Top things to see and do in Agra
Taj Mahal. The reason you came. Commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal and completed in the mid-17th century, this UNESCO World Heritage monument is the high point of Mughal architecture — a perfectly symmetrical white-marble tomb set on a raised plinth, flanked by four minarets and mirrored in a long reflecting pool. Come at sunrise: the light is softest, the marble glows, and the crowds are lightest. The Taj opens roughly 30 minutes before sunrise and closes about 30 minutes before sunset, and is closed all day on Fridays for general viewing. Entry is tiered — Indian nationals pay a modest fee, SAARC/BIMSTEC visitors more, and foreign tourists most, with a small supplementary ticket to enter the main mausoleum chamber and free entry for children under 15. As a guide only, foreign-tourist entry has been in the four-figure-rupee band and the domestic ticket a small two-figure fee; verify current prices before visiting on the official ASI ticketing site, as they are revised periodically.
Agra Fort. A UNESCO World Heritage site in its own right and, for many, the equal of the Taj as an experience. This vast red-sandstone fortress-palace on the Yamuna was the main residence of the Mughal emperors and a walled city unto itself, layered with the work of Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan — audience halls, marble palaces, mosques and courtyards. From its riverfront pavilions you get a famous distant view of the Taj; this is also, by tradition, where Shah Jahan spent his final years under house arrest gazing toward his wife's tomb. Entry fees are modest for Indians and higher for foreigners; verify before visiting. Allow at least an hour and a half.
Fatehpur Sikri. About 40 kilometres west of Agra, this is the third of the area's UNESCO sites — the imperial capital Akbar built in the 1570s and abandoned within a couple of decades, reputedly over water scarcity. What remains is a remarkably intact red-sandstone city of palaces, courtyards and the grand Buland Darwaza gateway, alongside the still-active Jama Masjid and the white-marble tomb of the Sufi saint Salim Chishti, where pilgrims tie threads and make wishes. It is an easy half-day trip. Entry fees are separate from Agra's monuments; verify before visiting, and be firm with the persistent guides and vendors at the site.
Itmad-ud-Daulah (the "Baby Taj"). This jewel-box tomb on the east bank of the Yamuna was built by Empress Nur Jahan for her father and is often called a draft or precursor of the Taj Mahal. It is the first Mughal structure built entirely of white marble and richly decorated with pietra dura inlay, and it is far quieter than the headline monuments — an ideal spot to study the inlay craft up close without the crowds. Entry is inexpensive; verify before visiting.
Mehtab Bagh. A Mughal char-bagh (four-quartered) garden directly across the Yamuna from the Taj Mahal, aligned so that it frames the monument perfectly. It is the premier sunset viewpoint, giving you the Taj glowing gold above the river without the ticket queues of the main complex. There is a small entry fee; verify before visiting. Arrive an hour or so before sunset for the best light.
Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra. The mausoleum of Emperor Akbar, on the Agra–Delhi road at Sikandra, was begun in Akbar's lifetime and completed around 1613 by his son Jahangir. Set in a large walled garden of over a hundred acres, the tiered red-sandstone-and-marble tomb blends Hindu, Islamic and other architectural motifs in a way that reflects Akbar's syncretic outlook. Herds of deer and troops of monkeys roam the grounds. It sees far fewer visitors than the central sites; entry fees are modest, verify before visiting.
Jama Masjid. One of the largest mosques of Mughal Agra, built in the mid-17th century and attributed to Shah Jahan's daughter, Princess Jahanara Begum. It stands opposite Agra Fort, near the old-city railway station, and is notable for its bold domes. Entry is free, as at working mosques generally; dress modestly, remove shoes, and be mindful of prayer times.
Mankameshwar Temple. One of Agra's most revered Hindu sites, an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, traditionally counted among four Shiva temples marking the corners of the old city. Located near the Jama Masjid in the heart of the bazaar quarter, it is busiest during Shivratri and the month of Shravan. Entry is free; leave shoes and (usually) leather items outside, and expect queues on festival days.
Chini Ka Rauza. A lesser-visited 17th-century riverbank tomb north of Itmad-ud-Daulah, nicknamed the "China Tomb" for the glazed ceramic tilework (chini) that once covered its façade. Weathered but atmospheric, it is a rewarding stop for travellers interested in Persian-influenced Mughal decoration and appeals to those who like to escape the crowds. Entry is nominal or free; verify before visiting.
Marble inlay (pietra dura) workshops. The art that decorates the Taj — semi-precious stones cut and set flush into white marble to form flowers and patterns — is still practised in Agra by families who trace their craft to the imperial artisans. Many workshops welcome visitors to watch the cutting and setting and to buy tabletops, coasters and boxes. Watching the process for a few minutes is genuinely educational; on the buying side, prices are negotiable and quality varies enormously, so take your time and don't feel pressured by the hard sell.