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| This is a very basic guidebook. |
| The information in it was compiled from various reliable sources to serve as a quick reference for your journey. |
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| What's inside? |
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The poet Rabindranath Tagore once described the Taj Mahal as, "a solitary tear [hanging] on the cheek of time." Indeed, just the mere mention of the word "India" will conjure up images of a gleaming marble facade, topped by a magnificent dome and four soaring minarets. While it is one of the world's most recognised landmarks, the Taj Mahal isn't the only edifice that could knock your socks off in Agra. Home to a treasure trove of architectural wonders, the city is blessed with rich history and culture, due to its pivotal position in the Mughal Empire during its zenith. Needless to say, you'll need a trusty guide to lead you to all of Agra's important historical landmarks. Let our a4trip guidebook help you find your way, and we'll share all of our best travel tips with you!
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| Help Save the Indian Pangolin! |
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| Fund collecting in progress... |
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| The Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) is a scaly anteater that can be found in many parts of India and some parts of Sri Lanka. Like other pangolins, it has large, overlapping scales on its body, which act like a protective armour. When attacked by predators like tigers, the animal can curl itself up into a ball as a form of self-defence. As an insectivore, it feeds solely on ants and termites, digging them out of their mounds using its long claws. The Indian Pangolin spends most of its time in burrows, but it has been known to climb trees. Other than habitat loss, the species is threatened due to poaching, as it is often killed for its so-called medicinal value. It is currently listed in the IUCN Red List as "Near Threatened". |
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| What's an a4trip guidebook? |
| An a4trip guidebook is a travel guide that'll provide you with the information you'll need to plan your trip and to find your way around. Our guidebooks are downloadable in PDF format, and are designed to be so compact, you can take it with you everywhere you go. |
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| How can I pay for a guidebook? |
| We accept credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, American Express (USA only) and Discover (USA only) via PayPal. Your transaction will appear as 'PAYPAL*A4TRIP' on your credit card statement. |
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| Help! Why can't I download the guidebook? |
| Don't worry, just get in touch with us and we'll deliver the guidebook right to your inbox. |
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| Just how often do you update your guidebooks? |
| We try to update our guidebooks at least once a month. |
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| Have more questions about a4trip? |
| Just Contact Us, we'd love to hear from you. |
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Agra, a city situated on the banks of the Yamuna River, is located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. So ancient is the city that it finds mention in the epic Mahabharata, and while the Delhi Sultanate had a firm footing, the city gained much of its fame as the capital of the Mughal emperors from 1526 to 1658. The city has become a major tourist destination because of its many splendid Mughal-era buildings, most notably the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Taj Mahal, completed in 1653 AD, is one of the most iconic buildings in the world. It is a magnificent mausoleum made of white marble commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for is favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal. The monument took 22 years 20,000 workers to build. Now officially one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World", the interior was once decorated in fine inlay work, incorporating both precious and semi-precious stones.
The Agra Fort, sometimes known as the Red Fort, was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565. The fort was converted into a palace during his grandson Shah Jahan's reign and revamped with extensive marble carvings and pietra dura inlay. The fort's vast complex includes: the Pearl Mosque, the Diwan-e-Am and the Diwan-e-Khas (halls of public and private audience), Jahangir's Palace, Khas Mahal, Shish Mahal (mirrored palace), and the Musamman Burj. The fort was also witness to a great act of betrayal. During the last 8 years of his life, Shah Jahan was imprisoned here by his son Aurangzeb, who had seized the throne from his father.
Fatehpur Sikri was another structure built by Akbar. From 1571 to 1585, it served as the empire's capital, but then, it was abandoned for reasons that remain unclear. Often regarded as Emperor Akbar's crowning architectural legacy, it contains numerous palaces, halls, and mosques that display a distinct creativity and flair typical of the Mughals.
Other notable sites in Agra include: the Mankameshwar Temple, one of the four ancient temples dedicated to Lord Shiva; Guru ka Tal, a reservoir meant to collect and conserve rainwater built during Emperor Jahangir's reign; the Jama Masjid, a large mosque built in 1648, attributed to Shah Jahan's daughter Princess Jahanara Begum, I'timad-Ud-Daulah, an emperor built by Empress Nur Jahan for her father, Mirza Ghiyas Beg; Akbar's Tomb, a vast, beautifully-carved structure set amidst a lush garden, and many more.
The main aerial gateway to Agra is the Agra Airport at Kheria, situated about 6 km from the city centre. However, because this airport is not very well connected, most visitors prefer to arrive at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi and then get to Agra via rail or road. Within Agra, there are buses that connect it to most of the bigger cities in North India. Locally however, people ride on auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws, which are readily available. It s important to note that polluting vehicles are not allowed near the Taj Mahal, so instead, one needs to take an electric car or bus from a few kilometres away from the monument.
All foreign nationals visiting Agra, except citizens of neighbouring Nepal and Bhutan, must be in possession of a valid Indian Visa before they start their journey. The visa must be obtained beforehand as there's no provision for visas on arrival in India. Tourist visas are usually issued for six months, but, depending on your nationality, shorter and longer visas are also available. However, no matter what the duration of your tourist visa, visitors are only allowed to stay in India for not more than 6 months at a time.
The cost of an Indian tourist visa varies between countries according to the arrangement between governments. To make visa applications more convenient, the Indian Embassy has started outsourcing the application process, so now, other than applying directly to the Indian Embassy in your country, you can also apply online and through processing agencies.
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