For some reason, Agra has been on my mind for a few months now. Recently, N was there for an official event. Earlier this year, we had spent the last leg of our Madhya & Uttar Pradesh road trip at Agra, halting for just a night at A Dog’s Story whose review you can read further down in this post.
We have crossed Agra multiple times over the last few years on our way to Dholpur, Gwalior etc. Twice in 10 years, we have driven there for lunch – one at The Oberoi Amar Vilas and once at ITC Mughal. Many years ago, I had attended my first offsite there.
But my ‘proper’ visits to Agra were many, many years ago. Once when I went there as part of a college trip and once with my folks to sightsee. It was so many moons ago that I probably do not even have digital photographs of these visits.
Having said that, I abhor the word ‘proper’. Can we call a visit proper only when we have checked off all the items from the sightseeing list or from the must-eat dishes/ restaurants? I strive to savour each visit for what it brings – a distinct experience!
So, these disjointed visits make me want to pen down all that I remember I had liked.
Agra – The City
Agra was the capital of the Mughal empire in the 16th & 17th Century. Emperor Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan etc built sites in Agra, with Persian and Central Asian artists working in tandem with Indian artists to build mausoleums, tombs, parks, forts and other monuments.
Being the capital of the vast Mughal Empire, Agra has a variety of points of interest that can cater to all kinds of travelers, but I shall write only about the Taj Mahal in this post (and a few of the hotels that I have visited in Agra).
Taj Mahal – The Monument That Needs No Introduction
Like most people, I was pretty excited to finally see the Taj Mahal in flesh. Despite the hype, it is every bit as good as you have might have heard. Early morning is the best time to see this monument of love, in peace.
There I was – gazing at the mesmerising Taj Mahal. There are lush gardens here: I could marvel at the magical structure to my heart’s content. Appreciating its grandeur from one of the benches in the tree laden green pathways was one of the best moments of my time in Agra.
Hear birds chirp, idling lazily on the beautifully laid out green. I spent a good one-hour gawking at the marble inlay work (called Pietra Dura) and was astounded to see the rich detail on beautiful white marble.
There was silence while inside the Taj. Come armed with just your camera, mobile and water bottle to avoid any delays and problems that might happen. You do not want to lose your stuff in the crowd, anyway.
Although touts are dime-a-dozen, there are good guides too. The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal in 1631. 20,000 labourers worked on the construction of the Taj for over eight years.
The Taj Mahal is indeed a remarkable sight. The most famous lines written on the Taj – ‘A teardrop on the cheek of eternity’ (Rabindranath Tagore) – are absolutely true!
Note: The Taj Mahal is closed every Friday to anyone not attending prayers at the Mosque which lies inside the grounds of the Taj.
Hotels I Have Visited in Agra
The Oberoi Amar Vilas
Note – Lunch Review
We (a group of eight) drove down from Delhi specially on a Sunday to have lunch at The Oberoi Amar Vilas. Signboards can make it helpful to find the place. The property is beautiful, built in the Mughal style.
The Oberoi Amar Vilas comes with a high degree of reputation. Our experience would have been even better if the staff was more clued-in, and service was friendlier. We ordered ala carte, a combination of Indian dishes. The food was decent.
Post lunch, we visited the Taj Mahal. The Oberoi Amar Vilas helped us with a cart which took us till the entrance of the Taj. The cart driver was courteous enough to wait for us to return & ferried us back to the hotel.
ITC Mughal
Note – Lunch Review
I had stayed at ITC Mughal back in 2010 when I was there for a company offsite but, more recently, I visited for a lunch with family to celebrate a special occasion. We had made advance bookings at Peshawari.
If you make your way to Peshawari, please do not miss the Dal Bukhara and the Onion Kulcha. The Kulfi and Phirni are must-haves too. But then, how can I not mention the Machchi Tikka? Okay, let’s just say the food is an absolute hit!
A Dog’s Story
Everything about our stay was exceptional! The location was great, away from the chaos of Agra, yet easy to get to. The ecotainers have been thoughtfully designed. We were sceptical about the heat, but it was quite comfortable with the AC on.
The vast grounds were such a blessing for our dog who loved running around and exploring every inch. Food was divine! What we loved was that while the menu was limited, everything put on the menu was actually available (and largely sourced from their own vegetable garden).
The service of the staff exceeded our expectations.
Disclaimer – A few of the Taj Mahal images are from those with whom I was fortunate to have travelled to Agra.
