Agra Holidays

Delve beyond the major tourist attractions and explore the little-visited area of Old Agra. Once you’ve seen the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, this tour is ideal for getting under the skin of this former imperial capital taking you down its hidden lanes and alleyways. Get an intimate glimpse into daily life and the city's history from the late Mughal days to the rule of the British Raj. Take a peek in shops and temples and discover a fascinating, untold history of life before and after the Taj Mahal.

Every day, the Taj Mahal, India’s most famous World Heritage Site, will see on average 15,000 people. Visit at dawn though and you cut those numbers right down resulting in a more peaceful stroll around the magnificent monuments. The early hours really are the best time to visit when you can just sit quietly and listen to the birds as you take in its architectural beauty.

When the sun starts to rise on a clear day, you can see the mausoleum turn from gold yellow to orange to a sparkling mountain white. You can roam the splendid gardens decorated with fountains and inspect the ornamental craftwork without the crowds. As the sun slowly bathes the walls, the stunning pietra dura inlay lights up the whole façade. This only occurs during the hours of dawn and makes the early start well worth it.

On this tour you will two major attractions, Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Start at Agra Fort where your guide will explain in detail how the Mughal dynasty created this paradise of beautiful gardens, fountains and architecture. Next you will head to the Taj Mahal stopping at the Mehtab Bagh gardens which enjoy magnificent panoramas of the glorious ivory-white structure.

At Agra Fort, you will go through several gates to a palace called Jahangiri Mahal where inside you can discover all the different architectural influences, not just Islamic, but also Jain and Hindu. Next, head to the Octagonal Tower from where you can see all the way to the Taj Mahal.

Next you will head to the Taj Mahal stopping at the Mehtab Bagh gardens which enjoy magnificent panoramas of the glorious ivory-white structure. As you get closer, the Taj Mahal’s landscaped gardens will come into full view, lined with abundant trees, fountains, symmetrical paths and canals. You will then be in front of one of the most beautiful buildings ever made. The façade has been designed to impress from every angle with perfectly aligned arches and beautiful stonework decorated with flowers and inscriptions of verses from the Koran. The interior contains more architectural marvels such as the huge marble domed tomb. You will have some free time to explore at your own pace and there will be plenty of photo opportunities.

Discover the untold stories of Agra’s Mughal women on this local walking tour. You’ll be led by Mehir, an artist who grew up in Agra and knows the city intimately. She can show you Agra through her eyes and share what life is like for women today in India. It provides a fresh perspective that you then carry on your journey across India.

As Mehir guides you through the city, she’ll show you key monuments that have either been built by women or inspired by them. Many people don’t realise that the women of the Mughal dynasty like Khanzada Begum and Mumtaz Mahal were a powerful force who shaped politics and culture. You’ll stop at the Itmad ud Daulah, which is known as the baby Taj as it served as inspiration for the Taj Mahal itself. It’s a majestic, white-marble monument that resembles a jewellery box, built by Mehr-un-Nissa as a tomb for her father. An emperor’s wife, Mehr was one of the most famous women of her era.

During the tour, you’ll also get to meet and interact with women who live in Agra now. Mehir will introduce you to various artists and jewellery makers, a flower garland specialist and Zardozi embroiderer. You’ll get to chat and learn about their lives as modern women in Agra. Travellers love this contemporary view and having the chance to meet and hear about the real women of Agra.

Learn why Agra Fort is sometimes referred to as a city within a city on this interesting tour of Agra Fort. A Rajput king called Badul Singh constructed the building as a residence with brick in the late 15th century.  Your guide will go into detail as to its history, how it became one of the world’s most beautiful prisons, a fort and a residence.

The guidebooks usually skip the history until the 3rd Mughal Emperor, Akbar, lived there and whose father, Humayun, was crowned at Agra Fort. The 5th ruler, Shah Jahan, was responsible for the exquisite use of marble seen throughout the architecture. An interesting anecdote about Shah Jahan says that every morning at sunrise he was obligated to show himself from his bedroom windows to his people as evidence that he was alive and well.

On this excursion, your guide will go into detail as to its history, how it became one of the world’s most beautiful prisons, a fort and a residence.