Most people naturally prefer not to stay very long time in Agra, as it's a rather unappealing city with a lot of touts. However, there are many worthwhile places to visit in Agra and around, apart from India's most famous historical monument - the Taj Mahal. The many intriguing remainders of the Mughal period will surprise you and the insane, congested markets of the Old City will entrance you. It's conceivable to encounter town life and draw near to nature too.

Agra Fort was constructed in the year 1573 under the ruling of Akbar – one of the best Mughal Emperors. It took more than 4000 workers and eight years of hardship to finish the fortification. Knowing the essentialness of its area, Akbar fabricated the stronghold to make it the primary living arrangement of the Mughals. The fortification stayed as the fundamental habitation of the sovereigns having a place with the Mughal administration until the year 1638. The fort houses various great structures like the Jahangir Mahal, Khas Mahal, Diwan-I-Khass, Diwan-I-Am, Machchhi Bhawan and Moti Masjid. In 1638, the capital of the Mughal administration was moved from Agra to Delhi, causing the Agra Fort to lose its status as the primary living arrangement of the Mughal rulers. The stronghold is isolated from its sister monument Taj Mahal by simply 2.5 kilometers. Regularly depicted as the walled city, Agra Fort is an UNESCO World Heritage site. Today, the Fort is a noteworthy place of tourist and attracts in numerous travelers from everywhere throughout the world.

Fast Facts

• Location: Agra, Uttar Pradesh
• Built By: Akbar
• Built in the Year: 1573
• Purpose: Main residence of the Mughals
• Area: 380,000 square meter
• Current Status: The fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site
• Visit Timing: 6:00 AM To 6:00 PM
• Entry: Entry to Agra Fort is allowed through the Amar Singh Gate only

The tomb of Akbar the Great, situated in Sikandra, in suburbs of Agra is an important Mughal architectural masterpiece, which was manufactured between1605-1613. Akbar himself started the development of this tomb, as per Tartary tradition, which expressed to initiate the development of one's tomb amid one's lifetime. The South gate of this tomb is the biggest with four white marble chhatri-topped minarets, like those of the Taj Mahal. The structures are built fundamentally from dark red sandstone. An engraving on the mausoleum reads: 'these are the Gardens of Eden: enter them to stay forever.' This historical monument’s beauty can't be justified in words and one needs to visit this place to really observe it.

Timing: Sunrise to sunset (open all days)

The Mughal Heritage Walk is a network-based travel industry initiative that was started by Center for Urban and Regional Excellence to help villagers make an income from tourism and enhance their living conditions. This 1 kilometer walk is directed by villagers who have been prepared as visit guides. It happens on the riverside opposite the Taj Mahal, goes through Kachhpura village, and ends at Mehtab Bagh. You'll get the opportunity to visit various lesser-known monuments of the Mughal Era in a provincial setting, communicate with the town networks, and appreciate a remarkable perspective of the Taj Mahal too.

Mughal Heritage Walk is a one of a kind visitor idea that gives an uncommon the scene look at one of the world's most treasured tourist attraction. This Mughal Heritage Walk is a mobile visit through the historically significant monuments from the Mughal era situated on the northern side of the river Yamuna. This walk covers three concealed pearls known as GyarahSiddi, MehtabBagh and Humayun’s Mosque, and apart from these monuments, it also gives a panoramic view of the iconic TajMahal and the Agra Fort.
How to Reach:

Kachhpura is easily approachable by visitors coming from Delhi continuing on NH-2 and taking a right from Ram Bagh Crossing and moving straight 3km crossing Etmad-ud-Daula. For visitors already in the city can reach Kachhpura through the new bridge near the Red-fort.

Timing: Sunrise to sunset (open all days)

Sheroes’ Hangout in Agra has garnered quite some media coverage in the past a few years and rightfully so. The Taj Mahal may be an old wonder, but here’s an initiative to level the playing field for the ones shoved into an actual existence of lack of clarity, anonymity, pain and disrespect.

Tucked away between trinket shops opposite The Gateway Hotel on Fatehabad Road is awesome spray painting filled cafe that's a must-visit in Agra.   The momentous and inspiring Sheroes (She+Heroes) Hangout is totally staffed by women who are survivors of horrific acid attacks in India. It opened in December 2014 and was established by a Delhi-based Channv Foundation NGO called Stop Acid Attacks.  The idea is to raise awareness of this dreadful issue and give the ladies confidence to show their faces in public after being distorted. As well as serving delicious food and drinks, the cafe has an regularly extending library (so you can unwind and peruse while you eat) and an exhibition space.

Timing: 10:00 AM–9:30 PM

This is a garden that is behind the Taj Mahal. It is called as Mehtab Bagh or The Moonlight Garden. Recent evacuation in this area revealed 25 fountains and a letter written by Aurangazeb to his dad in seventeenth century expressing the state of the garden after a surge.

This garden is actually square in shape. This garden was build by Babur and Shah Jahan picked the present place for Taj Mahal because he wanted a view of this garden from the Mahal. A lot of fountains, structures and different attractions were a piece of this garden and were crushed in a surge.

It is said that this area was chosen by Shah Jahan for building a black colour building similar to Taj Mahal for him. But, he was imprisoned by his child and couldn't finish his desires.

Year before, the recreation center was only a barren land. To maintain a strategic distance from any disintegration impacts on the Mahal, government has planted 25 unique types of flood resistance plants in the area. The park is not much of an importance today. What attracts people is the view. From the fountain, you can get an amazing perspective of the Taj Mahal.

Famous For: Photo Fanatics History Buffs Experience Seekers Nature Lovers
Visiting Time: All days of the week 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM

A beautiful natural forest cover is spread more than 70 hectares only 500 meters from the eastern door of Taj Mahal. Guests can have a phenomenal perspective of the Taj from various mounds in the park. The backwoods possesses large amounts of an assortment of greenery.

Get away from the crowds and enjoy the Taj Mahal surrounded by nature. Around 500 meters from the East Gate, on Fatehabad Road, you'll find a reserve forest that provides a unique opportunity to admire the monument in different hues and settings. You can wander through its ways to different perspectives, watch towers, and rest zones. The reserve is open daily from sunrise until sunset.

Highlights for Taj Nature Walk

Taj Nature Walk Address: Taj East Gate Rd, East Gate of Taj, Paktola, Tajganj, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282001, India
Taj Nature Walk Timing: 09:00 am - 06:00 pm

On the way to Fatehpur Sikhri, drop into Korai Village rural tourism initiative. Korai is a tribal village, Korai is an inborn town, whose inhabitants were the attendants of dancing sloth bears. They've been struggling to earn an income and survive since the bears were taken away, as they were not given pay. You'll have the capacity to find out about and encounter day by day town life, and even meet the village magician, Mohammad. The expense to enter the town is $10 per individual.

Visiting Korai Village is a beneficial bypass under 10km before the World Heritage Site of Fatehpur Sikri. This rural tourism activity benefits villagers who were the previous the former keepers of dancing sloth bears. Their guided visits offer bits of knowledge and encounters of every day rural life in India, including an opportunity to see a couple of the village magician’s famous tricks

They've been struggling to earn an income and survive since the bears were taken away, as they were not given pay. You'll have the capacity to find out about and encounter day by day town life, and even meet the village magician, Mohammad. The expense to enter the town is $10 per individual.

To experience the heart of Agra, head to the fascinating and congested Old City behind seventeenth century Jama Masjid mosque. There, you'll encounter a tangle of narrow lanes housing a startling variety of wares including spices, clothes, jewelry, shoes, saris, crafts and snack stalls. This area, known as Kinari Bazaar, can be quite overwhelming if you don't know your way around. Henceforth, taking a guided strolling visit is a smart thought.

If you want that you need a glance at the real Agra, come on this tour! Go for a walk with us inside little known bazaars of the city, where the old ways of life continue uninterrupted.

The streets are fragrant of flavors – turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom and several more. Ladies deal over the cost of bangles and sarees. The faithful offer prayers in little shrines at roadside corners. Merchants move sweetmeats and zesty luxuries; the chai slows down do energetic business. Schoolchildren wind their route home through narrow lanes; and farmers come to purchase implements. Old arts and crafts makes still flourish in the bazaars.

Of course, India has many interesting and beautiful places to visit. If you are planning to a tour of Agra and have interest in animals. Luckily, Wildlife SOS operates the Agra Bear Rescue Center, which houses sloth bears that used to be held captive and forced to dance. The center is open every day from sunrise to sunset and is located on the Delhi-Agra Road, 16 kilometers before Agra inside Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary.

The Agra Bear Rescue Facility is now open for visitors.  They have just completed a new Education Conservation Walkway, the first of its kind in India.  So, please come and meet some of their bears and learn about their conservation efforts in India. Here are some of the details you need to know for planning your trip.

Wildife SOS Projects:

• Eradication of 'Bear Dancing'
• Habitat conservation project
• Moon Bear Rescue Project
• Captive animal welfare
• Anti-poaching unit – ' Forest Watch'
• Reptile Rescue cell
• Educational Workshops

Timing: - The center is open 7 days a week during daylight hour’s sunrise to sunset.