Good Time
Agra in December
Uttar Pradesh, India
December is winter settling into Agra. Morning temperatures drop to 4-8°C, and fog becomes a daily feature — thick, cold, Gangetic Plain fog that can reduce visibility to 50 metres and doesn't lift until 10-11 AM on bad days. The Taj at sunrise is a gamble: some December mornings deliver a fog-wrapped Taj that's hauntingly beautiful, others deliver a white wall of nothing until noon. Afternoon skies clear to deep blue, and the 2-4 PM window gives the warmest light on the marble — a rich golden tone that makes the Taj look like it's carved from warm butter rather than cold stone. Temperatures hit 18-22°C at midday. Nights are genuinely cold.
The December story
December Agra requires tactical planning. Do not build your entire trip around the 6 AM sunrise entry — fog odds are roughly 50-50. Instead, book the sunrise slot as a bonus round and build your plan around the guaranteed afternoon window: 2-4 PM at the Taj for golden-hour light on marble, followed by Mehtab Bagh sunset. If the sunrise morning is clear, that's a gift. If not, the afternoon still delivers. Agra Fort in December afternoon sun is magnificent — the red sandstone radiates warmth, and the Sheesh Mahal mirror palace catches low winter sun at angles impossible in summer. Christmas week brings a small tourist bump and slightly higher prices, but New Year's in Agra is surprisingly quiet. The kebab-and-nihari food scene is at its winter peak. Petha fresh from the karahi on a cold December evening — still warm, slightly crunchy — is a specific pleasure. Carry layers: predawn Taj attempts mean 5°C, afternoon tours mean 20°C. The temperature swing across a single day is 15+ degrees.
Why December scores 4/5
Weather
Cool 7-22°C. Dense fog possible at dawn — can obscure Taj sunrise. Clears by 10am usually. Great hotel deals, low crowds.
Roads & Access
self drive: Easy highway.. road condition: Yamuna Expressway excellent.. public transport: Gatimaan Express, Shatabdi from Delhi.. from nearest city: Delhi 230km 3-4hrs Yamuna Expressway. Gatimaan Express 1h40m.. last km difficulty: easy
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 4/5. rescue: Standard city. helpline: UP Tourism: 0522-2308916. ambulance: 108. police station: Tourist police at Taj. nearest hospital: SN Medical College. Multiple private.
Network
VI: Yes, JIO: Yes, BSNL: Yes, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: Yes. Full coverage.
Kids
Kid-friendly (5/5) — Taj Mahal is the ultimate school trip, Agra Fort is massive and explorable, Close to Delhi — easy logistics
Elevation
171m — Low altitude, no issues
Who should go
- ✓First-time travelers
- ✓Senior citizens
- ✓Afternoon-light photographers — the golden Taj at 3 PM in December is unique to winter
- ✓Mughal food enthusiasts — December is peak nihari-paya-kebab season
- ✓Budget travellers willing to gamble on fog — December hotels are 20-30% cheaper than October
- ✓Travellers combining Agra with Rajasthan where December weather is ideal
Who should think twice
- ✗Visitors with a single morning for the Taj — fog may steal it entirely
- ✗Travellers who dislike cold — 5 AM starts in 4°C without heating in budget cars
- ✗Anyone expecting the clean, mist-free views of October brochures
- ✗Flights connecting through Delhi — December fog causes massive airport delays that cascade to Agra plans
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 4/5 | Cold morning fog, clears by 10am. Taj in mist is iconic. |
| February | 5/5 | Perfect 12-25C. Clear skies. Best for photography. |
| March | 4/5 | Pleasant 18-32°C mornings, warming afternoons. Holi celebrations add colour. Moderate tourist crowds — still comfortable for Taj sunrise visits. |
| April | 2/5 | Scorching 28-40°C. Taj marble radiates heat by midday. Only viable at sunrise/sunset. Hotels drop rates but AC is essential. |
| May | 1/5 | Brutal 35-47°C. White marble reflects blinding heat. Dehydration risk high. Virtually empty but miserable — avoid unless desperate. |
| June | 1/5 | Peak heat 40-48°C before monsoon breaks. Dangerous for outdoor sightseeing. Empty monuments but heatstroke risk is real. Do not visit. |
| July | 2/5 | Monsoon. Taj with dramatic clouds can be beautiful. |
| August | 2/5 | Monsoon continues, 30-38°C with high humidity. Yamuna floods occasionally. Muggy conditions make walks unpleasant. Few tourists. |
| September | 3/5 | Monsoon easing, 28-35°C. Hot sticky afternoons but mornings are manageable. Crowds start returning. Green surroundings near Taj. |
| October | 5/5 | Perfect 20-33°C with clean post-monsoon air. Golden light on Taj is iconic. Peak season begins — book sunrise slots early. |
| November | 5/5 | Excellent. Cool, clear, Taj at its photogenic best. |
| Decemberviewing | 4/5 | Cool 7-22°C. Dense fog possible at dawn — can obscure Taj sunrise. Clears by 10am usually. Great hotel deals, low crowds. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Delhi 230km 3-4hrs Yamuna Expressway. Gatimaan Express 1h40m.. Roads: Yamuna Expressway excellent.. Self-drive: Easy highway.. Public transport: Gatimaan Express, Shatabdi from Delhi.. Last stretch: easy
Elevation
171m
Difficulty
easy
Budget tier
mixed
Nearby in Uttar Pradesh scoring high in December
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