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Itmad-ud-Daulah, Agra
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AgraTravel Guide

India4 stories

Home of the Taj Mahal, Agra was the Mughal capital at its zenith — a city of marble tombs, a colossal fort and a ghost capital nearby.

Is Agra right for you?

When to come

October to March

Around 42°C by day in May, 22°C in January — recorded at the local weather station.

What it costs

It depends where you stand. There is a cheap version and an expensive one — the guides below say which is which.

What we've planned, and who for

No hour-by-hour route here yet — the guides below cover it by subject instead.

Agra is inWarm in JanuaryAncient wonders
When to go
January: around 22 degrees by day, 7 at night, 13 millimetres of rain, dry. We recommend this month.
February: around 26 degrees by day, 10 at night, 11 millimetres of rain, dry. We recommend this month.
March: around 32 degrees by day, 14 at night, 8 millimetres of rain, dry and hot. We recommend this month.
April: around 38 degrees by day, 20 at night, 9 millimetres of rain, dry and hot.
May: around 42 degrees by day, 24 at night, 21 millimetres of rain, dry and hot.
June: around 41 degrees by day, 26 at night, 46 millimetres of rain, some rain.
July: around 36 degrees by day, 25 at night, 246 millimetres of rain, very wet.
August: around 33 degrees by day, 24 at night, 199 millimetres of rain, very wet.
September: around 34 degrees by day, 24 at night, 111 millimetres of rain, wet.
October: around 35 degrees by day, 19 at night, 25 millimetres of rain, dry and hot. We recommend this month.
November: around 29 degrees by day, 13 at night, 3 millimetres of rain, dry and hot. We recommend this month.
December: around 24 degrees by day, 8 at night, 3 millimetres of rain, dry. We recommend this month.
Cold to hot, by dayDry to wetWhen we would go

October to March

Average daily highs, recorded at Agra, 1991-2020 normals.

Where this comes from

India Meteorological Department; NOAA (English Wikipedia, 'Template:Agra weatherbox') — The Agra article transcludes Template:Agra weatherbox; values read from that template.

Budget level

Mixed

Typical cost profile for visitors

Combine it with
  • Delhi180 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in January, February, March

  • Jaipur220 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in January, February, March

  • Udaipur520 km

    half a day's travel · both good in January, February, March

  • Varanasi540 km

    half a day's travel · both good in January, February, March · a different price level (budget)

Plan itWhere to stay in Agraad · Booking.comTours and tickets
On the map

Finding Agra

Open in Google Maps Larger map
The stories

Reading Agra

The Taj Mahal's white marble dome and minarets under a clear blue sky, with the long reflecting pool and cypress trees in front
01
The List

Agra, Ranked: The Experiences You Cannot Miss

Everyone comes for the Taj Mahal — and rightly so. But Mughal Agra holds a fort, a 'Baby Taj' and a ghost city that deserve their own place on the list.

India · 2 min
The Amar Singh Gate of Agra Fort: two massive red sandstone bastions flanking an arched entrance, the crenellated walls glowing warm against a deep blue sky as visitors walk up the ramp.
02
Destinations

The Taj for less: a smart budget playbook for Agra

The world's most famous monument sits in one of India's most affordable cities. How to see the Taj Mahal, the fort and the riverfront without overspending.

India · 2 min
Two leaf bowls of kachori soaking in spiced potato curry on the worn metal counter of a street cart — the classic fried-breakfast snack of India's Braj region around Agra and Mathura
03
Food

From bedai at dawn to kebabs after dark: eating through Agra

Bedai at dawn in the old city, petha by the kilo, chaat in Sadar Bazaar and Mughlai kebabs after dark: how to eat through a full day in Agra.

India · 12 min
The Tomb of I'timad-ud-Daulah in Agra, the marble 'Baby Taj', its four slender corner minarets and inlaid facade rising from a red sandstone platform under a bright sky.
04
Hidden Gems

Beyond the Taj: Agra's old bazaars and riverside backstreets

Millions come for the Taj Mahal and are gone before lunch; the Mughal bazaars, riverside tombs and craft lanes ten minutes away repay a whole second day.

India · 12 min
In pictures

Agra, framed

The Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri seen from directly below: a colossal red sandstone gateway banded with white marble inlay, its half-dome arch and rows of carved niches rising into a clear blue sky.
Photo: Yash Rai / Unsplash
The Taj Mahal at dawn down the length of its reflecting pool, dark cypresses lining both banks
Photo: sanin sn / Unsplash
Free Taj views, Agra
Photo: Shamees Cm / Unsplash
Free Taj views, Agra
Photo: Darsh Nishar / Unsplash
Our picks

What we'd do in Agra

See and do

Eat and drink

Before you go

Practical essentials for India

Money

Indian rupee (INR)

Language

Hindi and English are the Union's official languages alongside 22 scheduled languages; English is widely used in cities and tourism.

Power

Type C/D/M, 230V 50Hz

Getting around

Indian Railways links the cities and Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur have metros with their own smart cards and QR tickets; in town it is app taxis and auto-rickshaws.

Tipping

Not obligatory but common — round the bill up or leave 5–10% where no service charge appears, and small notes for porters and drivers.

Tap water

Tap water is not safe to drink — use sealed bottled or properly filtered water and avoid ice from unknown sources.

Driving

Left-hand side; the 1949 International Driving Permit is required alongside your national licence.

Emergency

112 (unified); 100 police, 108 ambulance, 101 fire

Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.

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