Agra

Located in Uttar pradesh on the banks of the River Yamuna, the city of Agra is synonymous with the Taj Mahal- one of the Seven Wonders of the World, renowned for its beauty and historical significance. Agra is located 363 kms from the state capital of Lucknow and is on the itinerary of all travelers- domestic and international. Apart from being an important capital city to the Mughals during their rule, Agra also finds mention in the Mahabharata, where it was called Agrevana- which meant "The Border of the Forest". It is believed that the city was founded by Raja Badal Singh, a Rajput king, who's fort Badalgarh, stood on or near the present city.

The magical allure of the Taj Mahal draws tourists to Agra like moths to a wondrous flame. And despite the hype, it’s every bit as good as you’ve heard. But the Taj is not a stand-alone attraction. The legacy of the Mughal empire has left a magnificent fort and a liberal sprinkling of fascinating tombs and mausoleums; and there’s also fun to be had in the bustling chowks (marketplaces). The downside comes in the form of hordes of rickshaw-wallahs, touts, unofficial guides and souvenir vendors, whose persistence can be infuriating at times. Agra sits on a large bend in the holy Yamuna River. The fort and the Taj, 2km apart, both overlook the river on different parts of the bend. The main train and bus stations are a few kilometres southwest.

Agra is host to the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World in India, Taj Mahal, which makes the whole country proud. But that's not the only thing Agra has to boast of. Agra has three UNESCO World Heritage sites and Taj Mahal features in the 50 most popular tourist destinations in the world. History, architecture, romance all together create the magic of Agra which is almost the lifeline of Indian tourism. History fanatics as well as architecture buffs can have a ball here with the sh