5 Most Visited Tourist Places of Agra besides Taj Mahal & Agra Fort

5 Most Visited Tourist Places of Agra besides Taj Mahal & Agra Fort

Agra is much more than the world-famous Taj Mahal. The historic city is home to magnificent Mughal tombs, peaceful gardens, religious landmarks, and architectural masterpieces that reflect centuries of Indian history. While most travellers visit the Taj Mahal first, many remarkable monuments remain less explored despite their historical and cultural significance.

If you are planning an Agra Tour, consider adding these top places to visit in Agra to your itinerary. From the impressive Akbar’s Tomb at Sikandra to the elegant Itmad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj) and the spiritual Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara, each attraction offers a unique glimpse into Agra’s rich heritage. Moreover, these sites are less crowded, allowing you to enjoy a more relaxed sightseeing experience.

Whether you have a few extra hours or are spending two to three days in the city, exploring these places to visit in Agra will make your journey more memorable. Additionally, these monuments showcase outstanding Mughal architecture, fascinating history, and beautiful craftsmanship that perfectly complement your visit to the Taj Mahal.

Quick Travel Snapshot

  • Best Time to Visit: October to March

  • Ideal Duration: 2–3 Days

  • Famous For: Mughal Architecture, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Religious Landmarks

  • Nearest Railway Station: Agra Cantt

  • Nearest Airport: Agra Airport

  • Recommended Transport: Private Cab, Auto-rickshaw, E-rickshaw

Why Explore Beyond the Taj Mahal?

Although the Taj Mahal remains Agra’s most famous attraction, several other monuments showcase the city’s remarkable architectural and cultural heritage. Furthermore, exploring these sites helps visitors understand the evolution of Mughal architecture, religious traditions, and local history. Therefore, adding these attractions to your itinerary creates a more complete and rewarding Agra travel experience.

 Historical Places to Visit in Agra

1 – Akbar’s Tomb

Why Visit Akbar’s Tomb?

Akbar’s Tomb is one of the finest places to visit in Agra. Moreover, it offers a peaceful experience away from the crowds at the Taj Mahal. Visitors admire its gardens, Mughal architecture, and historical importance.

 

The Magnificent Gate of Akbar Tomb
The designs on the Gate
The Tomb of Akbar image
Close up of the tomb

Architecture of Akbar’s Tomb

The grand entrance gate immediately captures visitors’ attention with its colourful marble inlay, intricate calligraphy, and impressive red sandstone construction. Although the complex has four gateways, only the southern gate serves as the main entrance, while the remaining three were built mainly for architectural symmetry.

Akbar completed only the first three levels of the mausoleum during his lifetime. After his death, Emperor Jahangir completed the upper storeys according to his father’s original vision. Unlike many Mughal tombs crowned with a large dome, Akbar’s Tomb gradually narrows towards the top, giving it a distinctive pyramid-like appearance. Elegant arcades, spacious courtyards, and beautifully maintained gardens further add to its grandeur.

Visitor Information

Visitors can explore Akbar’s Tomb from sunrise to sunset throughout the week. Because the monument attracts fewer crowds than the Taj Mahal, it offers a peaceful atmosphere for photography and heritage walks. Moreover, many travellers combine a visit to Akbar’s Tomb with nearby attractions such as Mariam’s Tomb and Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara to enjoy a complete day of sightseeing in Agra.

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2 – Itmad-ud-Daula – Top Places to visit in Agra

It is better known as the Baby Taj. This name has been very aptly given to this beautiful marble structure which sure looks like a baby version of the world-famous Taj Mahal.

The riverside gate of Baby Taj
The tomb of Itmad-ud-daula
Fine marble filigree
Beautiful paintings

Perhaps king Shahjahan took the motivation from this marble mausoleum and later built the Taj Mahal. Built-in between 1622 – 1628 the mausoleum has a streaking feminine touch. The elegant filigree resembles embroidery.

Noorjahan the Persian wife of Mughal king Jahangir built this edifice in memory of her father and mother “Mirza Ghyas Beg” the father was an Emir in the royal court of the Mughals and was also the grandfather of queen Mumtaj mahal (Taj Mahal fame ).

The monument is situated on the southern bank of river Yamuna. Situated in the midst of a four quartered garden the monument has four gates the eastern gate is the only one used for entry while the Northern gate opens to the river rest are dummy gates, the monument has four faces with a dome not visible from the outside.

The white marble is elegantly done with inlay work depicting flowers, wine casks, swan, grapes, etc. The canopy on the top is gracefully done with four minarets on four respecter corners. The graves in the center are of the father and mother respectively.    

3 – Dayal BaghOne of the top Places to visit in Agra

– This edifice built-in memory of the first preacher of the Radha Soami faith (Huzur Soami Ji  Maharaj) is situated in Agra. There are so many stories associated with this monument.

The Samadhi
Inside the Samadhi
Three Dimensional carvings
The three-dimensional carvings

It took a monumental 100 old years for the memorial to be complete. This is one of the Most Visited Tourist Places of Agra after Taj Mahal. Dayal bagh a small town situated on the Northside of Agra city. “Radha Soami” the sect as it is known today built this beautiful piece of architecture started in 1905 it was completed in the year 2018 finally and inaugurated on the auspicious occasion of the centenary celebrations.

100 odd years the masons toiled and craftsmen sculpted this structure ornated with marble inlay and three-dimensional picturization of the flowers, fruits, trees giving an ethereal look to the monument, semiprecious stones have been used to make the green grapes and leaves.

The gold finial on the top weighs more than four quintals and looks like an inverted lotus flower. The entry is free for this monument. You will have to remove shoes before and follow the rules of the sect inside the memorial.   

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4 – Mariam’s Tomb – Akbar’s wife Tomb

This tomb is 1 km from Akabar’s Tomb and is dedicated to Mariam who is considered as one of the wives of Mughal emperor Akbar.

The tomb of Mariam

This tomb is also based on the char Bagh system. it was built in approximately four years completed in 1627 by the son of Mariam uz Jamani. The queen was popularly known as Jodha Bai and the Hindu queen of famous king Akbar.

The structure is made in typical Indo-Islamic architecture with domes and flowing arches the monument is certainly a must-visit on your Agra tour. Worth visiting in the vicinity is an old Church.

Agra old Church image

Nearby Attractions Around Sikandra

If you are visiting Akbar’s Tomb and Mariam’s Tomb, consider exploring nearby attractions such as Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara and the historic Agra Church. Since these monuments are located close to one another, you can comfortably visit them in a single sightseeing trip. As a result, this area offers an excellent opportunity to experience Mughal, colonial, and Sikh heritage within a short distance

5– Gurudwara Guru ka Tal – One of the top Places to visit in Agra 

The famous temple Gurudwara lies on the National Highway close to Sikandra and is one among the Most Visited Tourist Places of Agra after the Taj Mahal. The gurudwara is a historic Sikh temple related to the ninth master “Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji” who is known to be martyred on the streets of Delhi as he refused to embrace Islam.

The history says that the master was taken as a prisoner from this place in the seventeenth century and later taken to Delhi. The Gurudwara is a fine spectacle of period architecture you will have to remove shoes and cover your head as you move to the sanctum sanctorum where the “Guru Granth Sahib” (Sikh holy book) is read in the holy congregation.

There is an associated community kitchen were free of cost food is distributed to everyone irrespective of religion caste and creed, the devotees accept the food as a holy blessing in unison squatting on the floor with other devotees. There are beautifully kept lawns and the place is known for its upkeep and sanctity. This is surely a must-visit religious site of Agra.

The Gurudwara Guru Ka Tal
The Gurudwara Guru Ka Tal

Best Time to Visit These Attractions

The best time to explore the top places to visit in Agra is from October to March, when the weather remains pleasant for sightseeing. During the summer months, it is advisable to visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the midday heat. Additionally, weekdays generally attract fewer visitors than weekends and public holidays.

How to Reach the Top Places to Visit in Agra

Most of these attractions are well connected by road and can be reached by private taxi, auto-rickshaw, e-rickshaw, or app-based cab services. Visitors planning a full-day Agra Tour can comfortably combine several monuments in a single itinerary because many of them lie within a short driving distance of one another.

Suggested One-Day Agra Sightseeing Itinerary

Begin your day with the Taj Mahal at sunrise, followed by Agra Fort. Afterwards, visit Itmad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj) and Akbar’s Tomb before exploring Guru Ka Tal Gurudwara and Dayal Bagh in the evening. This itinerary allows travellers to experience Agra’s architectural, religious, and historical highlights in a single day.

Travel Tips for Exploring Agra

Wear comfortable footwear, carry drinking water, and keep a valid photo ID with you while visiting monuments. Moreover, start your sightseeing early to avoid crowds and high temperatures. If you plan to visit multiple attractions, hiring a licensed guide or booking a private Agra Tour can help you understand the historical significance of each monument.

Also Know about:- Top Nature Gardens & Parks in Agra

Jaipur Tours :- jaipurtourspackage.com

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