Agra Tour Packages | Taj Mahal & Mughal Tours | GoIndiaNepal
The Taj Mahal and its reflecting pool in Agra, India
Destination

Agra

Agra is the reason most people come to India, and it deserves more than the quick day trip it often gets. The Taj Mahal is the headline, but the city also has a Mughal fort, a quieter marble tomb that came first, and a garden across the river where you can watch the Taj turn pink at sunset.

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What there is to see

The Taj Mahal was built by the emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb for his wife Mumtaz Mahal and finished in the mid-1600s. Go at sunrise. The light is soft, the marble changes colour by the minute, and the crowds are a fraction of what they are by ten o'clock. Allow two to three hours.

Agra Fort is a red sandstone fortress about 2.5 km up the river. Shah Jahan spent his last years imprisoned here by his own son, looking across at the Taj from the Musamman Burj tower. Like the Taj, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Allow about two hours.

Itmad-ud-Daulah, often called the Baby Taj, is a small marble tomb with some of the finest stone inlay in India. It was built before the Taj and is almost always quiet.

Mehtab Bagh is a garden on the far bank of the Yamuna, directly opposite the Taj. It is the best place to see it at sunset, without the queues.

Fatehpur Sikri, about 40 km west, is the red sandstone city the emperor Akbar built and then abandoned. It sits right on the road to Jaipur, so we stop there on the way.

Getting there and driving times

Delhi to Agra is about 230 km on the Yamuna Expressway, three and a half to four hours by car. Agra to Jaipur is about 240 km, four and a half to five hours with the stop at Fatehpur Sikri. We pick up at Delhi Airport or your hotel, at any hour your flight lands.

How long to stay

One night is enough for most people. Arrive in the afternoon for Agra Fort and the sunset from Mehtab Bagh, see the Taj at sunrise the next morning, then drive on to Jaipur. A same-day trip from Delhi works if you are short of time, but it means about eight hours in the car.

When to come

October to March is the best time. December and January mornings are often foggy, which can hide the Taj until mid-morning and slow the drive from Delhi. April to June is very hot, often above 40°C. July to September is monsoon season: green, humid and quieter.

Practical tips

  • The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays. We plan every route around this.
  • It opens about 30 minutes before sunrise and closes about 30 minutes before sunset.
  • Foreign visitors pay a higher entrance fee than Indian visitors, with a small extra charge to enter the main tomb. Fees change, so check the official Taj Mahal site before you go.
  • Cars must stop about a kilometre from the gates. Electric buses and golf carts take you the rest of the way.
  • Food, tripods, drones and large bags are not allowed inside. A phone and a small camera are fine.
  • On full-moon nights, and two nights either side except Fridays, a limited number of night-viewing tickets are sold a day in advance.

Questions people ask

Is one day in Agra enough?

One night is ideal: Agra Fort and the sunset view on the first afternoon, the Taj at sunrise the next morning. A same-day trip from Delhi is possible but rushed.

Can we see the Taj Mahal on a Friday?

Not from inside, because it is closed to visitors on Fridays. You can still see it from Mehtab Bagh across the river and from Agra Fort.

Do we need a guide?

No, it is your choice. Our drivers know the city well and can recommend a licensed guide at the gate if you want the history.

Is it better to stay in Agra or do a day trip?

Stay if you can. The sunrise visit is the best way to see the Taj, and it is only possible if you sleep in Agra the night before.

Ask us about Agra

Tell us when you want to come and how long you have. We come back with a route, the vehicle it needs and one price, usually within 24 hours. Our day rates are published in full, and hotels stay your own choice.

Get a price for your Agra trip   See our car and driver rates

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