Amazing Agra

Amazing Agra

Description

Set amid lush gardens, the Trident Hotel in Agra is made of red stone and will make you feel as if you’ve come back to the Mughal Era. The hotel comes complete with facilities like a swimming pool, a fitness centre, a beauty salon, and excellent facilities for children including a splash pool and very many outdoor games. With this holiday, you’ll pay a visit to the beautiful Taj Mahal in a private air-conditioned car and the Agra Fort spread out on the other side of the Yamuna River. Holidays to Agra like this one come once in a while. Book this while it’s still on.



Inclusions:

  • Volvo Bus/Train Tickets from Chandigarh or Delhi
  • Accommodation for 2 Nights 3 Days
  • in a deluxe room in respective hotel.
  • Welcome drink (non-alcoholic) on arrival.
  • Cookies once in the room during stay
  • Daily Bed Tea /Coffee
  • 10% discount on additional food bills.
  • Pick-up & Drop to resort
  • One day Local Sightseeing

Agra

A crimson sun casting an orange hue, setting behind the luminescent white marble of the epitome of everlasting love ‘The Taj Mahal’, is probably the ‘cliched’ picture that leaps to our mind when we think of Agra. Why should it not? After all Taj Mahal remains unsurpassed in beauty. But there is much more to Agra than just the Taj Mahal. Agra has a rich and puristic cultural mix of the Persian and the Mughal era. It is home to many ancient relics and monuments of historical and cultural significance – Taj Mahal, the ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri, the exquisite tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah are just a few of the many wonders of pristine Mughal architecture that are nestled in the city.



Historians are of the general opinion that the city of Agra was founded in 1504 A.D. by Sikandar Lodi, the ruler of the Delhi Sultunate. Sikander Lodi’s son, Ibrahim Lodi, ruled over the city after his father’s death until he fell fighting Babar in the first battle of Panipat fought in 1526. Under the Mughals, the city witnessed the blossoming of some of the finest pieces of architecture ever made. The magnificence of the ancient times is not the only thing that would strike you with awe. In the backdrop of the monuments and the tombs, is a bustling industrial city getting richer by the day. Some of you might get down on your knees twice – at the Taj Mahal to propose and the second time to thank your stars for all the shopping you could do in the city! Agra has a thriving market of marble artifacts, silk fabrics, and leather goods available at dirt cheap rates.

Places to see

The Taj Mahal – It was in 1653 that the glorious Taj Mahal’s construction was completed. Built by the Mughal King
Shah Jahan as the final resting place for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, Taj Mahal is perhaps India’s most beautiful and enchanting monument. Finished in white marble, it is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and is also one of the three World Heritage sites in Agra. Everything about Taj Mahal is fascinating. Spend the day here and watch the changing colors of the marble with the changing shades of the sun.



The Agra Fort – The Agra Fort was commissioned in 1565 A.D. by the great Mughal ruler Akbar. A stone tablet at the gate of the majestic fort states that it was built before 1000 A.D. and was later renovated by Akbar. The colossal structure, a World Heritage site, is made entirely of red sandstone and houses historical structures such as the Pearl Mosque, Deewa-ae-Aam, Deewan-ae-Khas, Jahangir’s Palace, Sheesh Mahal, and Khas Mahal. There is much to see and explore and learn at the Agra Fort.

Fatehpur Sikri- Fatehpur Sikri, aka the Ghost City, was built from scratch by Akbar and is another World Heritage site nestled in Agra. Situated 35 k.m. away from Agra, Fatehpur Sikri is an adroit combination of Islamic and Hindu architecture. Perhaps the most renowned fact about Fatehpur Sikri is the humungous structure Buland Darwazabuilt by Akbar to commemorate his victory over Gujarat.



Itmad-ud-Daulah’s mausoleum – The mausoleum of Itmad-ud-Daulah was built by Empress Noor Jehan for her father Mirza Ghiyas Beg, the Chief Minister of the Emperor Jehangir. The exquisite architecture of Itmad-ud-Daulah’s mausoleum keeps you enchanted. Itmad-ud-Daulah’s tomb is a highly ornate edifice and is regarded as an imminent precursor of the Taj Mahal as far as the carvings and the inlay work is concerned and has earned the nickname of ‘Baby Taj’.

Things to do

A Voyage of Historical Monuments – If you are in Agra, the first thing to do would be to rush to Taj Mahal and savor the fine artistic beauty of the place. Although one can never probably have enough of Taj Mahal, next thing on the ‘to do list’ should be paying a visit to the World Heritage sites and the other monuments in Agra.

Appreciating the Wildlife – Agra’s Wildlife SOS provides shelter and care to abused and abandoned animals like bears, elephants, geese, and even guinea fowl. A trip to this sanctuary would be a wholesome entertainment and a change from all the sightseeing.



Fishing – The Keetham Lake also known as the Sur Sarovar Lake provides an excellent opportunity to lay back lazily in peace and watch as the fishes get hooked on to the fishing hook.

Shopping – To err is human, to not shop when in Agra, is a sin! To say adieu before exploring the leather goods market and trying out the famous ‘Petha’, would make the trip to Agra an incomplete journey.

Places to Eat

Agra is a city of multi-cultural culinary delights. The cuisines, perfected over centuries, tingle your taste buds and are easy on the stomach. The Mughal non-veg dishes are mouthwatering and you might just catch yourself salivating in expectation from the mere fragrance of the dishes. The Mughlai food is a rich mix of exotic spices, dry fruits, and nuts. The ecstasy that engulfs you after a hearty Mughlai meal is second to none. Agra has a multitude of restaurants that offer Mughlai cuisines as well as Continental and North Indian dishes.



Capri restaurant is perhaps the best known place in Agra when it comes to serving exquisite Mughlai cuisine.The chicken delicacies served here deserve special mention. There is a near perfect blend of the spices used in the chicken dishes that makes you want to devour more and more. The Jharokha-e-Taj restaurant, situated in hotelDeedar-e-Taj, offers a variety of Indian cuisines ranging from sumptuous North Indian delicacies to the crisp mouthwatering Mughlai cuisine. The Grand Buffet is another restaurant in Agra that has carved a niche for itself when it comes to Indian and Continental dishes. The Nauratna restaurant allows you to have a taste of the finest and authentic delicacies of Indian cuisine. The Nauratna restaurant has a delightful consortium of both non-veg and vegetarian cuisines.

Restaurants apart, it would not be a bad idea to try out the local dhabas once or twice.

Shopping

Agra is the hub of handicrafts made of marble and soft-stone inlay work. Agra’s famous products besides inlay work are: leather ware, brassware, carpets, jewels, and embroidery work. Agra is the Mecca for shoppers who rave for specialties of the place they visit such as souvenirs and replicas. Tiny white marble ‘Taj Mahal’ replicas sell like hot cakes all over Agra. Leather items at Agra have earned a name for themselves owing to their quality. The leather goods include sandals, purses, bags, and decorative items.



The main markets for shopping consisting of Sadar Bazar, Kinari Bazar, and Munro Road, in Agra are centered around the Taj Mahal complex. The Uttar Pradesh State Emporium called Gangotri at the Taj Mahal Complex, offers a multitude of handicrafts of great variety. For those who have a taste for the Emporiums, some of the places worth paying a visit would be Akbar International, Kraft Palace, Ganeshilal Emporium, Handicraft Inn, Kohinoor Jewelers, and Marble Emporium.