Travelling To Agra: The City Of Taj Mahal
Agra, one of the most popular tourist destinations of India, was founded by the Muslim ruler Sikandar Lodi of Delhi Sultanate in the year 1504. Located on the banks of River Yamuna, the city is the perfect place to witness Mughal architecture. This is known as the ‘City of Taj Mahal’ after the beautiful Taj Mahal built during Shahjahan reign, which was completed in the year 1653. It is the mausoleum of the beloved wife of Shah Jahan named Mumtaz Mahal. The city is frequented by tourists all over the world. Tourists flock here to have a glimpse of the Mughal Sultanate especially The Taj Mahal.
Booking hotels in Agra
Are you planning to visit Agra? If so, then booking a hotel in Agra is quite easy through Cleartrip. The lists of all types of hotels are available here for tourists to choose from. There are all types of hotels available in the city ranging from budget hotels to luxury hotels. If you are on a limited budget, then you can go for budget hotels. For ultimate comfort, luxury hotels like 4 and 5 stars or boutique hotels with premium facilities like spa, bars, pools, and so on are great options to choose. For having perfect home like feeling, guest houses can be chosen. Moreover, this can be preferred for four to seven days stay. Homestays in Agra also offer great ambiance.
Agra Hotels Booking Tips
Location: The hotel you choose in Agra must be located in an appropriate location. You can book a hotel near Taj Mahal or Fatehabad Road as per your preference.
Season: As the city is packed with the tourists at the time of vacations, it would be wise to book the hotels in advance. Booking hotel rooms last minute can be a daunting task.
Budget: There are many budget stay options available in Agra. At Cleartrip, you can easily get a list of hotels as per your budget.
Luxury: If you are looking for luxury stay during your trip and want to make it more exciting, book boutique hotels or 4 or 5 star hotels in Agra.
Best localities to book hotels in Agra
Near Taj Mahal: Agra is mainly famous for its unique monument named Taj Mahal. Being the most visited place, you can get many options for accommodation near this area. If you choose the hotel close to the Taj Mahal, it will be easier for you to come down here and explore the beauty of the structure even during the night hours.
Hotels near Kinari Bazaar: Visiting just the historical monuments is not enough. You would also like to explore the rich culture of the city. For this reason, you can choose a hotel which is located near Kinari Bazaar in order to explore the local markets of the city.
The price range of hotels in Agra
There are about 200+ hotels in the city. Cleartrip provides you with the option of choosing your hotel depending upon your budget. Here you can compare the price and choose one that fits your budget and need. However, the price starts from 290 INR and go up to 51200 INR, per night.
How to reach Agra?
Agra is connected with some major cities of India via flights. From Delhi, Cochin, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Lucknow, you can take a flight and reach here easily. Being a domestic airport, foreign tourists will have to choose the nearest airport for landing like Delhi, Mumbai and other big cities and then take a flight to Agra.
On the other hand, the city lies under Northern Central Railway zone of Indian Railway. From major cities like Delhi and Mumbai, there is central train line to Agra. There are many trains to choose from.
There are three major bus stands in Agra that connect the city with other big cities of India. The 3 National Highways together with 2 Expressways originate from Agra. You can either hire a cab or choose interstate buses. From Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Jaipur, taxi is also a better option.
Dining places
- Dasaprakash, Arjun Nagar, Agra.
- Esphahan, The Oberoi Amarvilas Tajganj, Agra
- Joney’s Place, Kinari Bazar, Tajganj
- Jahanpanah, Igdah Colony, Agra
- Lakshmi Vilas, Igdah Colony, Agra
- Pinch of Spice, Tajganj
Places of interest in Agra
- Taj Mahal: The most and must visited place in Agra is also one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
- Agra Fort: The red stone and marble and intrinsic designs show the marvellous piece of architecture of Mughal times. This was the ruling palace at the time of Mughals.
- Mehtab Bagh: This is constructed just opposite to the Taj Mahal. From the backdrop of the fort, you can take some amazing photos of the Taj Mahal.
- Kinari Bazaar: Your trip to Agra is incomplete without exploring the local market. Visit Kinari Bazaar to experience multitudes colours of life.
- Korai Village: Day trip at Korai village is the best option to experience the lifestyle of the Kalandhar tribe.
Interesting facts about the city
Culture:
The city is the amalgamation of Mughal, British and Rajput Culture. The rich cultural heritage of the city is the major mark of Mughal Empire. The rich history of the city makes it famous all over the world.
Markets:
Art and craft items can be bought as souvenirs. Intrinsic models, designs and handmade products are available at different local markets in the city. Some famous shopping places in Agra are Kinari Bazaar, Sadar Bazaar, TDI mall, and so on.
Food:
Agra is also one of the best destinations for the food lovers. One can indulge in some delicious food items such as petha, Mughlai cuisines and varieties of paranthas. The flavours of Mughal food is the remarkable feature of the city.
Places to visit near Agra
- Fatehpur Sikri: This is at a distance of approx 36 km from Agra which is considered as one of the World’s Heritage Sites established by the Mughal Emperor Akbar.
- Bharatpur: Located in the state of Rajasthan, Bharatpur is about 60 km away from Agra and it takes usually 1 hour 16 minutes to reach here via road.
- Vrindavan: The city of Lord Krishna is the best place to spend your weekend near Agra. It is about 75.4 km from Agra and is easily accessible via road.
- Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary: Come closer to the wildlife and their natural habitat. This sanctuary is about 249.9 km away from Agra and it hardly takes 4 hours to reach here.
- Sariska Tiger Reserve: This is popular destination in Rajasthan which is approximately 213.9 km away from Rajasthan.
Temperature
The city mainly experiences a humid subtropical climate. The summers are hot and dry, with average temperature of 32.6 degree Celsius, whereas 19.3 degree Celsius is the average temperature during the winter months. Monsoon is substantial in the city and features mainly semiarid climate.
Best time to book hotel in Agra
Months
Details
November to March
The climate during this time is very pleasant. Being the peak season, one should book hotels in advance to avoid last moment rush.
April to June
The climate at this time is really hot and the crowd is also less.
July to October
Not many tourists flock to the city during this time and also hotels are cheap.
Festivals & Events in Agra
Taj Mahotsav: It is organised in the month of February and tourists from all over the world visit the city to encourage different artists. Since 1992, Taj Mahotsav is celebrated in the city. Here you can buy art and craft works at reasonable price.
Ram Barat: Ram Barat is the part of Ramlila celebration. This is the biggest annual event in the North India where major people take part in.
Taj Literature Festival: In this festival, one can come closer to the rich artefacts of the city. It is celebrated by the people to rejuvenate the cultural spirit.
