India Travel

Information of the Agra in the Uttar Pradesh

Related Properties from Gurgaon

Arrival and information of the Agra in the Uttar Pradesh

Agra has no less than six railway stations. The busiest is Agra Cantonment (Cantt), in the southwest, which serves Delhi, Gwalior. Jhansi and points south, has a tourist information counter, and is near most hotels. Trains from Rajasthan pull in close to the Jami Masjid at Agra Fort Station, further from the main hub of hotels. Don't be persuaded to get off at Agra City Station, an expensive rickshaw ride away from town. To get to a hotel, use the prepaid auto-rickshaw/taxi booth at Agra Cantonment Station (Rs40/90) or flag down one of the cycle rickshaws (Rs25) that wait in the

Practicalities of the Mathura in the Uttar Pradesh

The city's principal railway station lies southwest of the centre, around 4km from Holi Gate and the old city. It's on the main Delhi—Agra line, 1hr 45min from Delhi Nizamuddin on the fast Taj Express #2180, and only 50min short of Agra; Mathura is also served by several Delhi-Mumbai trains such as the Punjab Mail #2138 via Agra and the fast Kerala Express #2626; the Fashchim Express #2926 stops at Sawai Madhopur (for the wildlife park of Ranthambore) and Kota. Mathura has two bus stands; the Old Bus Stand, near Holi Gate, has hourly connections to Agra and serves Govardhan, 25km

Agra in the Uttar Pradesh

The splendour of AGRA - capital of all India under the Moghuls - remains undiminished, from the massive fort to the magnificent Taj Mahal. Along with Delhi, 204km northwest, and Jaipur in Rajasthan, Agra is the third apex of the "Golden Triangle", India's most popular tourist itinerary. It fully merits that status; the Taj effortlessly transcends all the frippery and commercialism that surrounds it, and continues to have a fresh and immediate impact on all who see it. That said, Agra city itself can be an intense experience, even for seasoned India hands. Years of corruption and political neglect have reduced

Some history of Agra in the Uttar Pradesh

Little is known of the pre-Muslim history of Agra; one of the earliest chronicles, dated to the Afghan invasion under Ibrahim Ghaznavi in 1080 AD. describes a robust fort occupying a chain of hills, with a flourishing city strategically placed at the crossroads between the north and the centre of India However, Agra remained a minor administrative centre until 1504, when the Sultan of Delhi, Sikander Lodi, moved his capital here, to keep a check on the warring factions of his empire. The ruins of the Lodis great city can still be seen on the eastern bank of the Yamuna. After

Details of Western UP

Western Uttar Pradesh, on the fringes of Delhi, and serving as the gateway to the heartland of the subcontinent, has always been close to the centre of power in India. Once the Moghul capital, Agra is renowned for the most stunning mausoleum in the world - the Taj Mahal - as well as the stupendous battlements and palaces of the Agra Fort. Not far away, the sandstone pavilions of Fatehpur Sikri, built by the Moghul emperor Akbar and abandoned after only fifteen years, remain perfectly preserved in the dry desert-like air. The earliest records of the area date back 2500 years,

Practicalities of Allahabad in the Uttar Pradesh

Allahabad has four railway stations (including Prayag, City and Daraganj), but major trains on the broad-gauge Delhi-Kanpur-Calcutta line arrive at the main Allahabad Junction. Most of the city's hotels are nearby; be sure to use the exit appropriate to the area where you plan to stay. Leader Road bus stand, used by buses from western destinations such as Agra. Lucknow, Kanpur, Kausambi and Delhi, is just outside the station's south gates on the ciry side, while the smaller Zero Road bus stand, serving Mahoba and Satna and Chitrakut to the south - the railheads for Khajuraho - is 1km southeast. Buses

Northern Madhya Pradesh

The remoteness of the famous temples at Khajuraho. with their superbly tirved erotic sculptures, means that many visitors find themselves passing ptough a large tract of northern Madhya Pradesh. Few choose to linger in the region, however, preferring to return to the main Delhi-Agra artery or move onto Varanasi, Yet this much-trodden trail passes within striking distance of several other sights which are well worth taking time out to see. Foremost among them is the hill-fort at Gwalior. In addition to the immaculately restored palaces and ancient Hindu temples within the fort itself, the city also boasts, in extravagant European-style

Mathura south of Delhi and northwest of Agra in the Uttar Pradesh

The sprawling city of MATHURA, 141km south of Delhi and 58km northwest of Agra, is celebrated above all as the place where Krishna was born, on the banks of the River Yamuna that features so prominently in tales of his boyhood. Hindu mythology claims that it was founded by Satrugna, the youngest brother of Rama - hero of the Ramayana and incarnation of the godhead Vishnu. However, Mathura's earliest historical records date back around 2500 years, before the conquests of Alexander. Buddha himself founded monasteries here, in what was known to later Greeks as Madoura ton Theon (Mathura of the

Arrival, city transport and information to Ujjain in Western Madhy Pradesh

Trains arriving in Ujjain on both broad-gauge branches of the Western Railway pull-in at the station in the centre of town; Ujjain is on a link line between Indore and Bhopal, with regular intercity trains shunting between the three. Two minutes' walk northeast of the station is the Dewas Gate bus stand, where buses for Gwalior, Agra, Rajasthan and Bhopal depart. The inconvenient P.D.V. Bus Stand, next to the MPTDC Yatri Niwas, serves Indore, Bhopal and Mandu. The city is fairly spread out, so you'll need to get around by auto-rickshaw or by renting a bicycle from the shop opposite

Practicalities of Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh

Regular buses link Kushinagar with Gorakhpur (2hr) and Varanasi (8hr). Shared taxis and Jeeps also travel to and from Gorakhpur, but are a lot less comfortable. The airport is closed to commercial flights. UP Tourism maintains a low-key office and information desk at the tourist bungalow, Pathik Niwas. Both the Government of India and UP Tourism run comprehensive tours of the whole "Buddhist Circuit" ofUttar Pradesh, which can be booked either at che tourist office in Kushinagar or in Delhi. Accommodation is available in rooms for visiting pilgrims at some of the temples such as the Myanmar Buddhist emple (as

Travel details for Uttar Pradesh

Trains Note that most important trains to Varanasi stop at Moghul Sarai, requiring a change of trains or a connecting bus or taxi. Agra to: Ahmedabad (1 weekly; 27hr 30min); Alwar (1 dally; 4hr); Btiopal (16-19 daily; 5hr 30min-9hr): Bhubaneshwar (1 daily; 39hr); Chennai (1-2 daily; 34hr-42hr); Delhi (15 daily; 2hr-4hr 15min); Gwalior (15-19 daily; 1hr 15min-2hr); Indore (1 daily; 14hr 25min); Jaipur (3 daily; 7hr); Jalgaon (3-4 daily; 14hr 20min-19hr); Jhansi (15-19 daily; 2hr 25min-5hr); Jodhpur (3 daily; 13hr); Kanpur (4 daily; 7hr): Kolkota (Calcutta) (1 daily; 30hr); Lucknow (3 daily: 7hr-8hr 30min); Mathura (12 daily; 1hr 30min-2hr); Mumbai (2 daily;

Arrival and information of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh

The easiest way to get to Khajuraho is on one of the daily flights with Indian Airlines from Delhi (via Agra), or Varanasi. The local airport is 5km south of the main square of Khajuraho town; the taxi ride in costs Rs80. The two nearest railheads are at Jhansi to the northwest (see p.335), and Satna to the southeast; both are connected by bus. All buses terminate less than 1km southeast at the bus stand, within walking distance of most central hotels, or a cycle rickshaw will set you back Rs10, an auto-rickshaw Rsl5. Money can be changed at the State

Accommodation to Agra in Western UP

Taj Ganj, the grid of narrow lanes immediately south of theTaj, is where most budget travellers end up in Agra. With their matchless rooftop views, laid-back terrace cafes and rock-bottom room rates, its little guesthouses can be great places to stay. Their downside is the constant hassle at street level, and the facr that the whole Taj Ganj tourist scene can completely eclipse the traditional feel of the area. In this case, you may be happier in the more modern Tourist Complex district, southwest of Taj Ganj, or the leafier, greener Cantonment, near Agra Cantonment railway station, which has places

Details of Uttar Pradesh

UTTAR PRADESH, "the Northern State", known as UP since the days of the United Provinces, under the Raj, is the heartland of Hinduism and Hindi, dominating the nation in culture, religion, language and politics. A vast steamy plain of the Ganges, its history is very much the history of India, and its temples and monuments - Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim - are among the most impressive in the country. Not far from Delhi, in the west of the state, Agra, home of the Taj Mahal, and deserted Fatehpur Sikri stand as poignant reminders of

Travel details in Delhi

Trains To Rajasthan: Abu Road (3-4 daily; 11hr 10min-14hr 15min); Ajmer (5-6 daily; 7hr 1 Omin-11 hr 5min); Bharatpur (5 daily; 2hr 50min-4hr 15min): Bikaner (3 daily; 1Ohr 20min-11hr 4Dmin): Chittaurgarti (2 daily: 16hr 30min); Jaipur (10-12 daily; 4hr 25min-11hr 35min); Jodfipur (2 daily; 10hr 55min-13hr 40min); Kota (7-9 daily; 4hr 40min-10hr 45min); Sawai Madhopur (7 daily; 5hr 15min-8hr 15min); Udaipur (2 daily: 15hr 10min-21hr 15min). To Uttar Pradesh: Agra (18-20 daily: Itir 55min-4br 40min); Allahabad (10-12 daily; 7-14tir), Delira Dun (2-3 daily; 5hr 25min-10hr 20min); GoraKhpur (4-5 daily; 13hr 30min-22hr 5fnin); Kanpur (18-22 daily; 4tir 25min-8hr 20min); Lucknow (5-6 daily;

Practicalities to the Chitrakut in Uttar Pradesh

For, the few tourists in this region, Chitrakut serves as a centre for catching connecting buses and trains between Allahabad, Kalingar and Khajuraho. Long-distance transport connections are best made via Karbi. From the main Karbi Bus Stand numerous daily buses run to Allahabad (3-4hr), passing through Serai Akil, 15km from the Buddhist ruins of Kausambi, and also to historic Mahoba, a possible stopoff en route to Khajuraho. The railway station at Karbi has services to Allahabad and Mahoba, as well as Varanasi, 374km northeast (9hr). From the Satna Bus Stand in Chitrakut, buses head south into Madhya Pradesh; connecting buses

Accommodation to the Mathura in the Uttar Pradesh

Despite being an important pilgrimage centre and a large industrial and military city, Mathura offers a very limited choice of accommodation, and none of its up market hotels is especially worthy of recommendation. Neighbouring Vrindavan also has a small, basic range of accommodation. Agra, Bengali Ghat, Charming, small place established in 1930, overlooking the river in the old city and redolent of the atmosphere of the ghats. Bengali food, and a choice of clean air-cooled rooms. Some a/c. International Guest House, Shri Krishna Janamsthan. Large institution-like building set in beautiful gardens beside the temple. Very affordable and clean, with a good

Fatehpur Sikri in the Uttar Pradesh

The ghost city of FATEHPUR SIKRI, former imperial capital of the great Moghul emperor Akbar, straddles the crest of a rocky ridge, 40km southwest of Agra. Built between 1569 and 1585, it has lain silent for almost four centuries; by 1600, its meagre water supply had proved incapable of sustaining the population, and Akbar shifted the court to Lahore. Now deserted, it is almost perfectly preserved — a masterpiece in sandstone, glowing in subtly changing shades of pink and red as the day progresses and the light fades. The plan to move the court here was conceived by a ruler who,

Moving on from Agra in the Western UP

By air Indian Airlines flights from Agra's Kheria airport, 7km out of the centre, have been suspended while the airport is upgraded to take international traffic. However, you can still book and re-confirm tickets at the company's office in the darks Shiraz (daily 10am-1.15pm & 2-5pm), which also hosts the Jet Airways and Lufthansa counters. By train Train tickets, especially to the capital, should be booked well in advance at either Agra Cantonment or Agra Fort stations, which both have fully computerized booking offices with separate tourist counters. The fastest and most expensive service to Delhi is the fully a/c Shatbadi Express #2001

Practicalities of the Fatehpur Sikri in the Uttar Pradesh

Buses to and from Agra run every half-hour from about 5.45am until 6.30pm, and take between forty minutes and one hour. Regular buses also leave for Bharatpur (approx every 30min; 30min); if you're in a rush, consider renting one of the jeeps that wait outside the bus stand for around Rs300—400. Though it's well worth spending a day or two here, Fatehpur Sikri has a limited choice of places to stay. Unless you've pre-booked a room in the Dak Bungalow (see below), by far the best of the bunch is the Goverdhan Guest House, just east of the bus stand on