Steeped in history, Agra’s the place for Mughal architecture. Get your head around the back-story of each monument – Agra is best thought of as the setting for political upheaval, scandalous love affairs and tragic family feuds. Take Agra Fort, for example. Emperor Shah Jahan – responsible for the Taj Mahal – was overthrown by his own son in 1658 and locked away in one of the fort’s towers, forced to stare at his creation from miles away. It’s a cliché, but walking around the fort and spotting the Taj from a distance really does transport you back in time. And it will put any of your family arguments well and truly into perspective.
But not all of Agra is lost in the past – embrace the contrast between ancient splendour and day-to-day chaos in Old Agra, where you can wind your way through the narrow streets and peer into tiny temples and at hole-in-the-wall food vendors. Or visit one of the many late-night markets to try your hand at bartering for goods with the locals.
So don’t just take a peek at the Taj and tick Agra off your list. Take a tour of Agra and go beyond the tourist trap to discover Agra in all its past – and present – glory.