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The Taj Mahal

Agra [1] is a city in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, some 201 km from the Indian capital city of New Delhi.

Agra has the Taj Mahal[2], one of the most famous buildings and tourist destinations in the world, and two other UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Agra Fort in the city and Fatehpur Sikri nearby.

The city has little else to recommend it. Pollution, especially smog and litter, is rampant and travellers are pestered by swarms of touts and hawkers at every monument, mosque, temple or palace. That said, the sites are some of the wonders of the world and no trip to India is complete without at least one visit to the Taj.

[edit] Understand

[edit] History

The earliest reference to Agra is in the ancient epic, the Mahabharata. The first person to refer to Agra by its modern name was Ptolemy. Modern Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodhi of the Lodhi dynasty, Delhi Sultanate, in the 16th century.

Agra reached its peak when it served as the capital of the the Mughal rulers of India at the peak of their empire, from 1526 to 1658. They built many monumental buildings in the Mughal architectural style, a distinctive mix of Indian and Islamic styles, and Agra has some of the finest examples. The Agra Fort, originally built by Rajput rulers of Agra, was rebuilt by the emperors Akbar and Shah Jahan, and it served as a model for the Red Fort in Delhi. The lovely tomb, Itmad-ud-Daulah (1628), built by empress Noor Jahan, is a wonderful mix of Persian and Indian architecture and ornamentation. Mughal architecture's crowning achievement, the Taj Mahal (1648) is the centerpiece of any visit to Agra.

Ironically, Agra's greatest builder, the Emperor Shah Jahan, was also responsible for the subsequent decline of the city. His decision to move the capital to the new city of Shahjahanabad in Delhi marked the beginning of the eclipse of Agra as well as the Mughal Empire. Despite its importance as a military town during the days of the British Empire as well as in independent India, Agra lapsed into a second tier town on the banks of the Jamuna, and that's what it remains to this day.

[edit] Get in

Agra is 200 km southeast from New Delhi and is one of the points of the tourist's Golden Triangle of Agra-Delhi-Jaipur. Agra is also very well connected via rail and road with other nearby cities and tourist destinations.

[edit] By plane

Kingfisher Airlines have started a flight which connects Agra to Delhi, Jaipur and Jodhpur.

[edit] By train

Agra is on the main train line between Delhi (Station Code : NDLS) and Mumbai (Station Code : CSTM) and between Delhi and Chennai (Station Code : MAS) and many trains connect Agra with these cities every day. Some east-bound trains from Delhi also travel via Agra, so direct connections to points in Eastern India (including Kolkata) are also available. There are close to 20 trains to Delhi every day, and at least three or four to both Mumbai and Chennai. There are three stations in Agra:

• Agra Cantt (Station Code : AGC) is the main railway station and lies southwest of the Taj and Agra Fort, both of which are a short ride from the station by car, auto-rickshaw, or cycle rickshaw. There's a prepaid taxi stand right outside that charges a flat Rs.120 to any hotel in the city.The station has a pretty good Comesum food court that also sells cheap, hygienic takeaway snacks (sandwiches, samosas, etc).

• Agra Fort station (Station Code : AF) near Agra Fort, is infrequently serviced by the interstate express trains. The station serves trains to the east (Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Kolkata) some of these trains also stop at Agra Cantt.

• Raja Ki Mandi (Station Code : RKM) is a small station. Some of the train which stop at Agra Cantt also stop here. Its a very laid back station and springs into life at the arrival of Intercity exp and Taj express.

• Agra City is in the heart of Agra. A relic of the meter gauge era, this station is not particularly useful.

Delhi to Agra Close to 20 trains connect Delhi and Agra each day with journey times varying from 2 hours to 5 hours. The best options are the Bhopal Shatabdi Express (departs New Delhi at 0615 arriving Agra Cantt at 0812; departs Agra Cantt at 2030 arriving New Delhi at 2230, daily except Friday) and the Taj Express (departs Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin at 0715 arriving Agra Cantt at 1007; departs Agra cantt at 1855 arriving Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin at 2200, daily).

Agra/Jaipur The journey to Jaipur (Station Code : JP) takes around 4 hour by train no. 2988 which leaves Agra Fort Railway Station at 6:25 PM and reaches Jaipur at around 10:20PM.

The luxury train - 'Palace on Wheels' stops at Agra on its eight day round trip of tourist destinations in Rajasthan and Agra.

[edit] Day-tripping to Agra by rail

It is easy to visit Agra as a comfortable day trip by train from Delhi. Rise early in the morning and hop on to an AC chair car seat on the Bhopal Shatabdi (6:15am) at New Delhi Railway Station (conveniently close to the backpacker hangout of Paharganj). Breakfast is served on the train (included in the fare), usually an omelet with a couple of slices of bread and coffee or tea. Arrive refreshed in Agra and, depending on your budget, either rent a car for the day or use rickshaws to get around. A visit to the Taj, followed by Agra Fort doesn't take a great deal of time. Add a visit to Akbar's tomb and/or itmad-ud-daulah (auto-rickshaw or taxi required), and you'll still have time for a comfortable lunch and some r&r before catching the return train at 8:30 pm where you can dine in the comfort of your seat (dinner is included in the fare). With a hired car, it is even possible for the hardy soul to swing by for a visit to Fatehpur Sikri for the complete Agra visit!

[edit] The fog mess

Agra and Delhi are notorious for their thick winter fog which reduces visibility to almost zero. If traveling in late December or early January (the fog season), travelers should be aware that, because of the reduced visibility, all trains slow down and travel time goes up. The Bhopal Shatabdi, for example, may arrive in Agra well after 10am, and might return to Delhi well after midnight.

[edit] By bus

A number of buses connect Agra with New Delhi. It takes around 4-5 hours to reach Agra by bus. There are basically three interstate bus stands:

• Idgah Bus Stand is the primary bus stand for intercity travel, in the heart of the city, 8 km from the Taj.
• Bijlighar Bus Stand (also called Powerhouse Bus Stand) located near the Red Fort, 6 km from the Taj.
• New Bus Stand at transport nagar, 12 km from the Taj, is only for other state's bus services (i.e. all except U.P. Roadways).

[edit] By Road

• From Delhi: NH2, a modern divided highway, connects the 200km distance from Delhi to Agra. The drive is about 4 hours, a large chunk of which includes navigating the clogged roads around Delhi to get to the highway. The primary access to the highway is along Mathura Road in Delhi but, if coming from South Delhi or Delhi Airport, it is easier to take Aurobindo Marg (Mehrauli Road) and then work up to NH2 via Tughlakabad. While the highway is divided, it is worthwhile keeping an eye out for trucks, cars, and bullock carts heading the wrong way!

It is also possible to hire a car with a driver (a big car for five persons from/to the Delhi airport costs 3500 INR). But beware! If you need to get from Agra to the airport in order to catch the plane you need to be sure of your driver (there are situations when the driver covers the distnce of 200 km within 5.5 hours and you can not encourage him to drive a bit faster than an autorickshaw).

• From Jaipur: National Highway 11, a two lane undivided highway, connects Agra with Jaipur via the bird sanctuary town of Bharatpur. The distance of around 255 Km can be covered in around 4 hours.

• From Gwalior A distance of around 120 KM, takes around 1.5 hours on the National highway 3 (Agra- Mumbai Highway)

• From Lucknow / Kanpur NH2, the divided modern highway, continues on to Kanpur (285km, 5 hours) and from there to points East ending in Kolkata. From Kanpur, NH25 heads for the city of Lucknow (90km, 2 hours).

[edit] Get around

Auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws are available every where. Agree fares clearly in advance.

Automobiles are not allowed near the Taj Complex, so one has to use Tongas, electric buses and electric tempos to get to the Taj.

The best way to experince the city is to take a walk on the Mall Road (Sadar). The street is full of handicraft and leather goods shops. You will also find plenty of food items quite unique to the city.

[edit] See

Agra's top two sights by far are the incomparable Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.

When planning your sightseeing, take heed of the convoluted entry fee system: for Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Itmud-ad-Daulah, Sikandra and Fatehpur Sikri, you must pay a Rs. 500 levy to the Agra Development Authority in addition to the prices mentioned below. Once paid, the levy is valid for all sights, but only for one day.

[edit] Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is an immense mausoleum of white marble, built between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife. Taj Mahal means "Crown Palace"; one of the wife's names was Mumtaz Mahal, "Ornament of the Palace". The Taj is one of the most well preserved and architecturally beautiful tombs in the world, one of the masterpieces of Indian Muslim architecture, and one of the great sites of the world's heritage.

The Taj Mahal has a life of its own that leaps out of marble, provided you understand that it is a monument of love. The Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore called it "a teardrop on the cheek of eternity", while the English poet, Sir Edwin Arnold, said it was "Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones." It is a celebration of woman built in marble and that’s the way to appreciate it.

Altough it is one of the most photographed edifices in the world and instantly recognisable, actully seeing it is awe-inspiring. Not everything is in the photos. The grounds of the complex include several other beautiful buildings, reflecting pools, and extensive ornamental gardens with flowering trees and bushes, and a small gift shop. The Taj framed by trees and reflected in a pool is amazing. Close up, large parts of the building are covered with inlaid stonework.

There is an apocryphal tale that Shah Jahan planned to build an exact copy out of black marble on the opposite side of the river. His plans were foiled by his son, who murdered three elder brothers and overthrew his father to acquire the throne. Shah Jahan is now buried alongside his wife in the Taj Mahal.

If you're taking a camera, beware that because the Taj is white your camera may underexpose your photos. If it's a film camera you won't find out until it's too late. Overexposure by 1 or 2 stops is recommended.

The Taj is open from 6 AM to 7:30 PM every day except Friday. Entry costs Rs. 250 (plus levy of Rs. 500) for foreigners and Rs. 20 for Indians. Get there as early as possible to beat the crowds, and plan to visit the Taj at least two different times during the day (dusk and dawn are best) in order to experience the full effect of changing sunlight on the amazing building. It is also utterly stunning under a full moon.

The Taj is located pretty much in the middle of town. Expect a line to get into the grounds. There are three gates. The western gate is the main gate where most tourists enter. A large number of people turn up on weekends and public holidays and entry through the western gate may take hours. The southern and eastern gates are much less busy and should be tried on such days.

Security is tight, so leave behind any pocketknives, as well as chewing gum, cigarettes, or anything that could mark the building. Tripods are also not allowed. Strangely, even iPods and similar MP3 and music players are also not allowed. But you can leave them at a locker service available for tourists (of course, at your own risk). Cell phones are allowed inside the complex, providing they are on silent. Guidebooks are to be left at the booths on either side of the entrances. Do this before you get into the line to get in.

There are night viewing sessions on the nights of a full moon and the two days before and after (so five days in total). Exceptions are Fridays (the Muslim sabbath) and the month of Ramadan.

[edit] Agra Fort

Entering the palace within Agra Fort

The Taj and the Yamuna River from the ramparts of Agra Fort

The fort is similar in layout to the Red Fort in Delhi, but considerably better preserved, as much of Delhi Fort was razed by the British after the Mutiny. As much as palace as a defensive structure, it is also constructed mainly from red sandstone.

Emperor Akbar, king at 14, began consolidating his empire and, as an assertion of his power built the fort in Agra between 1565 and 1571, at the same time as Humayun's Tomb in Delhi. Emperor Shah Jahan added to the fort and ended up a prisoner in it. The fort has a beautiful view of his masterpiece, the Taj Mahal, on a clear day.

You can get to the fort by a cheap city shuttle bus from the north gate of the Taj. You can recognize the right bus among the many private ones by asking bystanders which one it is, and avoiding the ones they direct you to. Entry to the fort is Rs.250 (plus levy).

There are left luggage services at Agra Fort where you can stow your bags at no cost. A fine of Rs. 5000 applies if you lose your luggage ticket.

[edit] Other sights

• Sikandra, Akbar's Tomb (10 km north of Agra on the Agra Delhi highway). The tomb of Akbar lies here in the centre of the large garden. Akbar started its construction himself but it was completed by his son, Jehangir who significantly modified the original plans which accounts for the somewhat cluttered architectural lines of the tomb. Four red sandstone's gates lead to the tomb complex: one is Muslim, one Hindu, one christian and one is Akbar's patent mixture. Akbar's mausoleum is open from sunrise to sunset.

• Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb. Empress Nur Jehan built Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, sometimes called the Baby Taj, for her father, Ghias-ud-Din Beg, the Chief Minister of Emperor Jahangir. Small in comparison to many other Mughal-era tombs, it is sometimes described as a jewel box. Its garden layout and use of white marble, pietra dura, inlay designs and latticework presage many elements of the Taj Mahal.

• Mariam's Tomb, west from Akbar's Tomb on Agra-Delhi highway. Constructed by Jahangir in the memory of his mother Mariam Zammani a title bestowed upon her,. The grave is made of white marble. Though this building is in a ruined condition, yet it has in its vicinity, a Christian Mission School and a church. It is also said; Akbar himself made that it in the memory of his Christian wife.

• Jama Masjid. A large mosque attributed to Princess Jahanara Begum, built in 1648 during the reign of the father Shah Jahan. Notable for its unusual dome and absence of minarets.

• Chini Ka Roza. A memorial dedicated to the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan, Allama Afzel Khal Mullah Shukrullah of Shiraz, notable for its dome of blue glazed tiles.

[edit] Gardens

• Swami Bagh, 10 km north of Agra. The white marble samadhi of the Radah Soami religion is currently under construction. It was started in 1904 and is nor expected to be completed until sometime next century. You can see pietra dura inlaid marblework actulally being worked on. Soami Bagh is 2km north of Agra and can be reached by bus or cycle.

• Ram Bagh. The first Mughal gardens, built by the first Mughal Emperor Babar, 500 m North of the Chini Ka Rauza. Ram Bagh Crossing.

• Mehtab Bagh, directly across the Yamuna River from the Taj Mahal. These botanical gardens give you an opportunity to view the Taj at a remove from the crowds of tourists. The trip takes about 30 minutes from the center of town by autorickshaw and will cost about Rs 200. Entrance to the park is Rs 100 for foreigners. Alternatively, walk past the entrance and straight to the sandy banks of the river: the view of the Taj is every bit as lovely (perhaps more so, since the barbed wire fence surrounding the gardens will be behind you), although you may have to deal with aggressive touts.

[edit] Temples

• Balkeshwar Temple - at Balkeshwar, at river side of Yamuna, it is a temple of Lord Shiva.

• Kailash Temple- at Sikandra, at the river Yamuna.It is Lord Shiva Temple.

• Mankameshwar Temple - at Rawatpara, near Agra Fort railway station.

• Prithvinath Temple - At Rajpur Chungi. On road to Shamsabad.

• Shyam Ji Maharaj Temple - At Bijlighar.

• Mahakal And Mahakali Temple - At Sikandra railway crossing on Sikandra Bodla road.

• Rawli Maharaj Temple - Very Old temple at Collectrate crossing, beside the railway track.

[edit] Taj Mahotsav

The Taj Mahotsav [3] is a 10 day festival held in February every year at Shilpgram, near the Taj Mahal). It start from 18th of every February and continues till 27th of February. It is a festival of art, craft, culture, etc.

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[edit] Do

Adlabs multiplex, has a Interactive Theatre, which is the first ever interactive cinema theatre in the world, each viewer holds a wireless remote unit with push buttons and a small LCD screen, enabling them to participate in a trivia game about the theme of the film.

The show is called 'India in Motion', a 25 minute show where the audience will pass through today's India in - or on - a variety of typical vehicles and see the historical events at sites like Mohenjo Daro, Indraprastha and the Taj Mahal, experiencing the bumpy elephant rides with the wind blowing through their hair, or the swaying boat with salty spray on their faces.

It cost Rs. 150/- for a Hindi Show & Rs. 450/- for a show in english. Before the actual show there is a interactive quiz on various topic relarting to India.

[edit] Buy

Agra has many shops selling various stone products, from jewellery to small boxes and plaques with inlay work resembling that on the Taj. The best of these are wonderful, and even the run-of-the-mill ones are rather pretty.

Agra is also famous for its leather goods.

Beware of being overcharged. Do not let anyone lead you to a shop, lest the price go up to cover their commission, typically 50%. Be very wary of the promises these people make. Bargain hard. Be prepared to walk away - you can nearly always get the same items in another shop. Also remember that in these globalized times, you can always order stuff you liked in your visit over the internet after you return.

Consider spending time in Sadar Bazaar for some shopping and enjoying chaat food. For international brands, visit the malls - Paci

[edit] Eat

Agra specialities are petha, a type of very sweet candy, and Dal Moth, a spicy lentil mix. Both are also popular souvenirs.

[edit] Multi Cuisine

• Food Court, Pacific Mall
• Bikanervala, Bye Pass
• Prem Food Court, Bye Pass
• Bagh-e-Bahar (Mughal Sheraton)
• Ajanta ,Kamla nagar
• The Silk Route (TSR)(Opposite Howard Park Plaza Hotel) Fatehabad Road- opened Jan 2008,5 star level restaurant with see through glass kitchen, black marble tables,4 separate toilets for women and 4 for men, with the best price,average of 300-400 INRs,all halal meat. Tel: +91-562-4002786

There are several restaurants in the Taj Ganj area, catering for the many tourists staying in hotels [4] around the Taj Mahal.

[edit] Buffet

• The Grand Buffet (Jaypee Palace)
• Taj Bano (Mughal Sheraton)
• The Silk Route (TSR)Fatehabad Road (Opposite Howard Park Plaza Hotel)

Opened in 2008, you can enjoy a great meal from Indian and Continental buffet in this 5 star level centerally air-conditioned ,white marble interior and black hand carved tables restaurant, with entertainment including Puppet Show, Palmist, Potter, Gypsy. Phone : + 91-562-4002786

[edit] Mughalai

• Peshawri (Mughal Sheraton)
• Mughal Room (Clarke's Shiraz)
• Indiana Restaurant (Behind Ratandeep Hotel)
• Moti Mahal Delux (Upcoming), TDI Mall
• The Spice Pavilion (Jaypee Palace)
• Revolving Restaurant (Deedar-e-Taj)
• Capri, Hari Parvat
• Achaman, Bhagwan Talkies
• Solitair, Hari Parvat
• Kwality, Surya Nagar
• A Pinch of Spice, Sanjay Place

[edit] South Indian

• Dasaprakash, Mehar Cinema Complex,Baluganj
• Deccan Pavilion (Hotel Jaypee Palace)
• Laxmi Vilas, Sadar
• Udipi, Tourist Complex
• Dosa Plaza, Pacific Mall

[edit] Chinese

• Mandarin (Hotel Yamuna View),
• Mahjong Room (Mughal Sheraton)
• Lee and Chan (Pacific Mall)
• Jhankar (Taj View Hotel)
• The Silk Route (TSR) Fatehabad Road (Opposite Howard Park Plaza Hotel), opened in 2008

You can enjoy great Chinese food in a 5 star level restaurant with all Indian arts , black marble tables and hand carved chairs. tel : +91-562-4002786

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[edit] Cafes & Bakeries

• My Kind of Place (MKOP), Sanjay Place & Pratapura
• Dreams, Hari Parvat
• Cafe Coffee Day, Sanjay Place & Sadar
• Pavilion Cafe (Jaypee Palace)
• Bansuri (Clarks Shiraz)
• Cakes and Bakes (Clarks Shiraz)
• Ashiana (Taj View Hotel)

[edit] Western Food

• Pizza Hut, Fatehabad Road
• Pizza Corner, Sadar Bazaar
• Dominos, Sanjay Place & sadar bazaar
• McDonald's, Sadar Bazaar & TDI Mall

[edit] Typical Agra Food

• Ram Babu Parantha, Sikandra & Belanganj
• Chimanlal Puri, Johri Bazar
• Bhagat Fast Food, MG Road
• Ajanta Fast Food Restaurant, Kamla Nagar
• Deviram, Belanganj & Deewani
• Bhagat Halwai Fast Food, Nehru Nagar

[edit] Bar

• Maikhana (Mughal Sheraton)
• On The Rocks (Jaypee Palace)
• Mughal Bar (Clarks Shiraz)
• Khayyam Bar (Clarks Shiraz)
• Saqui (Taj View Hotel)

[edit] Chaat

Agra is a heaven for any Chaat lover. Chaat can be of various types but there is one thing common among them all is that they are spicy and you will find crowd outside virtually every chaat stall

Some typical chaat items are Bhalla (made by roasting mess made out of boiled potatoes), paneer tikka (cubes of cottage cheese baked in a tandoor with spices), pani puri or golguppa (small round hollow shells filled with a potato-based filling and a spicy sweet blend of sauces), mangores, Samosaes, Chachori etc.

You will find chaat almost everywhere in Agra but some of the must visit places are Double Phatak (near Sikandra) for Mangores, you will find quality Bhallas and panipuri at sadar and belangunj. Samosa and Kachori are found at every sweet shop that flood the city

If you want to savour the typical Agra Breakfast do remember to have a bite of one of those spicy Berahi and round it off with sweet Jalebies

[edit] Sweets

There are quite a few good sweets shops all round the city. The best stores for buying the famous petha of Agra are at Hari Parwat, a short ride from Agra Fort. Amongst the well-known stores are Panchi's , Bhimsain BaidyaNath and The Pracheen Petha store. There are many types of petha available but, for the authentic experience, try either the plain one (ivory white) or Angoori Flavored (rectangular and yellow pieces soaked in sugar syrup). Other stores in Agra include: Bikanervala, Deviram, Munnalal Petha, Gopaldas, and Ajanta Sweets, Kamla Nagar

Do remember to round off your meal with a Joda(Pair) of Pan unique to the city.

[edit] Drink

Most hotel staff will be happy to find you a warm bottle of Indian beer for around 70-100 rs.

There is virtually no nightlife in Agra outside of cultural shows at some of the larger hotels and restaurants. After getting off the streets of Agra and into your hotel, you won't want to go back anyway.

[edit] Sleep

[edit] Budget

The main number of the budget hotels is situated around Taj-Mahal. From one point of view it is very convenient, but at the same time it is the most dirty district of the city (with monkeys on the roofs, rats inside the buildings and waiters who can not read and write). While choosing where to live, be very careful! In the most places there is no hot water (you will get it only by ordering beforehand). It is necessary to check everything, including the presence of bed-linen.

• Hotel Taj View Lodge Tajganj Agra, Tel:0562-2230811

• Kim, Fatehabad Road, Tel : (0562)2369412

• Badshah, Fatehahad Road, Tel : (0562)2269738

• Basera, Ajmer Road, Tel : (0562)2363641

• Safare, Shamshabad Road, Tel : (0562)2360013

• Rose, 21 Old Idgah Colony, Tel : (0562)2369786

• Sunrise, Shamshabad Road, Tel : (0562)2360315

• Imperial, M.G. Road, Tel : (0562)2361500

• Sapna, M.G. Road, Tel : (0562)2151520

• Amar Palace, Rajpur Chungi, Tel : (0562)2267705

• President Hotel, M.G. Road, Tel : (0562)2364266

• Shilaza Hotel, Delhi Gate, Tel : (0562)2360070

• Amba Inn, Delhi Gate, Tel: (0562)2152940 / (0562)2520779

• Swami Sofitel, Delhi Gate, Tel : (0562)2351444

• Sheetal Tourist Home, Idgah, Tel : (0562)2369420

• Panch Ratan, Sanjay Place, Tel : (0562)2350442

• Anjuman, by Pass Road, Tel : (0562)2381233

• Park View, Fatehabad Road, Tel : (0562)2360079

• Vaishali, by Pass Road, Tel : (0562)2351490

• J.K. Hotel, by Pass Road, Tel : (0562)2352379

• Tourist Rest House, BaluGanj, Tel : (0562)23514903, 2363961

Recommended by Lonely Planet but will disappoint many travelers. Does not have hot water or AC vents, TVs do not work and staff can be surly. Be prepared to bargain hard for rooms.

• Hotel Dharmalok, Raja ki Mandi, Tel : (0562)2261377

• Hotel Sahil, Baluganj, Tel : (0562)2261794

• Hotel Diamond, Sarai Khoja

• Hotel Akbar, 196, Field Marshal Cariappa Road, Tel : (0562)2363312.

• Hotel Taj Heritage, Fatehabad Road Agra. Tel : +9412256452

[edit] Mid-range

• Hotel Pushp Villa[5], Fatehabad Road, Tel : (0562) 2334301-2, 2230 681-83 , 3090 267, 3090 268, Fax : (+91) - (0562) 2334 303, Email : info@hotelpushpvilla.com

• Hotel Man Singh Palace[6], fatehabad Road Tel: (+91)-(0562)-2331 771-5, Email : sales.agra@mansinghhotels.com

• Hotel Amar[7], Fatehabad Road, Tel : (+91)-(0562)-2331 885-39

• Hotel Atithi[8], Fatehabad Road, Tel: (+91)-(0562)2330 879, 223 0040

• Grand Hotel, 137, Station Road, Agra Cantt. Tel : (+91)-(0562)-2364 014, 2364 320

• Park Plaza [9] Tel: (+91)-(0562) 233 1870 Email: hpp@sarovarhotels.com

• Mumtaz, 181/2, Fatehabad Road, Tel : (0562)2361771-75

• Novotel, Fatehabad Road, Tel : (0562)2368282

• Agra Deluxe, Fatehabad Road, Tel : (0562)2360110.

• UPSTDC Tourist Bungalow, Station Road, Raja-ki-Mandi, Tel : (0562)2150120, 2151720

• Taj Khema, Eastern Gate Taj Mahal, Tel : (0562)2230001

• UPSTDC Gulistan Tourist Bungalow, Fatehpur Sikri, Tel : 05613-282490

• Hotel Kant, Fatehabad Road, Tel: (0562)2331332

• Hotel Sunrise, Sector -1 , Vibhavnagar, Agra 282 001, India Tel: +(91) (562) 2330602/03/04 Fax: +(91) (562) 2330605.

[edit] Splurge

Thanks to heavy competition, Agra's five-star hotels are pretty good value compared to most other cities in India.

• Agra Ashok, 6-B, Mall Road, tel. +91-562-2361223, [10].

• Clark's Shiraz , 54 Taj Road, tel. +91-562-2226121, [11].

• Holiday Inn (+91)-(0124) 455 1260, (+91)-(0562)-2523 460 [12]

• Howard Park Plaza Fatehabad Road Ph : (+91)-(0562)- 2331 870, (+91)-(0562)- 2331 878, Email : hpp@sarovarhotels.com [13]

• Jaypee Palace, Fathebad Road, Tel : +91-562-2330800, [14].

• Oberoi Amarvilas, Taj East Gate Road, +91-562-2231515, [15]. The best (and most expensive) hotel in Agra. Its is consistently rated among the top 10 hotels in the world

• Sheraton Mughal, Fathebad Road, tel. +91-562-2331701, [16]. One of Agra's top hotels, with views of the Taj from the roof viewing pavilion. Large pool. The hotel's age is starting to show, but the rooms are in fine shape. Popular with tour groups. Rooms from US$160.

• Taj View, Fathebad Road, +91-562-2232400, [[17].

• Trident Hilton, Fathebad Road, tel. +91-562-2331818, [18]. Solid Hilton quality, but poor location. Outdoor pool, gym. Rooms from US$89.

[edit] Contact

Agra comes under Uttar Pradesh (west) circle as per TRAI.

[edit] Landlines

BSNL [19],Airtel [20] are the two main providers of terrestrial telephone lines in Agra.

[edit] Mobile Phones

Cell phone rates are one of the cheapest in the world.
There are four GSM service providers:

• BSNL [21] GSM Triband
• AirTel [22] GSM Triband
• Vodafone [23] GSM Triband
• Idea [24]GSM Triband

CDMA service providers are

• Reliance Communications[25]
• Tata Indicom[26]

[edit] Internet

There are several internet cafes / Cyber Cafes from where you can access the internet for sending email or uploading your digital photos.

• Reliance world[27] offers you broadband connectivity at many location across the city.
• Sify iway[28] also offers broadband connectivity at different locations spread all over the city.

[edit] Media

[edit] News Paper

Among the Hindi New Paper which are published in Agra, the prominent are

• Amar Ujala [29]
• Dainik Jagran [30]
• Aaj
  

Agra has not got a English daily of its own, but all the English daily which are published from Delhi are readily available in the city.

[edit] FM Channels

There are at present 2 FM channel in Agra

• Big FM (92.7 FM) [31] - Owned by the Reliance ADAG Group
• Radio Mantra (91.9 FM) - Owned by the Shri Puran Multimedia

[edit] Get out

• Fatehpur Sikri is a UNESCO world heritage site. Built in the the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for about 10 years. Then it was abandonded for reasons that are still something of a mystery. It includes one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid. In order to get a full idea of this site it is better to take a guide (300 INR for 2 hours for its chargeless entrance part) or have a good printed guide, otherwise it is not very interesting to see it. The entrance to the site (even to the yard) is only without shoes.

• Mathura is the birth place of Lord Krishna. There are many beautiful temples in Mathura, including the one build at Shri Krishna's birth place.

• Vrindavan is also a religious place around 50 KM from Agra, and quite close to Mathura, there are many temples here devoted to lord Krishna, few of the more famous temples are Bakke Bihari & the Escon Temple (also known as 'Angrejo ka Mandir')

• Nandgaon was the home of Shri Krishna`s foster father, Nand. On the top of the hill is the spacious temple of Nand Rai, built by the Hat ruler Roop Singh. The other temples here are dedicated to Narsingha, Gopinath, Nritya Gopal, Girdhari, Nand Nandan, and Yasodha Nandan, which is located half way up the hill. Nandgaon springs into action every year around March for the festival of Holi, when many a tourist flock the city for the famous "lath mar holi".

• Bharatpur is about 56 KM from Agra and houses the Famous bird sanctuary in which you can see thousands of rare birds including the Sibarian Crane. There is the Lohagarh Fort, which remained invincible despite several attacks by the British. Just 32 kms from Bharatpur, is the Deeg Palace. This strong and massive fort was the summer resort of the rulers of Bharatpur and has many palaces and gardens.

• National Chambal Sanctuary, (70 kms away) is a natural sanctuary and the home of the endangered Indian gharial (a relative of the crocodile) and of the Ganges River Dolphin (also endangered). The Chambal Safari Lodge (Tel.: +91-94126 51921, Mobile: +91-9837415512, Email : rpsjarar@chambalsafari.com; Agra office: Jarar House, Mathura Road, Agra 282 002, Tel.: +91-562-5534205) is the only place to stay and they can arrange your visit to the sanctuary. Take a cruise on the river, ride a jeep in the ravines, go for a camel ride along the sandy beaches, walk through sunlit fields or just laze around under the sun. End the day looking up a starlit sky basking in the warmth of old-world hospitality.