आगरा
Uttar Pradesh · Western UP · 171m
ताज महल — हर क्लिशे सच है, और मेहताब बाग से सूर्यास्त के समय यह जादू बन जाता है।
Why Special
हाँ, शहर थोड़ा बदहाल है। हाँ, हर तरफ टाउट हैं। लेकिन ताज महल ताज महल है — इसका कोई विकल्प नहीं, कोई तैयारी काफी नहीं। आगरा किला और फतेहपुर सीकरी अपने आप में विश्व स्तरीय हैं।
Before you decide
Everyone goes to Agra
Here's what they miss.
At least now you know what's out there.
Festivals & Events
Taj Mahotsav
FebFebruary 18-27 (10 days)
Arts, crafts, music, and dance festival near the Taj Mahal. Artisans from across India showcase work.
The best time to visit Agra — the Taj gets a festival of its own.
Infrastructure Reality
Network Coverage
Full coverage.
WiFi: Hotels
Medical & Emergency
Hospital: SN Medical College. Multiple private.
Ambulance: 108
Police: Tourist police at Taj
Getting There
Delhi 230km 3-4hrs Yamuna Expressway. Gatimaan Express 1h40m.
Roads: Yamuna Expressway excellent.
Public transport: Gatimaan Express, Shatabdi from Delhi.
Fuel & Stay
Fuel: Multiple
EV charging available
Stay: ₹500-20000/night
400+ options (hotel, heritage, hostel)
Emergency: Always available.
Helpline: UP Tourism: 0522-2308916
The stay decisions worth flagging in Agra.
The gap between Agra's mid-range options and Oberoi Amarvilas is around ₹12,000–25,000 per night. What that buys: every room in the building faces the Taj Mahal directly, a complimentary golf buggy drops you at the monument entrance (skipping the 500m rickshaw queue), and the property sits 600m from the east gate—meaning a 4am sunrise walk is a realistic plan, not a logistical project. For a one-night Agra stop where the Taj is the entire reason you came, we consider that gap functional rather than aspirational. If you're spending two or more nights, splitting—one night at Amarvilas for the sunrise, one at a mid-range property for the rest of your Agra agenda—costs less than two nights at Amarvilas and loses nothing material.
Oberoi Amarvilas
We recommend it for unobstructed sunrise views of the Taj Mahal from your room, paired with five-star service and gardens designed as a Mughal charbagh.
Homestead Agra
We recommend it for clean, well-maintained rooms in a family-run setup with home-cooked meals and genuine local knowledge at a fraction of hotel prices.
The Coral Hotel
We recommend it for its position on Fatehpuri Sikri Road, a 15-minute walk to the eastern Taj Mahal gate and close to Agra Fort, cutting transfer times to zero.
Khem Vilas (Agra heritage haveli conversion)
We recommend it for its conversion of a 200-year-old merchant's haveli into a stay where you sleep in carved-stone rooms with period details and dine on a rooftop overlooking the Yamuna.
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Neighborhood guide
Where to base yourself, by vibe.
Daily Budget Reality
Budget
₹1,100Mid-range
₹3,800Luxury
₹12,300💡 Taj Mahal ₹250 Indian / ₹1300 foreign. Sunrise entry recommended. Mehtab Bagh ₹30.
Crowd Intelligence
⚠ Avoid weekends — crowded with day-trippers
Best days: Tue-Thu
Taj Mahal gets 70K+ visitors on weekends Oct-Feb. Visit at sunrise on weekdays. Closed Fridays.
Food & Dining
Cuisine: Mughlai, North Indian, street food
Peshawri at ITC Mughal for splurge. Pinch of Spice for family.
कैसे पहुँचें
🌍 अंतर्राष्ट्रीय यात्रियों के लिए
सांस्कृतिक संदर्भ
Home of the Taj Mahal, the pinnacle of Mughal architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Agra was the capital of the Mughal Empire and holds three UNESCO sites within one city. The craftsmanship here represents centuries of Indo-Islamic artistic fusion.
क्या पहनें
Conservative dress recommended near mosques and religious sites. Comfortable, modest clothing works everywhere else. Remove shoes before entering any mosque or mausoleum.
खाद्य सुरक्षा
Stick to hotel restaurants and established eateries for your first visit. Avoid street water and ice in drinks. Bottled water only — check the seal is intact.
सामान्य धोखाधड़ी से सावधान
- Fake guides claiming official status at Taj Mahal — only buy tickets at the counter or online
- Overpriced rickshaws — agree fare before boarding, or use Ola/Uber
- "Marble factory" tours that are high-pressure souvenir shops
- Touts claiming Taj is closed today to redirect you to shops
कार्ड और नकद
Major hotels and restaurants accept Visa/Mastercard. Street vendors, rickshaws, and small shops are cash only. ATMs widely available.
अंग्रेज़ी बोली जाती है
Moderate — tourist area staff speak functional English. Outside tourist zones, Hindi dominates. Google Translate helps.
फ़ोन और SIM
Get an Airtel or Jio tourist SIM at Delhi airport on arrival. Both work well in Agra. Activation takes a few hours.
निकटतम दूतावास
New Delhi — approximately 200km (3-4 hours by expressway).
Standard e-Visa covers Agra. No special permits needed.
Meet the Locals
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