Hey everyone! I wanted to share with you all my amazing experience of visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra, which is truly a masterpiece and one of the seven wonders of the world. It remains closed on Friday.
Route to Agra from Lucknow:
I visited Agra with my family in May, and we decided to drive from Lucknow to Agra, which took us about 5–6 hours with a lunch break in between. There are also trains (19038 Avadh Express, 14863 Marudhar Express, 12419 Gomti Express, etc.) and UPSRTC bus options available.
Places to visit in Agra
- Agra Fort: It is one of the best spots to visit in Agra. The grounds were beautiful; you will see cute monkeys playing everywhere, and you will also get great views of the Taj. Also, great locations to click some nice pictures of yourself for your Instagram. It’s up to you if you want to take a guide or not. Area-wise, it’s so big that we spent around 2 hours exploring there. On our return from Agra Fort, we also visited Sadar Bazar, which is the local market in Agra, where you can buy nice leather items and many other handicraft items. After doing some street shopping, we enjoyed a delicious chat there, and we came back to our hotel. Back at the hotel, a delightful dinner accompanied a live ghazal session, concluding our beautiful first day in Agra.
- Taj Mahal: The next morning, we aimed to beat the crowd at the Taj Mahal by waking up at 5 a.m., but with our 10-month-old baby, we got a bit delayed. Prioritizing the complimentary breakfast, we reached the Taj Mahal at 8 a.m., still encountering a crowd. Queue up for entry and undergo a security check. Choose a locker for luggage or heavy bags. Despite the delay, our first glimpse left us awestruck—the beauty and detail surpassed imagination. Taj Mahal is undeniably a bucket-list-worthy place.
- Akbar’s Tomb: In the evening, we visited Akbar’s tomb, surrounded by gardens he designed. Monkeys and peacocks freely roam here. The tomb, made of red sandstone and white marble, houses family members’ tombs. Spend a few hours exploring the serene surroundings.
- Baby Taj: Next, we visited the Tomb of Itmad ud Daulah, often called the Baby Taj. Though smaller, its design resembles the Taj Mahal. There are mosques on each side of the Mausoleum and beautiful gardens surrounding the area. There were not as many tourists here, so it was a relaxed experience. In the evening, we returned to our hotel, enjoyed the pool, and had a great time.
The Best Accommodation in Agra: Clarks Shiraz
We pre-booked our hotel online, and we chose to stay at the Clarks Shiraz, which was a fantastic property. Our room was lovely, with an outdoor pool and an on-site restaurant. The hotel also has a beautiful garden, which you can enjoy, especially if you have a baby. I highly recommend this hotel. However, there are so many hotels and Airbnb available that you can choose them online and pre book them according to your budget.
The Best Sweet Shop in Agra
On the day back to our home, we didn’t forget to pack so many boxes of different flavors of petha from Panchhi Petha. The most famous and old petha shop out there. Trust me, your journey is incomplete without taking Petha from there.
Hidden Gems in Agra:
1: Mehtab Bagh
2: Fatehpur Sikri
3: Yamuna river boat side
4: Dayal Bagh
5: Rug Making Experience
Travel tips:
- Plan your trip during the winter or cooler months to avoid the heat and make it easier to explore during the day.
- Always pre-book your hotel online based on your preferences and budget to avoid any last-minute hassle.
- If you’re planning to visit the Taj Mahal, go early in the morning to avoid crowds and capture beautiful pictures.
- Plan a trip for at least 2–3 days to explore more than just the Taj Mahal. Agra has many other amazing places to visit.
The best time to visit Agra
Agra is a location rich in history. October, November, December, January, February, and March are the ideal months to visit Agra.
As this is the busiest time of year, there may be some crowds. The months of July, August, and September have mild weather.
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Happy Exploring!!!
