Travel

Majestic Agra-City Of Culture

Activities / Recreation:

1.Shopping :
Agra has many shops selling various stone / marble products, from jewellery to small boxes and plaques with inlay work resembling that on the Taj. Agra is also famous for its leather goods, rugs and carpets, woven by master craftsmen who retain the secrets of carpet weaving taught generations ago by Persian rug makers, and brassware which includes artifacts such as hookah bases, for those who wish to acquire an oriental souvenir. Beware of being overcharged and be prepared to bargain hard. Agra is also famous for its Mughlai cuisine, a sweet called petha and a snack called dalmoth. You can enjoy trying the culinary delights of Agra, while shopping in Agra India.
The main markets for shopping in Agra are near the Taj Mahal complex. These areas include Sadar Bazaar, Kinari Bazaar and Munro Road. The U.P State Emporium called Gangotri at the Taj Mahal Complex, offers a choice of handicrafts under one roof. Don't miss this venue while shopping in Agra for it has a great variety of marble, brassware, rugs, leather items and textiles at reasonable prices. The Shilpagram crafts village is another venue with a wide range of handicrafts on sale, directly by the artisans themselves. U.P Handlooms and UPICA at Sanjay Place on M.G. Road are other good venues to shop for souvenirs, while shopping in Agra India. For international brands, visit the malls - Pacific Taj and TDI Mall which are adjacently situated. Three more malls are coming up - RAP Adlabs, Omaxe Wedding mall and Ashok Cosmos.

2.Cinemas And Theatres:
One can catch a movie at a multiplex at Fun Cinemas (Pacific Mall) and soon to be opened Rave (TDI Mall). Adlabs multiplex, opening late 2007, will offer a multi-sensory cinema experience (first of its kind in Asia). The show will be called 'India in Motion', a 25 minute show where viewers can not only see the movie, but also experience it through every other sense – sight, smell, sound, touch, motion and interaction.

3.Bird-watching:
Bharatpur is about 56 KM from Agra and houses the Famous bird sanctuary in which you can see thousands of rare birds including the Sibarian Crane. You can also indulge in a boat ride through the marshes. And how about venturing into a rickshaw or a bicycle ride to explore the well-off fauna of the park? Another perfect location for bird watching is at Sur Sarovar or Keetham Lake close to Agra. The Lohagarh Fort, which remained invincible despite several attacks by the British. Just 32 kms from Bharatpur, is the Deeg Palace. This strong and massive fort was the summer resort of the rulers of Bharatpur and has many palaces and gardens and definitely is worth a visit.

4.Golf in Agra:
The Agra Golf Club is a nine-hole course in Agra and is worth a visit. The golf course is not far from the Taj Mahal. The tall trees that surround the course and the mammoth architectural marvel that adorns the background are indeed a feast to the eyes. And the lush green fields are just perfect.

5.Nightlife in Agra:
Nightlife in the city might not be that vibrant like some of the other cities of India, but then it is fast becoming catching up. Agra is interspersed with many nightclubs, bars and pubs, which are tailor made to provide complete entertainment. Some of the popular bars and pubs in Agra are Downtown Cub, Mughal Bar, Le Bar, Downing Street Bar and Saqi Bar.

6.Eating Out:Agra, the city of Taj Mahal, is the seat of power of almighty Mughals whose influence is not only seen in the art of Agra but also on the cuisine. Visitors have lot of options of what and where to eat in Agra.However Agra offers diverse choices in the matter of eating out.One can go for the multi-cuisine restaurants like Food Court( Pacific Mall), Bagh-e-Bahar (Mughal Sheraton); or opt for typical Agra food at Ram Babu Parantha(Sikandra & Belanganj), Bhagat Fast Food(MG Road), Ajanta Fast Food Restaurant(Kamla Nagar) to name a few.Western snacks such as Pizzas, and burgers are also available at Pizza Hut (Fatehabad Road), Pizza Corner (Sadar Bazaar), Dominos (Sanjay Place) and McDonald's (Sadar Bazaar & TDI Mall).The famous Mughlai Food of Agra can be savoured at Jharokha-e-Taj Revolving Restaurant (Agra), Deccan Pavllion Restaurant (Agra), Peshawri (Mughal Sheraton), Mughal Room (Clarke's Shiraz) to name a few. South Indian and chinese food are also very popular in Agra.
Chaat is famous in Agra. Chaat can be of various types but there is one thing common among them all is that they are spicy and you will find crowd outside virtually every chaat stall Some typical chaat items are Bhalla (made by roasting mess made out of boiled potatoes), paneer tikka (cubes of cottage cheese baked in a tandoor with spices), pani puri or golguppa (small round hollow shells filled with a potato-based filling and a spicy sweet blend of sauces), mangores, Samosaes, Chachori etc. You will find chaat almost everywhere in Agra but some of the must visit places are Double Phatak (near Sikandra) for Mangores, you will find quality Bhallas and panipuri at sadar and belangunj. Samosa and Chachori are found at every sweet shop that flood the city .f you want to savour the typical Agra Breakfast do remember to have a bite of one of those spicy Berahi and round it off with sweet Jalebies.
Agra is famous for its sweets namely the petha which is a type of very sweet candy and is readily available in all sweet shops.The famous sweet shops in Agra are Bikanervala, Deviram, Panchi Petha, Munnalal Petha, Ajanta Sweets (Kamla Nagar).

7.Chambal Safari:80 kms south of Agra on the Rajasthan - UP - MP border in the Chambal valley. Declared a natural sanctuary, this relatively untouched area is teeming with wild life and folklores of a bygone era. The Chambal Safari allows you to go exploring at your own pace. Take a cruise on the river, ride a jeep in the ravines, go for a camel ride along the sandy beaches, walk through sunlit fields or just laze around under the sun. End the day looking up a starlit sky basking in the warmth of old-world hospitality at the Chambal Safari Lodge.

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