Useful tips for Agra bus groups with ‘what to see’ and ‘what to do’ items and ‘bus- friendly’ or must see tourist sites in Agra. Check our list of attractions before planning your bus tour with a stop or departure in Agra. Let us know if your favourite attraction or ‘bus-stop’ is not there and you think we should add it to our list of Agra highlights.
Agra is India"s tourist capital but it isn"t just a one trick pony. Yes, there is the Taj Mahal, stupendously beautiful and the must visit on every India itinerary. But there are two other UNESCO world heritage sights, as well as countless temples, gardens, and tombs. Having private transport for your group is essential to fitting everything into your itinerary and coach hire is very popular with groups visiting Agra. Here"s what could be in store for your group.
Where else to start than the present that makes all men look bad. Commissioned by a Moghul emperor as a gift to his wife, the Taj Mahal was built with only one thing in mind; making people go wow. Unfortunately his wife didn"t live long enough to see it, but the monumental marble structure is now enjoyed by millions. The sun reflects differently off the surface at different times, and coming at either sunrise or sunset is essential for the best photos. No vehicles are allowed near the Taj Mahal so your coach will park by a ticket office around 500 meters from the entrance. The driver or guide usually walks with people to help them avoid the harassment from touts and monkeys. Yes, monkeys prowl the grounds so make sure there"s no rotting fruit in your bag.
Stunningly preserved and built exclusively from sandstone this fort used to protect the Mughal Empire from invasion. It"s nearby the Taj and most people visit the two attractions in one go, particularly as this makes the entrance tickets cheaper. Admire sculptures and palace rooms, marvel at intricate carvings, and find peace amongst a complex that is one of India"s finest.
Agra"s third UNESCO World Heritage site is like an often forgotten cousin. Readily ignored by tourists the Fetehpur Sikri would be the stand out attraction in almost any other world city. It"s a short 45 minute coach journey and you"ll probably find the large coach park completely empty. The 16th century complex is bursting with preserved palaces and decaying ruins, all sculpted out of a vivid deep red. Arguably the most impressive individual building is the 50metre high Buland Darwaza mosque, which took 12 years to build.
You"d be forgiven for thinking this is the end of the attractions, but Agra is a city that keeps giving. It"s a very holy city and you"ll find pilgrims all over the streets, often throwing powdered paint at everyone who cares to stare at them. They even decorate cows all colors of the rainbow. With a coach you can get out to different temples across the city, each with its own ambiance. For history and architecture try Rawli Maharaj Temple or the Kailash Temple in Yamuna. But to go local try experiencing the chants of the locals at the Mankameshwar Temple, particularly if there is a festival taking place.
Rather than simply bury their emperors and wives, the Mughals constructed opulent tombs that were guarded like castles. A fascinating example if Sikandra which has four red sandstone gates leading into the complex; one Muslim, one Hindu, one Christian, and one to reflect the religious mixture of Akbar who is buried here. Copying much of the style of the Taj Mahal the Itmad-Ud-Daulah Tomb is an intricate work of marble that few tourists visit. All the different tombs are open to tourists and coaches can park within 100 metres.
And we still haven"t mentioned the different gardens, each laid out to be a piece of tranquility in modern Agra. How long does a garden take to grow? Try 200 years, that"s the timeline on Soami Bagh which is currently half complete.
With so much to visit Agra can be tiring. Furthermore the incessant touts and crazy monkeys aren"t helpful for those looking to relax, nor is the pollution and never ending car honking. However, Agra knows that tourists are sometimes looking for something a little more refined than a dodgy samosa vendor or chaotic rickshaw wallah. There are a number of high end hotels here, and even if you"re not staying in them they serve excellent value food in quiet surroundings.
Read more about trips, transport, tours, taxis and bus rental in Agra, or find information about sights, transport services and travel in the province of Uttar Pradesh. You can receive competing quotes for bus hire in Agra directly by completing this quote request form. Getting offers for chauffeured coach or minibus hire in Agra has never been easier!
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