‘Not To Miss’ 5 Tourist Spots In Agra

Whatever type of tour one may opt for, be it a tour for entertainment or pilgrimage, there is an element of education in it. Man learns a lot while traveling and it was travel that has brought the early man this far. Every place has a message and every tour has an element of entertainment, education and of course fun. However, there are certain locations that stand apart for the sheer excellence they have to offer in terms of natural beauty or man made wonders. Agra in Uttar Pradesh is one such place and if it is your choice destination for this year’s vacation, take some time to go through the places to visit in Agra that you are not supposed to miss on your tour to Agra.

1. The Inevitable Taj Mahal

taj-mahal
Photo by Simon, CC0 1.0

You cannot think of Agra without thinking of Taj Mahal. Or, you might not have thought of Agra were it not for the monument of love. Taj Mahal, the white marble beauty was constructed by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The monument stands proof for the brilliance of Mughal architecture. Named as one of the wonders of the world, Taj Mahal stands the test of time. It has been declared as World Heritage Site in the year 1983. It is a feast to your eyes and senses to watch the unmatched beauty on the night of full moon day. 

2. Agra Fort

agra-fort
Photo by sarangib, CC0 1.0

You would regret if you miss Agra Fort during your visit to Agra. The 16th century monument is yet another proof of the architectural brilliance of Mughals. This is situated near the gardens of the world famous Taj Mahal. Called the Red Fort of Agra, you will be awe inspired by the powerful fortress. The fortress comprises many palaces namely, Jahangir Palace, Khas Mahal and so on. There are audience halls and two mosques. The entire fortress is a symbol of Mughal’s grandeur. It was in Agra Fort Shah Jahan was held prisoner by Aurangazeb, his son. Shah Jahan, the emperor, spent his last days here viewing the monument of love he had built for his wife.

3. Fatehpur Sikri

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Photo by Leon Yaakov, CC BY 2.0

Built by Akbar, the Mughal emperor in 1570, the city was a tribute to Sufi Saint. Fatehpur Sikri is a perfect blend of Indian, Islamic and Persian architecture and it was built using red sandstone. For around 10 years, the city remained the capital of Mughal Empire. The city has a 6-kilometer long wall on three sides and there are towers and gates. It houses some of the city’s important buildings namely Buland Darwaza, Birbal’s House, Panch Mahal and Jama Masjid. The entire city along with all the important constructions including royal palaces, Jama Masjid and courts were declared as World Heritage Site in the year 1986.

4. Itmad-Ud-Daulah

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Photo by Christian Haugen, CC BY 2.0

India’s first tomb to be made completely out of marble, Itmad-Ud-Daulah signals the beginning of new era in Mughal architecture. Until then, it was buildings of red sandstone. It was constructed during Jahangir’s period. The 21-meter high tomb was constructed in memory of Mirza Ghiyas, who was the father-in-law of Jahangir. He was bestowed with the title Itmad-Ud-Daula, which means pillar of the state. Influenced by Islamic architectural style, the monument’s towers display Persian touch. The wall paintings inside are sheer beauty to view.

5. Wildlife SOS

Visiting Wildlife SOS could be said to be the duty of humankind to help balancing the world and make it a better place for all creatures. Wildlife SOS is a voluntary organization that works for the welfare of animals in India. The place is a revelation that lets you aware of the various projects of the organization to preserve wild life. This will definitely be an inspiring experience.

Life has a lot in store for every one. Unfortunately, the deprived are left to fend for themselves. We could plan our pleasure trips in such a way that it helps us gain knowledge on subjects we never had the time to know about and make our trips useful while elevating ourselves to a higher plane.

More Tourist Destinations In Uttar Pradesh:

About Rohit

An architect by profession, Rohit Agarwal is a curious traveller, seeking out the minutest detail about the places he travels to, and that’s what one will find in his writings. His writings have appeared in various blogs, he’s currently trying to bring forth as many different places a traveller who shares the same level of curiosity like him would like to visit through his writings.

5 thoughts on “‘Not To Miss’ 5 Tourist Spots In Agra”

  1. What are the charges for a one day Agra trip?

    Reply
  2. I love Agra, but only because of Taj Mahal. This is the great example of Mughal architecture which is renowned for the symbol of love. I have never been there, but soon I wish to visit Taj Mahal and another best tourist spots in Agra. Thank you.

    Reply
  3. How many km distance from agra town to tajmahal

    Reply
  4. Thanks for the great article! I found it very useful. I was bummed I didn’t know about wildlife SOS until after visiting India.

    Reply

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