Agra

Why Agra is famous

• •Agra is home to the iconic Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
• •The city has a rich Mughal heritage, with the Red Fort and Fatehpur Sikri being other notable examples of Mughal architecture.
• •Agra is a significant cultural and artistic hub, with a rich tradition of music, dance, and handicrafts.
• •The city is situated on the banks of the Yamuna River.
• •The city has a rich Mughal heritage: Agra Fort (Qila-i-Akbari) and Fatehpur Sikri, about 37-40 km west of Agra, are other notable examples of Mughal architecture. Agra Fort is sometimes wrongly called 'the Red Fort' - that name belongs to Delhi's fort.
• •Taj Mahal visiting: open sunrise to sunset, closed Fridays. 2026 entry fees are reported as Rs 50 for Indian nationals, Rs 540 for SAARC/BIMSTEC nationals and Rs 1,100 for other foreign nationals, plus an extra Rs 200 to enter the mausoleum chamber; under-15s enter free. Tickets are valid for 3 hours and are booked on the ASI portal.
• •Taj Mahal night viewing: five nights per lunar cycle (the full moon and the two nights either side), not on Fridays, 20:00-23:59 in eight batches of 50 people; report at Shilpgram 30 minutes before your batch time and buy tickets from the ASI office in person. Night viewing is also suspended during Ramadan (17 Feb-8 Mar 2027).

Agra at a glance

History at a glance

1. 1565-1573 · MUGHAL
   Agra Fort is built as a red sandstone fortress; its 2.5 km walls enclose the imperial city of the Mughal rulers.
2. 1571-1573 · MUGHAL
   Akbar builds Fatehpur Sikri, about 37-40 km west of Agra on outcrops of the Vindhyan range beside an artificial lake - the first planned city of the Mughals, with palaces, public buildings, mosques and quarters for the court, army and servants.
3. 1573 · MUGHAL
   The Buland Darwaza is built to commemorate Akbar's victory over Gujarat.
4. 1585 · MUGHAL
   The capital moves to Lahore. Fatehpur Sikri remains only a place for temporary visits.
5. 1631-1648 · MUGHAL
   The Taj Mahal is built on Shah Jahan's order in memory of Mumtaz Mahal. UNESCO gives these dates; other sources give 1632-1653.
6. 17th century · MUGHAL
   Around 20,000 builders and artisans are brought to Agra to build the Taj. A once-common claim that some of them were Italians practising pietra dura is contested by most historians. The inlay technique becomes known as parchin kari.
7. 1983 · MODERN
   The Taj Mahal (ref 252) and Agra Fort (ref 251) are inscribed as World Heritage Sites - the Taj on criterion (i) alone, the Fort on criterion (iii).
8. 1986 · MODERN
   Fatehpur Sikri (ref 255) is inscribed on criteria (ii)(iii)(iv).
9. December 1996 · MODERN
   The Supreme Court of India rules that industries in the Taj Trapezium Zone, about 10,400 sq km, must stop using coal and coke and switch to natural gas or relocate.
10. 28 November 2004 · MODERN
    Night viewing of the Taj opens to tourists.
11. 2003-2004 · MODERN
    The Taj Heritage Corridor Project is flagged by UNESCO as damaging the World Heritage value of the Taj and the Fort, and is suspended by the Indian authorities.

Best time to visit

Agra's climate is generally hot and dry during the summer months, with temperatures often soaring high, while the winters are mild and pleasant. The city experiences a distinct monsoon season from July to September, bringing much-needed rainfall and a brief respite from the heat.

Weather details and any festival without a stated lunar anchor above are AI-drafted from general knowledge, not independently verified — timing is approximate; double-check before planning around one.