Agra’s beauty isn’t limited to the Taj Mahal. There are other facets of the city that will grasp and keep your attention. Nestled on the banks of the Yamuna river, Agra’s rich heritage has a lot more to offer than just beautiful monuments. And here’s how you can traverse through the area in a non-mainstream way :
Taste of Mughal-inspired Cuisine
The food in Agra is a combination of the past & the present. From royal flavours eft by the Mughal ancestors to contemporary flavours inspired by international and oriental cuisine - there are a lot of options to choose from. The street food game is top-notch in this city and is mostly dominated by chaat items like Pani Puri, Aloo Tikki, Papdi Chaat, Dahi Bhalla, Pav Bhaji, Samosas & Kachoris. Strolling by the streets of Agta is a sensory adventure, one that will trigger your five senses and enliven your soul.
Discover The Hidden Gems
While exploring Agra, you can either go by the book and Google or choose a far less conventional route. The hidden gems of the city, nestled in some corner, will give you a much more eye-opening and off-beat perspective of the land of Taj. More than the heritage monuments, it’s the city’s culture, cuisine, craft, and local life that will fetch your interest.
Hop onto an E-Rickshaw and let the locals be your guide. Majestic old Havelis, the oriental markets of Kinari Bazaar, Lohar Gali, the spice-centric street of Rawat Para, Dara Shikoh’s library, the famous poet Mirza Ghalib’s birthplace, the old Manka Meshwar temple, the street of Ayurvedic doctors, and also the different churches of different Christian sects are the places will make the wanderer inside you happy.
Feel The Vibe of Agra At Dawn
Each city of India harbours a distinct vibe in the mornings, one that is untainted by the usual noise of the city before it completely wakes up. If you use a bicycle to ride through the region, you’ll be able to make as many stops as you want and dive deeper into the culture wrapped in the temples, churches, masjids, non-mainstream monuments, the bustling vegetable and flower market, and also the infamous Dhobi Ghat. You’ll also cross paths with colonial bungalows and can conclude your ride with an authentic breakfast, as you simultaneously interact with the locals.
Go To The Countryside
If you truly are a culture fanatic, then getting to the root of the city will immensely please you. The village of Agra will bestow upon you an authentic view of the agricultural fields, village schools, village people, along with their exclusive culinary techniques and regional art.
What steals the show is the breathtaking view of Taj from the village, where you can admire Shah Jahan’s emblem of love from any angle you please.
The village traditions, beauty, and lifestyle will make you fall in love with simplicity and minimalism. Away from the rich and glam life of the city, the village is where the real culture rests.
Visit The Lane of Art
Agra’s lanes are filled with rustic shops that are home to some gorgeous and thought-provoking pieces of art. From the masters of Pacchikari, who are experts in the inlay of patterns on marbles, to the artisans of Zardozi embroidery, who ornate fabrics with a sprinkle of age-old royalty of the city. The ancestry of the ancient times still brims with life because of these artisans who also weave decorative carpets. Watching these artists while they work on their art is fun to watch, maybe you can shop for a few things here too and take it as a souvenir.
Relive The Colonial Times
Agra is the centre point of exquisite colonial architecture. Here, you can indulge in the fascinating stories behind the historical wonders you see and rediscover the forgotten beauty of the long-gone colonial era. Looking at these structures stuck in time will give you a glimpse of the past. How people lived, how they survived, how they functioned, and their overall lifestyle is what you’ll get interesting information about.
Experience Taj Mahal At Night
Book a tonga and watch the glory of Taj, with the sunset in the backdrop. Hear the jaw-dropping stories behind how one of the world’s greatest wonders was erected. Then you can take a car to check out a contemporary Master Craftsman, with a National Award, and watch him create something right then and there. You can conclude the night by mimicking the royalty you felt by devouring a hefty Mughali dinner.
These experiences will drag you out of your comfort zone, and present you with another side of Agra - one that is rare, unforgettable, and filled with echoes of ancient times