Mughals until the year 1638. Agra Fort is also a UNESCO World Heritage Sites and it is just at a distance of 2.5 km from the Taj Mahal. It is often referred to as a walled city inside which there are beautifully decorated buildings. Agra Fort is purely made of red sandstone and it is a perfect example of the Mughal art and architecture. Visit Agra is incomplete without visiting Agra Fort.
(Entry Fee for Agra Fort: Indian Citizens – INR 40 & Foreign Visitors – INR 550)
Itmad-Ud-Daulah – Also known as “The Baby Taj”, Itmad-Ud-Daulah is a Mughal Mausoleum which is regarded as the copy of Taj Mahal. This monument was built by Noor Jahan, the daughter of Persian noblemen, Mizra Ghiyas Beg to whom this tomb is dedicated. Itmad-Ud-Daulah is located on the eastern bank of River Yamuna. It is delicate in appearance as it is completely made of marble and the finely carved marble lattice screens, add beauty to it. One should pay a visit to this piece of beauty
(Entry Fee for Itmad-Ud-Daulah: Indian Citizens – INR 30 & Foreign Visitors – INR 310)
Apart from the above, there are some other attractions also in and around Agra that you might be interested in visiting like Mehtab Bagh, a four garden complex; Kinari Bazaar, a colourful market of Agra; Sikandra, to witness the tomb of Akbar; Fatehpur Sikri, a deserted fort city near Agra, etc.
How to travel from Delhi to Agra?
Well, there are three ways to reach Agra from Delhi and you can opt for anyone of them.
First, you can take a train from Delhi to Agra. There are numerous trains available on this route. In fact, the train would be the best option for this journey as it saves your money and time as well. You can board Bhopal Shatabdi or Taj Express from New Delhi Railway Station or Gatimaan Express from Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi. These trains drop you Agra in just two hours. In the evening, you can again take any one of these trains to come back to Delhi.
Second, you can take a government bus from Sarai Kale Khan ISBT or Anand Vihar ISBT in Delhi. These buses take an average time of 4-5 hrs to reach Agra. The travel time on buses is more than that of train. I would suggest you to take bus service only in case you don’t get a reservation in train. Also, if you are taking bus service then try to catch it as early as possible in the morning so that you reach Agra on time, to enjoy your sightseeing.
The third option is recommended only if you are travelling in small groups or with your friends and colleagues. You can hire a taxi from Delhi with a round trip. With this, you will get flexibility for travelling easily within Agra city as well.
However, if you are using public transport like train or bus to commute from Delhi to Agra, then for local sightseeing in Agra, you can take services of auto rickshaws available for Taj Mahal and other places. You may have to bargain with them before finalizing your local trip, as sometimes they tell you the price which is on a very higher side. For a half-day city tour the charges for auto rickshaw would be around Rs. 400-500 while for a full-day tour it would cost you around Rs. 600-800.
Hope the above article will help you in planning your upcoming trip to Agra. For any more information on the same, you can drop me a message here.
Also Read:
How to plan a trip to Jaipur – https://budgetescapes.in/trip-to-jaipur/
