How To Explore Agra City In Budget

Agra is where the marvelous Taj Mahal dwells, and each year millions of tourists flock to witness the beauty of this outstanding mausoleum. The glory of Agra isn’t just limited to Taj Mahal; its historic past is rich with stories of famous kings. They have left behind for us fragments of architectural grandeur which never fails to amaze.

Where to Stay

As tourists, we usually look for budgeted hotels so we can spend on other good things that we can do in the city. Once you are in Agra, you should check in a good hotel and then go ahead with the exploration of the city. Look up the internet for Agra budget hotel, and you will find several hotels listed. Pick ones with good ratings and reviews. Bhawna Palace is one such hotel that has a lot of good reviews. Ensure you have the room booked ahead through one of the booking websites.

Historical Places to Visit

Taj Mahal – This marvelous mausoleum has to be your first stoppage in your itinerary as you explore the city. The Taj Mahal is open for the tourists to visit from 6:00 am to 6:30 pm except on Fridays and the month of Ramadan. If you are lucky and are in Agra at the time of full moon, then you get an opportunity to see Taj Mahal in the night. The charm of this magnificent architectural building is extraordinary in the light of full moon.

Fatehpur Sikri – It was once the capital of the Mughals and was beautified by Akbar. It got its name from a small village there known as Sikri. This place was an escapade for the Mughal kings from the clamor of daily life in Agra. When Akbar has succeeded in one of his campaigns in Gujarat he built the ‘Buland Darwaza,’ and the city was hence known as Fatehpur Sikri. You will also find the Jama Masjid and Tomb of Salim Chishti in this city.

Agra Fort – The Agra Fort is made of red sandstones which Akbar bought from Barauli in Rajasthan. The inner part of the fort is built with bricks, and the outer surface is made with red sandstone. It took eight years and 4,000 laborers to complete the fort. Some of the buildings inside the fort were demolished by Shah Jahan who then used white marble for the construction work. The whole fort is built in 94 acres of land and encompasses several palaces and other buildings.

Tomb of Itmad Ud Daulah - This is the mausoleum of Mirza Ghiyas Beg who was a Persian and father of queen Nur Jahan, the wife of Emperor Jehangir. Mirza Ghiyas Beg also happens to be the grandfather of Mumtaz Mahal (Shah Jahan’s wife). The tomb is made of red sandstones with some designs of white marble. It architectural design looks like that of Taj Mahal and has often been referred to as Baby Taj Mahal.

Chini Ka Rauza – This building is dedicated to the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan, Allama Afzal Khan. He was also a famous poet in the court of the Mughals. Chini ka Rauza is a tomb for Allama Afzal Khan. It has a unique architectural style, and the frontage has a glazed tile work which is known as Chini or Kashi.

Tomb of Akbar - Although Akbar had picked the place where he wanted to remain after his death the tomb was built by Jahangir and its construction was completed in 1613. The tomb was robbed of all the precious stones and another valuable decorative on it by the Jat king Raja Ram and his soldiers. He also opened up the king’s grave and hauled out his bones. Aurangzeb revenged their act and killed Raja Ram. Lord Curzon restored back the tomb during the rule of the British.

There are many more beautiful places that Agra beholds for you to discover and admire. Ensure you book one of the comfortable budget hotels in Agra to have a relaxed holiday.

The author of this article is a graduate of Howard and loves to write articles and blogs on Travel and Tourism.