The small town of Agra was the capital of the Mughals and so it has been laced with numerous beautiful cultural monuments. Of course, the Taj Mahal is one marvel edifice that is unparalleled in terms of beauty and grandeur, but nevertheless, here is a list of some other tourist attractions near Taj Mahal that will leave you breath-taken for sure.
Agra Fort – The closest tourist attraction near Taj Mahal is the Agra Fort that speaks a thousand words of the grandeur of the Mughals and the “Golden Era” of the Mughal rule in India. It is located in close vicinity of the Taj Mahal. It was Emperor Akbar, who had built the edifice in the year 1565. However, you should know that the Agra Fort has witnessed several other additions till the reign of Shah Jahan. Entirely put up in red sandstone, this marvelous structure is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Fatehpur Sikri – This deserted city was constructed by Emperor Akbar. The construction was completed in 1584. The city is situated about 35 kms from the city of Agra and so tourists visiting the Taj Mahal make it a point to tour the city of Fatehpur Sikri. This city is counted among the grand cities of the Mughals.
Itmad –ud – Daulah Tomb – One of the most exquisite and picturesque tourist attractions near Taj Mahal is the Itmad – ud – Daulah Tomb that was constructed in between the years 1222 AD and 1628 AD Jahangir’s wife Noor Jahan. The monument is dedicated to Noor Jahan’s father Ghiyas – ud – din Beg and is built in his memory. The tomb is a lavish construction and is situated on the left bank of River Yamuna. Tourists flocking towards this tomb get mesmerized by its elaborate carvings and picturesque work of art.
Mankameshwar Temple – This temple beckons Hindu tourists from all over the world and is located at a distance of 2.5 kms from the Taj Mahal. The Mankameshwar is one among those four prehistoric temples that are dedicated to Shiva standing on each corner of Agra city. The temple is surrounded by Mughal markets.
Vrindavan – Vrindavan, the city of Lord Krishna, is the holy city of the Hindus and is considered to be very sacred. It houses around 4000 temples and Hindus from all over the world flock every year to Vrindavan for holy pilgrimage. It is near to the city of Agra and is counted among the most famous attractions near Taj Mahal.
Ram Bagh – The oldest garden of the Mughals is the Ram Bagh (originally known as Aram Bagh or Garden of Relaxation) that was built by the Emperor Babur in the year 1528. It is at a distance of about 3 kms from the Taj Mahal and is right on the banks of River Yamuna. The astonishing fact about this garden is that it was made in a way so that the blowing wind coming from the river after mingling with the lush greenery would maintain coolness in the place where the royals used to come for long walks.