Agra was an important destination during the rule of Mughals. They considered Agra as the capital of their reign. To keep their names in history, each ruler of Mughals commissioned construction of various monuments in Agra.
Moreover, according to their religion, they built grand mausoleum for their ancestors. This did not start with Mughals. Small reigns which controlled Agra prior to the invasion of Islamic rulers also continued the same process of constructing structures to preserve their heritage and name.
Thus, Agra is now one grand collage of monuments dating several centuries from today.
Here is the list of top Historical monuments that you should visit in Agra. No matter what style of vacation you are planning to enjoy in Agra, these monuments would add regal warmth to your time. Even luxury trains like Maharajas’ Express, Palace on Wheels and others incorporate as many monuments as possible during their time in Agra.
1. Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal is the crown of all the monuments of the country. Built in 17th century, this is the emblem of royal beauty and architectural paradise. Built with marble, this grand mausoleum of Mumtaz Mahal is beautified with jalli work, semi-precious stones procured from several corners of the world and so on. Every year, millions of people visit this monument and you should also try to visit and embrace its beauty.
- Cost for entry for Indians: INR 50 per head for those above the age of 15
- Cost of entry for foreigners: INR 1100 per head for those above the age of 15
- Timing: 8 am to 5 pm
Source: https://www.tajmahal.gov.in/change_visiting_hours.html
Read more information about Taj Mahal
- A Brief About Taj Mahal
- History of Taj Mahal
- Story of Taj Mahal
- Inside The Taj Mahal
- Architecture of Taj Mahal
- How to Reach Taj Mahal
- Best time to visit Taj Mahal
- Reasons to visit Taj Mahal
Read more – Famous Handicrafts to Purchase in Taj Mahal, Agra
2. Agra Fort
Next to Taj Mahal, this is the major attraction of the city. This was the heart of Mughal reign. This fort existed several centuries ago but, it became a major defense structure after Akbar re-built it with sandstone. Shah Jahan added many marble monuments into the Agra fort. This heritage site is a vast structure covering 94 acres of land. Top attractions to see inside the fort are Khas Mahal, Diwan-i-khas, Nagina Masjid, Diwan-i-aam, Musamman Burj, Shahi Burj, Sheesh Mahal and others.
- Timing: sunrise to sunset
- Cost of entry for India – INR 40 per head for those above the age of 15
- Cost of entry for foreigners – INR 550 per head for those above the age of 15
Source: https://www.agrafort.gov.in/indexNew/ticketing.html
Suggested read – Complete Travel Guide to Agra Fort
3. Fatehpur Sikhri
A little away from Agra, this colossal city was built in 16th century by Akbar as a capital city. It has engineered beauty with numerous architecture beauties like palaces, mosques, halls and others. However, due to water scarcity, Akbar abandoned the city within a decade.
Today, Fatehpur Sikhri city is a major attraction for its structures like Jama Masjid, Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-khas, Buland Darwaza, Mariam uz Zamani, Anup Talao, Ibadat Khana, Pachisi court, Hiran Minar and others.
- Timing: sunrise to sunset
- Cost of entry for India – INR 40 per head for those above the age of 15
- Cost of entry for foreigners – INR 550 per head for those above the age of 15
Source: https://www.fatehpursikri.gov.in/ticket.html
Read more – Explore the endless beauty of Agra same day by car
4. Jama Masjid
This is very common name is for you are taking a tour through North India. Many cities have mosques with the same name. Jama Masjid is a large mosque located closer to Agra Fort. This mosque is one of the largest ones in the country. This 17th century monument commissioned by Shah Jahan was dedicated to his daughter, Jahanara. The domes, decorations, inscriptions, archways and the prayer wall are the major elements of attractions of this mosque.
- Timing: sunrise to sunset
- Cost of entry: none
Read more – Gatimaan Express- India’s First Semi-Bullet Train from Delhi to Agra
5. Tomb of Akbar
As mentioned before, Mughals took pain in creating large mausoleums for the dead. Akbar’s Tomb is the resting place of Akbar built in 17th century. This region was specifically selected by Akbar as his final place. Today, you cannot find many elements of this tomb as they were looted by Jat king, who also destroyed the earthly remains of Akbar as a revenge.
Top beauty elements of this tomb are ceiling painting, carvings, minarets, calligraphic designs and so on. You can spot many peacocks in the garden if you are visiting in winter.
- Timing: sunrise to sunset
- Cost of entry for India – INR 30 per head for those above the age of 15
- Cost of entry for foreigners – INR 310 per head for those above the age of 15
Read more – When Is The Best Time To Visit Golden Triangle India (Delhi Agra Jaipur)?
6. Baby Taj or Itimad-ud-Daulah
This is the monument that inspired Taj Mahal. It was built in 17th century using sandstone and marble. This tomb was erected in the memory of Nur Jahan’s father. This structure is famous for its delicate designs on the wall. You can spot many semi-precious stones like jasper, topaz, lapis, onyx and others. While building Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan wanted to build a structure which would be far superior than this mausoleum of his grandfather.
- Timing: sunrise to sunset
- Cost of entry for India – INR 30 per head for those above the age of 15
- Cost of entry for foreigners – INR 310 per head for those above the age of 15
Read more – Top 5 Hotels to Stay in Agra
7. Tomb of Mariam-uz-Zamani
Mariam-uz-Zamani is the Rajput queen of Akbar, whom he married for political reasons. As Islamic culture, after her death, a monument was erected for her. It was built by Jahangir using marble and sandstone. This structure is famous for the Hindu, Islamic fusion architecture.
- Timing: sunrise to sunset
- Cost of entry for India – INR 20 per head for those above the age of 15
- Cost of entry for foreigners – INR 300 per head for those above the age of 15
Read more – Top 20 Tourist Places to visit in Agra
8. Chini ka Rauza
This is another mausoleum monument built in 17th century in the memory of Afzal Khan, a Persian poet who had power in the court of Jahangir. He became Prime Minister during the rule of Shah Jahan and when he died in Lahore, his remains were brought back to Agra to be buried here. Chinni ka Rauza is famous for the un-proportionate dome, which is quite unique to Mughal style architecture. Enamel is used for decoration in the interior of the monument.
- Timing: sunrise to sunset
- Cost of entry: none
Read more – Top Weekend Getaways from Agra
9. Chhatri of Jaswant Singh
This is the only Hindu monument in the city of Agra, which is still standing as a Hindu monument. Built in 17th century, this monument was dedicated to Queen Hada, the wife of Amar Singh who was killed inside Agra Fort. She committed sati when she found out that her husband was killed by Mughals. Amar Singh’s younger brother, Jaswant Singh built this monument.
This structure is famous for unique blend of Hindu and Mughal styled structure. A peacock structure can be found in this monument. It is said that a peacock voluntarily flew into the funeral fire killing itself. To honor the bird, a statue was erected in this monument.
- Timing: sunrise to sunset
- Cost of entry: none
Apart from these, there are numerous monuments, gardens, temples, churches and others to visit in Agra. You can make an entire vacation out of Agra with sightseeing and photography. Reaching Agra has become easier as the city is about to be connected with 7 different Indian destinations with direct flight.
Suggested read – How to Reach Agra from Delhi?
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/agra-tourism-industry-welcomes-air-connectivity-with-major-cities/articleshow/70525557.cms
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