General information 
Altitude 169 meter 
Best Season October to March. 
Temperature Summer- Max.45, Min.21.9; Winter- Max.31.7, Min.4.2. 
STD Code 0562. 
 

Agra Introduction
Agra was once the capital of the Mughal empire and even today it seems to linger in the past. Not surprising, for the Mughal emperors with their passion for building, endowed the city with some of the finest structures in the world. It is very easy to slip away here through the centuries into the grandeur and intrigues of the Mughal court. Agra is an old city and it is said that its name was derived from Agrabana, a forest thats finds mention in the epic.



Agra History
In more recent times Agra came into prominence when Sikandar Lodi made it his capital city in 1501. The Lodi rule was to end very soon and Agra passed into the possession of the Mughals. It was during the time of the third emperor Akbar that Agra came into its own. He embarked on the construction of the massive Agra Fort in 1565. Though Akbar was diverted into building a new capital at Fatehpur Sikari not far away, Agra continued to retain its importance and Shah Jehan, Akbar's grandson ornamented the city with that masterpiece of Mughal architecture -the Taj Mahal and built several other beautiful buildings within the Agra Fort


In and around 

Taj Mahal 

Described as the most extravagant monument ever built for love, it was constructed by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his queen Mumtaz Mahal, made out of white marble took 22 years to complete (1630-1652 AD). Ustad Ahamad Lahori, a Persian Architect, is said to be the main designer and planner for this magnificent memorial. On full moon nights, the glory of the Taj is at its best. Over the centuries, the Taj has attracted more visitors than perhaps any other Monuments in the country, and it is all too easy resort to conventional superlatives when describing it. What makes the Taj Unique is its perfect proportions, distinct femininity, medium of construction and ornamentation. Its marble exterior reflects rose and golden tints at sunrise and sunset, while it is dazzling white during the day and glowes pearl-like in the moonlight and during the monsoon. Standing on a high plinth, the Taj Mahal is visible for miles around and forms a backdrop to mustard fields and mud-walled villages. It can be seen from guestrooms at some of Agra's hotels, as well as from the landscaped gardens to the west of the complex.

Agra Fort

Agra Fort on the bank of the Yamuna River was begun by Emperor Akbar in 1565, though additions were made up until the rule of his grandson, Shah Jahan. In Akbar's time the fort was principally a military structure, but during Shah Jaha regin it had partially become Palace. It is an imposing strcture with walls of red sandstone almost three kilometers long. Entered through the Amar Singh Gate, the eastern part of the fort contain palace, audience hall and mosques built by three emperors. The fort presents a good sampling of their favoured architectural styles. Akbar drew on Islamic and Hindu traditions and the result is eclectic. By Shah Jahan's time the style had become so homogenized that it is impossible to seprate the Hindu and Muslim strands. The Diwan-i-Am (public audience hall), the beautiful Diwan-i-Khas (private audience hall) and the magnificent Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) were also added by Shah Jahan.

Itmad-Ud-Daula Tomb 

Built between 1622 - 28 AD. By Nur Jahan in memory of her father Ghias-ud-Din-Beg, this white marble tomb is an impressive structure predating the Taj itself. Though much smaller than the latter, the inlay work is often considered of an equal if not of a higher standard.

Sikandra 

The noteworthy monument here is the tomb of Akbar which shows an interesting fusion of Hindu and Muslim art and architecture reflecting the spirit of the emperor himself. 

Jama Masjid 

A mosque dating back to 1648 AD. And built by Jahanara Begum, the absence of minarets and the shape of the dome gives it a distinguish character. 

Ram Bagh 

Is one of the earliest gardens laid by the Mughlas and dates back to the era of Babar in the early 16th century. 

Fatehpur Sikri

Akbar's capital for a short 12 years, predominantly, a red sandstone construction sprawling over a huge area within a circumferences of nearly nine miles. The architectural style is very much in tune with the emperor's dreams and partakes of both Hindu and Muslim styles. The shortage of water at the site was one of the main reasons for its desertion. Emperor Akbar is said to have selected Sikri as the seat of his government believing it to be auspicious for himself as prophesied by the saint, Shaikh salim Cheshti, who lived there.

Keoladeo Ghana 

The highlight of this important bird sanctuary in India is the annual visit of the Siberian Cranes which come here during the winter months. Besides, it gives sanctuary to a great variety of resident species and has gained acclaim as an ornithologist's paradise. It is 60 km from Agra on the Agra Jaipur highway. 

How to get there 

Air Agra is connected with Delhi, Khajuraho and Varanasi.
Rail Agra is connected by rail with major cities, like Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Jaipur, Madras, Secunderabad and Trivandrum.

Road
Agra is connected by good motorable roads to Delhi- 204 km, Jaipur-237 km, Khajuraho- 395 km, Mathura- 54 km, Gwalior- 110 km, Lucknow- 257 km, Bharatpur 54 km etc.