Agra is a city in Uttar Pradesh and is most famous for the popular monument Taj Mahal. An iconic monument which was built by Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The city is on the banks of river Yamuna and besides being home to 7 wonders of the world, it is home to many more historical monuments. The rare monument Taj Mahal in Agra is the major attraction of the city. It is made up of ivory white marble and a treat for eyes.

The best time to visit Agra is November to March as it gets very hot in summers.

My Memories of visiting Taj Mahal in Agra –

I saw Taj Mahal only 3 years back for the first time. My parents and siblings visited Agra but I couldn’t accompany them as I was in a hostel and busy with exams. So, it was on my wishlist for a long time and was waiting to get an opportunity to visit this beauty.

We were in Delhi when we decided to visit Agra during the kids’ summer break. Although it was a dream come true for me, the heat was unbearable. We went in May when the whole North India experience hot summers with temperatures going as high as 42 to 45 degree C.

Kids saw Taj Mahal for the first time too but their memories of Taj Mahal include the unbearable heat of summer too. More so because in Taj Mahal you have to to take off your shoes and walk around to explore this iconic monument. Walking on marble was not easy. It was so hot that we skipped visiting other monuments nearby like Agra Fort.

Luckily we hired a guide who helped us to reach inside fast and also explore it nicely while sharing interesting stories from the Mughal era.

A visit to Taj Mahal 2016

About Taj Mahal in Agra and the historical city –

Agra is a historical city with many places to see and explore. Apart from Taj Mahal, you can see the following –

  1. Agra fort – The UNESCO world heritage site which is an important fort of Mughal time.
  2. Fatehpur Sikri – One hour from Agra and is popular for historical importance.
  3. Heritage walk in Agra to explore the city
  4. Sikandra – A place with beautiful art and architecture.

    Agra Fort

Apart from these, you can explore the local bazaars and markets for its famous Agra ka petha and Mughlai food.

Taj Mahal is open half an hour before sunrise and closes half an hour after sunset.  If you are visiting it in summers, try to be there as early as possible to avoid heat. There are 3 gates but one is only for exit and closed for entry. Actually, it’s a good idea to hire a guide as they would not only help you enter inside easily as there are long queues but also share about the monument and historical stories in an interesting way.

Agra is a true reflection of the Mughal era. Visiting Taj Mahal is a feeling which is hard to describe in words but can only be experienced. Have you seen this beauty yet? Do share with us your experience in comments below and I will be back next week with a new city and a new bag of memories.


I am sharing my memories of different places from my travel list this April.

#AtoZchallenge 2019 previous posts –

A for Amritsar

B for Bangalore

C for Chicago

D for Delhi 

E for evergreen Kerala

F for Fun Las Vegas

G for Goa

H for Haridwar

I for Mackinac Island

J for Jammu

K for Kullu Manali

L for Los Angeles

M for Milwaukee

No for Niagara Falls

O for Orlando

P for Phuket

Q for Queen of Hills Mussoorie

theme reveal post

 

 

Loading