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| EXPLORE INDIA DESTINATIONS |
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| Agra City Tour Guide - Uttar Pradesh |
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Agra Facts:
• Area 120.57 sq km
• Altitude 169 m above sea level
• Population(1991) 891,790
• Languages Hindi and Urdu
• Best time to visit Winters
• STD Code 0562 |
Think Taj Mahal! Think Agra! The monument of ever lasting love. The Taj Mahal undeniably takes center stage but there is a lot more to Agra. It is about the grandeur, the splendour and the legendary people who crafted Agra as it stands today. The relics of the bygone era, when the Moghuls ruled over this city. Come join us as we take you on a date with the past. With luxury hotels, shopping malls and plazas, wide avenues and a superb choice of venues for recreation, business, sports, pleasure, education and the arts, the city aptly emanates shades of modernity along with historicity. In short, it is an architect's and historian's delight.
History
Agra has a rich historical background, which is amply evident from the numerous historical monuments in and around the city. Though the heritage of Agra city is linked with the Mughal dynasty, numerous other rulers also contributed to the rich past of this city. Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodhi (Lodhi dynasty; Delhi Sultanate) in the 16th century. Babur (founder of the Mughal dynasty) also stayed for sometime in Agra and introduced the concept of square Persian-styled gardens here. Emperor Akbar built the Agra fort; Jahangir beautified it with palaces and gardens. Shahjahan marked the zenith of Mughal architecture, when he built the Taj Mahal. The post-Mughal era of Agra saw the rule of the Jats, Marathas and finally the British taking over the city.
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How to get there
Air
Agra airport is 7 km from the city center and 3 km from Idgah bus stand. Indian airlines operates daily tourist shuttle flights to Agra, Khajuraho, Varanasi and back. It only takes 40 minutes from Delhi to Agra.
Rail
Agra is well connected by railroad. The main railway station is the Agra Cantonment station. Agra is well connected by rail to Delhi, Varanasi and cities of Rajasthan.
Road
Agra is 203 Km from Delhi Its 03 Hrs Drive away from Delhi.
Best time to visit
Agra can be visited throughout the year, but one must avoid the extreme hot summers (April-June) and rainy season (July-Sept). The most suitable time to visit Agra is From Nov till March.
Dining Out
 Agra is also famous for its Mughlai cuisine, a sweet called petha and a snack called dalmoth. The myriad of restaurants in the city are known to maintain high quality standards of the food, service and general hygiene. The streets of the market are filled with the aromatic spices, the clatter of pots and pans on the smaller roadside diners and the countless vaddai and thosai vendors riding on make-shift carts. You can enjoy trying the culinary delights of Agra, while shopping. Some popular eating joints include:
Dasaprakash: Meher Cinema Complex, No. 1, Gwalior Road, Agra Cantonment. It is known to serve traditional North and South Indian cuisine as well as Continental delicacies
Olive Garden: 16/2/8, Sanjay Place, M G Road. It is a paradise for food freaks who believe in savouring variant cuisine .
Capri Restaurant: Hari Parbat. This place is known to serve mouth-watering North Indian and Mughlai dishes
Pizza Hut: 8, Hawdi Craft Nagar, Fatehbad . Petals Restaurant: serving tantalizing Chinese, Indian and Continental food is located at Taj Road.
Gallops Fast Food: serving tasty western food is at Sanjay Palace.
Shivakash Restaurant: on Fatehabad road serves delicious Mughlai, Continental and Chinese dishes.
Only: 45, Taj Road. Garden restaurant serving Indian, Mughlai, Continental and Chinese food.
New Riao: 44, Taj Road. Multi cuisine restaurant open from 7 am to 10.30 pm. Specialises in Mughlai and kebabs. Has puppet show, magic show and Rajasthan music performances in the evenings.
Mughal Room: Hotel Clarks Shiraz, 54 Taj Road. Multi cuisine
Nauratna: Welcomgroup Mughal Sheraton, Fathebad Road, Tajganj. Multi cuisine
Nightlife
Esphahan
Amar Vilas, Taj East Gate, Indian specialty restaurant with a light atmosphere and bright colours. Live Indian classical music is played at two sittings of dinner at 7.30 and 9.30.
Curry Centre Just Indian
Holiday Inn, Sanjay Place, M.G. Road, Serves good Indian food in cozy atmosphere and live entertainment.
SheeshMahal
Hotel Mansingh Palace, Fatehabad Road - Multicuisine restaurant specializing in Mughlai and Avadhi food.
Sonam Restaurant and Bar
51-Taj Road,
President Hotel & Bar
M.G. Road
Shopping
Agra is not only a famous tourist destination but is a shopper’s paradise too. There are plenty of shopping areas and shopping malls where one can buy the specialities including handicrafts and fine arts traditions. You can shop to your hearts content in the markets of the city and you will never get bored. The old part of the city that includes the main marketplace (Kinari Bazar) is northwest to the Agra fort. It has several distinct areas whose names are attached with the Mughal period, although they don't always bear relation to what is being sold here today. Like the Loha Mandi (Iron Market) and Sabzi Mandi (Vegetable Market) are still operational, however the Nai ki Mandi (Barber's Market) has attained the new role of a market famous for textiles.
The city is famous for its marble work. Hereditary craftsmen who are descendants of the marble carvers, who worked on the 'Wonder in Marble' the Taj Mahal, offer their wares in the crafts emporia and marble showrooms. A miniature marble replica of the Taj Mahal, is a very popular souvenir, besides vases, ornamental boxes, tabletops, decorative objects, utility items such as ashtrays and table lamps. However, be cautious about the quality of stone. From shoes, slippers, sandals, purses, wallets, bags, belts, clothing, lampshades, furniture, beanbags, you name a craft in leather and the city has it for you. A leading center of the footwear industry, you can find leather gloves, coats, jackets and dresses, tanned in various colors and fashions to suit designer tastes. When it comes to leather items , the city never fails to surprise the buyers with its variety and quality. The rugs and carpets, woven by master craftsmen who retain the secrets of carpet weaving taught generations ago by Persian rug makers. The main markets for shopping for rugs and carpets are near the Taj Mahal complex. These areas include Sadar Bazaar, Kinari Bazaar and Munro Road. Brassware is another specialty of the city . It includes artifacts such as hookah bases, for those who wish to acquire an oriental souvenir.
For quality buys visit: The U.P State Emporium called Gangotri at the Taj Mahal Complex, offers a range of marble handicrafts.
The Shilpagram crafts village is another venue where marble items are on sale, directly by the artisans themselves.
Tourist Offices
There are two tourist offices, one of UP tourism near Clarks Shiraz Hotel (64 Taj Road, Ph: (0562) 360517) and the other of the Government of India (191 The Mall, Ph: (0562) 363377). The government of India office has more information on other destinations as well. There is also a tourist information counter at the Agra Cantonment station.
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