Getaways from Agra

Fatepur Sikri
37 Kms from Agra
Fatehpur Sikri was the imperial city of the Mughal dynasty in the 14th century. The deserted city has magnificent edifices and architectural grandeur. The buildings within Fatehpur Sikri are a unique blend of different architectural traditions reflecting the period of prosperity and social tolerance during Emperor Akbar's administration.

There are a number of buildings within the Fatehpur Sikri complex. Each of the small palaces in Fatehpur Sikri has a specific purpose and generally faces a courtyard. The most intriguing building in Fatehpur Sikri is the Panch Mahal (five-tiered palace), which is a five-storied pavilion of winds. The Turkish Sultan’s palace is known for exquisitely carved panels depicting wildlife-lions, birds, and foliage. Near the Diwan-I-Aam, one can see a tank called the Anup Talao. Four bridges link the central platform at the Anup Talao. Here the famous court musician Tansen played music. Akbar’s private apartments stand close to the tank.

Vrindavan
57 Kms from Agra
Vrindavan is a sacred destination of the Hindus and is revered for of its association with the life of Lord Krishna. There are as many as 4,000 temples in Vrindavan, most of them dedicated to Lord Krishna, apart from the numerous bathing ghats (long steps along the banks of sacred rivers, used by Hindus for ritual bathing). Most of the temples in Vrindavan were constructed after AD 1000, while some of them are of very recent origin.

Bharatpur (The Keoladeo Ghana National Park)
56 Kms from Agra
The Keoladeo Ghana National Park or the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary lies between Agra and Jaipur, in the state of Rajasthan.

Bharatpur hosts a variety of bird species from across the globe. Close to 380 species of birds are found in this 29 sq km stretch, approximately 10 sq km of which comprises of marshes and bogs. Rest of the area comprises of scrublands, grasslands and more than 44,000 trees that are used for nesting by birds each year.

Birds popularly spotted here include Siberian crane, Dalmatian pelicans, Siberian leaf warbler, several other species of cranes-corcomorants, egrets, darters, herons, storks, geese, ducks, eagles, hawks, shanks, stints, wagtails, wheatears, flycatchers, buntings, larks, spoonbills, kingfishers, owls and pipits.

Mathura
47 Kms northwest of Agra
Mathura is famous as the birthplace of Lord Krishna, an important deity in the Hindu religious pantheon. It is an important pilgrim place of the Hindus and one of the seven sacred cities in India. Mathura is also an important craft center.

The Sati Burj, Kans Qila, Jama Masjid and Dwarkadheesh temple are other places to see in Mathura.