Aug 13 2010
Agra, a Great Place to Fall in Love With
The world is separated between those who have seen the Taj and those who have not. Very soon, I hope to be on the side that has seen the Taj.” Words said by William Jefferson Clinton President, United States of America while addressing the Indian Parliament on 22.03.2000 rightly defining the huge architectural and arousing importance the Taj Mahal has, in the hearts of people around the world.
Photograph by Trey Ratcliff
Agra is a city in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh , some 200 km from the Indian capital city of New Delhi. Agra has the Taj Mahal, one of the most well-known buildings and tourist destination in the world, and two other UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Agra Fort in the city and Fatehpur Sikri nearby. The city has little else though. Pollution, especially smog and litter, is rampant and travelers are pestered by swarms of touts and hawkers at every monument, mosque, temple or palace. That said, the sites are some of the wonders of the world and no trip to India is complete without at least one visit to the Taj.
Agra, the home of Taj Mahal, also houses some of the other monumental beauties of India and the world. Agra is one place, which has numerous places of tourists’ interest. Come and tour Agra to add some more color to your historical tours to Agra India. Agra allows you to browse through the architectural splendor of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces of the capital in the 16th and early 17th centuries. Apart from Taj Mahal there are many places in Agra to visit like Agra Fort, Sikandra, Itmad-Ud-Daulah Tomb, Fatehpur Sikri, Ram Bagh, Dayal Bagh, Jama Masjid, Jahangir Mahal.
Agra has an airport where domestic flights from major cities land. Both government and private airways operate to Agra. The Delhi Agra flight is a short flight of 40 minutes. There are daily round trip flights from Delhi to Agra, Khajuraho and Varanasi, with a return to Delhi. Agra airport is located 7 Km from the center of the city.
Agra is suitably connected to Delhi by railway lines. Many trains connect Delhi and Agra, including luxury trains such as the Palace on Wheels. Agra Station is known as Agra Cantonment Station. Agra is easily accessible by road from Delhi. The National Highway from Delhi is well maintained. The 204 km distance from Delhi to Agra is a smooth drive. Various government and private buses operate along this route, taxicabs are also easy to find. Agra’s main bus terminals are Idgah bus stand and Agra Fort bus stand.
Business travelers as well as leisure tourists visit Agra and they are offered a wide range of accommodations for their Agra visit. You can stay at first class five-star hotels, bed and breakfasts, bargain hotels, airport hotels, business hotels, discount hotels, honeymoon hotels, chain hotels and government approved hotels. Some excellent hotels in Agra are located near the Taj Mahal and offer panoramic views of this monument.
The hotels where you will stay during your Agra visit are known for their excellent services, modern comforts, timeless charm and traditional hospitality. Following are the foremost places that you can choose for your stay in Agra.
Jaypee Palace Hotel, Mughal Sheraton Hotel, Clarks Shiraz Hotel, Hotel Agra Ashok, Hotel Taj View, Howard Park Plaza Hotel, Hotel Amar Vilas, Hotel Kant, Hotel Holiday Inn, The Trident Hotel, Hotel Amar Yatri Niwas, Mayur Tourist Complex.
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Discover even more about Agra find out what your fellow travellers think recommend to try while in India here:
http://www.indiatravelnotes.com/category/agra/
