Agra, Mathura, and Jaipur - A Lovely Trinity

Generations of travellers from India as well as faraway corners of the world world have planned a trip to Agra at some time or the other. After all, any travel enthusiast worth his or her salt would love to include a visit to Taj Mahal in the list of ‘Things to do Before I Die’. However, there is much more to Agra besides the Taj Mahal. So, come let’s find out more about Agra’s attractions such as Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Adlabs Multiplex and of course Taj Mahal as well as a couple of nearby interesting attractions such as Jaipur and Mathura in this Agra travel guide. Taj Mahal - A Monument of Love The Taj Mahal really needs no introduction and remains the focal point of anyone’s Agra travel planner. This captivating UNESCO World Heritage Site in white marble is a classic example of an opulent emperor’s dream turning into reality. The Taj Mahal was constructed on the orders of a lovelorn Shah Jahan and true to his desire, nobody has been able to recreate an exact replica. Said to be built as a mausoleum by Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz, the Taj Mahal is also the spot where Shah Jahan still lies united with her in death. Yes, I am referring to the graves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz inside the monument. The grandiosity of Taj Mahal just cannot be expressed in words and you really need to plan an Agra tour to feel the impact of this awesome structure. Visiting Agra Fort The Agra Fort comes a close second to Taj Mahal when it comes to popular places to see in Agra. Started by Akbar the Great, and completed by the enigmatic Shah Jahan, this place makes for an unforgettable sight. The fort is pretty similar to Delhi’s Red Fort and perhaps even grander as unlike Delhi, it escaped the British wrath after the revolt of 1857. Shah Jahan spent his last days as a prisoner in the fort and it is said that his only request here was to be imprisoned in a room from where he could see the Taj Mahal. Don’t skip this place when you go on your Agra trip. Memorable Fatehpur Sikri This is yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site from Agra and is definitely worth including in your Agra travel planner. Built in the 16th century by Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri is filled with uniformly constructed temples and monuments and is well known for the huge Jama Masjid. The place also served as the Mughal empire’s capital and the layout of Old Delhi was largely modelled on it. Easy to see, why a tour of Agra attractions is not complete without visiting Fatehpur Sikri. Places to See Near Agra If you are on a slightly long haul trip, you can consider checking out quite a few interesting places to see near Agra. Just a couple of wonderful places include Jaipur and Mathura amongst others. Both of these destinations are filled with lovely attractions and one can conveniently plan a trip to any of these places from Agra. Here is a brief look at Mathura and Jaipur. Trip to Jaipur If you love long drives, this one is for you as Agra to Jaipur distance is about 230 km. While there is no end to the number of attractions in Jaipur, just some of the most notable ones include City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, and SRC Museum of Indology. You can complete an Agra to Jaipur trip by car in about four hours. A Mathura Visit Mathura often finds its way into an Agra tour guide owing to its close proximity to Agra. The distance between these two places is hardly 60 km and a train will take you there in just about half an hour. If you want to go from Agra to Mathura by road, the trip will take approximately an hour’s time.