Agra

Agra exists, for most visitors, for one building — and the Taj Mahal genuinely lives up to that weight of expectation, particularly at first light before the crowds and heat build up.

It's worth staying long enough to also see Agra Fort, the red sandstone fortress-palace from which Shah Jahan is said to have viewed the Taj in his final years, and Fatehpur Sikri, the abandoned Mughal capital a short drive away.

Highlights

• The Taj Mahal at sunrise
• Agra Fort's palace complex
• Fatehpur Sikri, a short excursion from the city
• Mehtab Bagh for a sunset view of the Taj across the river

Best Time to Visit

October to March for comfortable sightseeing temperatures; the Taj is closed on Fridays.

Getting There

A 3–4 hour drive from Delhi, or a faster option by train; most Golden Triangle itineraries route through Agra between Delhi and Jaipur.