History of Agra: Agra is famous for being the backbone of the Mughal rule in India. Akbar, the third Mughal ruler, had almost established the Mughal rule in true sense. The older & ancient name of Agra was Agravana. Later on, during Akbar’s rule, it was rechristened as Akbarabad. The Mughal made Agra as their capital city before Delhi. But, before the visit of the Mughal, there is an older history attached to Agra. It is believed that Agra is in existence right from the Mahabharata time. It is from this time when Agra got its name as Agra. During that time, Agra was referred to as Agravana. But, there is also another story that says that Sultan Sikander Lodi founded Agra in 1504. He was the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate and was the first king of Agra. Some sources also reveal that Agra got its name from the time of Aryans and it was called as Arya Griha or the abode of Aryans. Ptolemy was the first person who referred Agra by its modern name. The Mughal had spent a long duration of rule here including the rulers like Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan.

Legend about Agra: Sultan Sikander Lodi, the first Muslim ruler of Agra, belonged to Delhi Sultanate and shifted the capital from Delhi to Agra. Post this death, the position passed on to his son, Ibrahim Lodi. But, Ibrahim Lodi was defeated by Babur, the first Mughal ruler and he took over Agra. With the death of Ibrahim Lodi, the end of the Delhi Sultanate also happened. Babur invaded India and the Mughal era started. Babur stayed in Agra for some time when he introduced the Persian styled gardens here. Then Akbar, the greatest Mughal ruler spent the most amount of his kingship rule in Agra and built enough Mughal monuments. Then the most gorgeous and the most famous Mughal architecture, the Taj Mahal was built here by Shah Jahan, another successful Mughal ruler.

Tourist Places: Agra is famous for the Mughal era vibes and the presence of the Mughal monuments. This has made Agra one of the most loved destinations amongst the travelers. The travelers from all across the globe visit the place to explore the Mughal era through the Mughal architecture and the Mughal food. Most of the spots in Agra are UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here are some of the best tourist places to visit in Agra.

Taj Mahal: One of the seven wonders of the world, the epitome of love, the Taj Mahal is the most loved monument of the country. It was built by Shah Jahan for his wife and looks explicitly beautiful in and out. There is nothing like Taj Mahal.

It Mad ud Daulah: Called as the Baby Taj, the other most beautiful monument to visit in the city is Itmad Ud Daulah. It is built on the banks of river Yamuna. The architecture of the tomb replicates to the Taj Mahal and was built by Nur Jahan for her father.

Mehtab Bagh: A beautiful garden from where the view of the Taj Mahal is the most gorgeous is the Mehtab Bagh. It is a lovely garden to explore and spend some time in the nature.

Akbar’s Tomb: The tomb of the most successful Mughal king, Akbar, is the Akbar’s tomb. But, it was built by Jahangir and is totally gorgeous. The intricate detailing on the walls of the tomb is is filled with mystical calligraphy. It is closed on Fridays for the visitors.

Agra Fort: The Red Fort of Agra is called as the Agra fort. It was Akbar’s home when he was the king. There are various structures inside the fort to explore and unfold the life of Akbar.

The other places to explore here are Wildlife SOS, Jodha Bai palace, Fatehpur Sikri, Moti Masjid, Gurudwara Guru ka Taal, Taj nature walk, Chini ka Rauza, Jama Masjid, Diwan-i-aam, and Anguri Bagh.

Famous Events – Fairs – Festivals

Taj Mahotsav: The most awaited festival in Agra has to be the Taj Mahotsav that happens every year on 18th – 27th February. A life size procession is carried out that includes decorated elephants, camels, folk artists, drum beaters, and so many more artists. It is a lovely 10 day long festival and everyone must attend this once in their life.

Kailash Fair: This fair is carried out during the month of August or September every year in the Kailash Temple, two km from Agra. A zestful and a colorful procession is organized during this fair to pay regards to Lord Shiva.

Ram Baaraat: One of the major festivals of Agra is Ram Baaraat that is carried just before Dussehra and celebrates the marriage of Lord Rama. The festival is a part of Ramleela and ends with Dussehra. Jhankis are a major part of the procession or the baaraat.

Bateshwar Fair: A beautiful town located 70 km from Agra is the Bateshwar which is a cultural and a spiritual heritage. The town has 108 temples of several Hindu Gods and Goddesses. It is a month long fair that happens in October/November and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Devotees come here to take a holy dip in the Yamuna River as well.

Importance of Tourism in Agra: Agra is a very important place in India from the tourism perspective. Agra is famous for being the home of several gorgeous Mughal monuments which are also the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Hence, these attract a lot of travelers from across the globe to visit the city and explore. Along with this, the Taj Mahal, which is also one of the Seven Wonders of the World is in Agra and is in bucket list of many travelers from every point of the world. Shopping in Agra is another attraction for the tourists. There are hundreds of shops selling handicraft products, marble articles, carpets, jewelry, leather items etc.

Agra Tour Packages: Agra is one of the most visited tourist destinations in India. Historical monuments, ambience reminiscent Mughal era, handicrafts, delicious cuisines etc draw a large number of visitors. Agra welcomes the tourists with open heart offering world class infrastructure at reasonable cost. Keeping in view the requirements of the travelers, several Agra Day Tour Packages have been designed. Agra tours are perfectly customizable. Interestingly, every Golden Triangle Tour consists of Agra sightseeing. Among the travelers, Agra tours are popularly called Taj Mahal Tour Packages.

1 Day – Same Day Taj Mahal Agra Tour by Train
1 Day – Same Day Taj Mahal Tour by Car
1 Day – Same Day Agra Tour by Car
1 Day – Taj Mahal Sunrise Tour from Delhi By Private Car
2 Days- Agra Tour by Car
2 Days – Overnight Agra Fatehpur Sikri Tour from Delhi
3 Days – Taj Mahal Tour
4 Days – Golden Triangle Tour