Set along the Yamuna River, the largest tributary river of the Ganges in north India, Agra is situated in western Uttar Pradesh in the northeastern part of the country. As of June 2010, the primarily agricultural city's population was 1,686,976.
Built during the first half of the 17th century by over 20,000 workers, as ordered by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, the Taj Mahal's bulbous towers and elaborate, detailed architecture have attracted artists, poets and curious tourists for decades. Known as one of the greatest testaments to love, the Taj is a mausoleum the emperor commissioned to honor his wife, Mumtaz, after she passed away giving birth to their 14th child.
As of 2010, the Taj Mahal is open to tourists from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day except Friday, when it closes for prayer. The Taj Mahal is also open for moonlight viewing from 8.30 p.m. until 12.30 a.m., two days before and after each full moon.
Foreigners pay a Rs. 250 ($5) entry tax that goes to the Archeological Society of India and a Rs. 500 ($10) toll tax to the Agra Development Authority. Indian nationals pay just Rs. 20 (50 cents). Children younger than 15 years enter the Taj for free. To visit the Taj Mahal for a half-hour night tour costs Rs. 750 ($16) for foreigners and Rs. 500 ($10) for Indian nationals. Tourists must purchase nighttime entrance tickets 24 hours in advance from the Archaeological Survey of India office on Mall Road.
Like the Taj Mahal, the 16th-century Agra Fort--also known as Lal Qila, Fort Rouge, and the Red Fort of Agra--is a UNESCO World Heritage site. As of June 2010, tourists who visit the Fort and the Taj on the same day receive a Rs. 50 ($1) discount on ticket price.
Itimad-ud-Daulah, the tomb of Mizra Ghiyas Beg, is another of Agra's attractions. This Persian nobleman was Emperor Jehangir's wazir, or chief minister, and his resting place, built between 1622 and 1628, is known as "the Baby Taj."
Akbar's Mausoleum, a sandstone and marble giant, commemorates the ultimate Mughal emperor, Akbar the Great. Visitors enter the tomb through the giant courtyard and under an elaborate gateway. Built of red sandstone inlaid with white-marble patterns, the mausoleum has three-story minarets and tall onion-topped towers at each corner.
The ideal time to visit Agra is between November and mid-February, when the weather is cooler. March to May are the hottest months, and monsoon season arrives at the end of June, bringing respite from the heat along with hard rain and humidity.
Some of the city's biggest annual festivals include the 10-day Taj Mahotsav in February, which celebrates spring, and the Kailash fair, held in late June at the Kailash Shiva temple seven miles (12km) outside Agra.
Several companies offer same-day, round-trip packages that include Delhi-Agra-Delhi train tickets, transfers, taxis, a guide, breakfast, dinner and buffet lunch in a five-star hotel in Agra for $99 per person. You can also do the trip by car for around $130 per person. These prices do not include the entrance fees to attractions, which generally starts at $10.
Buses run hourly from Delhi to Agra, and tourists can trains to Agra's main railway station, Agra Cantt. Alternatively, you can fly into Agra Airport from major Indian cities.
Hotels in Agra range from luxurious ($565 or Rs. 26,000 per night) to standard ($77 or Rs. 3,500 per night).
The U.S. Department of State website warns that travelers should be aware of scams against foreign travelers in Agra. The scams generally target younger travelers and involve suggestions that money can be made by privately transporting gems or gold or by delivering expensive carpets, supposedly while avoiding customs duties.
