Fair
Fatehpur Sikri in March
Uttar Pradesh, India
March warms Fatehpur Sikri to 20-32°C. Holi celebrations (usually mid-March) add colour to the sandstone city. Mornings are still comfortable for full exploration, but afternoons start getting warm. The site is a day trip from Agra — arrive early (before the 10am tour bus wave) for the best experience. The mystery of why Akbar abandoned this perfectly built city after just 14 years deepens the longer you walk its empty halls.
The March story
March divides into pre-Holi and post-Holi. Pre-Holi Fatehpur Sikri is comfortable in mornings and warm in afternoons. Post-Holi, the site sometimes bears traces of colour on the lower walls — accidental art on Mughal architecture. The real March strategy: arrive at 6:30am when the site opens. Walk the complex in relative solitude for 2 hours before the Agra tour buses arrive at 10am. The Diwan-i-Khas in early morning light — Akbar's throne pillar casting shadows across an empty hall — is the image that captures the ghost-city feeling. The Jama Masjid is busiest on Fridays (active mosque) — visit Saturday-Thursday mornings for peace. For food, the village below the ridge has basic restaurants; proper dining is in Agra. March is the last comfortable month before summer makes this an endurance exercise. If you're doing the Golden Triangle (Delhi-Agra-Jaipur), March is the last month where adding Fatehpur Sikri doesn't require heat management.
Why March scores 3/5
Weather
Warming 15-30°C. Still comfortable mornings for the hilltop complex. Holi adds colour. Afternoons warming — shade scarce on the palace plateau.
Roads & Access
self drive: Easy highway drive from Agra. road condition: Excellent — NH21 well-maintained. public transport: Frequent buses from Agra Idgah bus stand. Autos available. from nearest city: Agra — 37km, 45min drive. last km difficulty: easy
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 5/5. rescue: Agra district administration. helpline: 100 (police), 108 (ambulance), 1363 (UP tourism). ambulance: 108 ambulance available. police station: Fatehpur Sikri PS — at town entrance. nearest hospital: Agra — SN Medical College, 37km. Local PHC in Fatehpur Sikri
Network
VI: Yes, JIO: Yes, BSNL: Yes, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: Yes. Full 4G coverage. Near Agra so excellent connectivity
Kids
Kid-friendly (5/5) — Flat UNESCO site easy to walk, History comes alive for school kids, Close to Agra — combine with Taj Mahal, Guides available in multiple languages
Elevation
175m — Low altitude, no issues
Who should go
- ✓First-time travelers
- ✓Senior citizens
- ✓Early risers wanting the ghost city to themselves before 10am
- ✓Holi celebrants adding history to their festival trip
- ✓Last-comfortable-month visitors before summer shutdown
- ✓Golden Triangle travellers with a day to spare
Who should think twice
- ✗Heat-sensitive travellers visiting late March — 32°C+
- ✗Holi week visitors who dislike festival chaos in nearby towns
- ✗Afternoon visitors — heat makes midday exploration unpleasant
- ✗Anyone expecting cool weather — March is the transition to summer
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 4/5 | Cool 7-20°C. Perfect for exploring Mughal ruins all day. Buland Darwaza and Panch Mahal in golden winter light. Few tourists. Carry a jacket. |
| February | 4/5 | Pleasant 10-24°C. Warming up nicely. Salim Chishti dargah peaceful. Red sandstone glows in afternoon sun. Comfortable walking weather throughout. |
| Marchviewing | 3/5 | Warming 15-30°C. Still comfortable mornings for the hilltop complex. Holi adds colour. Afternoons warming — shade scarce on the palace plateau. |
| April | 2/5 | Hot 22-40°C. Exposed sandstone plateau radiates heat by 10am. Buland Darwaza steps punishing in afternoon sun. Dawn visits only viable. |
| May | 1/5 | Extreme 28-46°C. Open hilltop site is a heat trap — no shade on the palace complex. Red sandstone stores and radiates heat. Dangerous. Avoid. |
| June | 1/5 | Worst heat 30-47°C with pre-monsoon humidity. Climbing Buland Darwaza steps risks heatstroke. Empty but for good reason. Do not visit. |
| July | 2/5 | Monsoon 28-36°C. Rain makes sandstone steps slippery. Humidity high. Site partially waterlogged. Fewer visitors but conditions uncomfortable. |
| August | 2/5 | Monsoon continues, 27-35°C. Ruins atmospheric in rain but slippery underfoot. Muggy conditions. Green surroundings contrast with red stone nicely. |
| September | 3/5 | Rain easing, 25-34°C. Still warm and humid. Ruins greener from monsoon growth. Crowds thin. Decent for photography on overcast days. |
| October | 5/5 | Best month, 20-32°C. Clean post-monsoon air. Red sandstone glows in golden light. Buland Darwaza against blue sky iconic. Perfect all-day exploration. |
| November | 5/5 | Ideal 12-28°C. Cool, dry, clear. Mughal ruins comfortable to explore leisurely. Salim Chishti tomb marble cool underfoot. Peak photography season. |
| December | 4/5 | Cool 7-22°C. Crisp winter mornings at the ruins. Fog possible early but clears. Good day trip from Agra. Quiet, atmospheric, uncrowded. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Agra — 37km, 45min drive. Roads: Excellent — NH21 well-maintained. Self-drive: Easy highway drive from Agra. Public transport: Frequent buses from Agra Idgah bus stand. Autos available. Last stretch: easy
Elevation
175m
Difficulty
easy
Budget tier
budget
Nearby in Uttar Pradesh scoring high in March
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