Lying within the well-worn tourist triangle to the south of the capital Delhi, Agra is a historical city that houses India’s most iconic attraction – the Taj Mahal. The city doesn’t look like much when you first arrive, but the gleaming white 17th century Taj Mahal makes up for it given its much-deserved status as one of the most impressive manmade sights anywhere in the world.
Most people come here for one reason only, to see the breathtaking Taj Mahal. The building itself is well-hidden in a tree-lined garden compound, inside which everything is symmetrical down to the last detail. Upon entering, a large slender pool leading to the main structure reflects the ivory white Taj, further enhancing the symmetry. To the rear of the area, the Taj looks out over the hazy Yamuna River. Foreigners may be aggrieved to learn they must pay about 20 times more than Indian nationals to enter the compound, although the price is fair by international standards and is worth every rupee.
Agra also features some lesser-known but still impressive structures, most notably the fort. Dating back to the middle of the 16th century, Agra Fort is one of the most impressive structure of its kind in the whole subcontinent, a sprawling network of passage ways, lawns and halls with views of the Taj Mahal. The tomb of the man responsible for constructing the fort, Emperor Akbar, lies to the north of the city.
Highlights
Taj Mahal: the main reason to come to Agra, if not India, with its startling symmetrical design and brilliant white façade.
Agra Fort: more impressive than Delhi’s Red Fort, this sprawling structure is hugely impressive and would in any other town feature as the main attraction.
Akbar’s Tomb: see the final resting place of the man responsible for building the fort, Emperor Akbar.