Could Agra be one of the most romantic cities in the world? Perhaps not when you come face to face with the usual street touts and hawkers in their hundreds, all hassling you for a slice of your travel budget and promising the best tour money can buy. However, Agra is the home of a wonder of the world that probably represents the most romantic gesture ever made, the infamous and incomparable Taj Mahal. It would be a lie to suggest that tourists flock here for any other reason, but even so it is the best reason possible and no trip to India is complete without a trip to swoon over the Taj. 

The palace was a labour of love for Emperor Shah Jahan who ordered it to be built in 1631 to act as a mausoleum after the death of his beloved wife. Seventeen years later the astonishing marble palace was finally complete, no doubt drawing sharp intakes of breath from all who cast eyes on it from then all the way up to the present day. The Taj Mahal has been described as “a teardrop on the cheek of eternity” by Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore. 

Set in beautiful ornamental gardens complete with reflective ponds and fountains the Taj Mahal rises up out of the ground in imposing marble, with intricate inlaid stonework. Taking on a rosy pink hue at sunset only adds to the romance. It is worth remembering that there are beautiful views of the palace from behind, outside of the grounds. It is such a fine piece of architecture that it is deserving of at least a half day’s worth of viewing, with many travellers photographing the palace at dawn and dusk as well as during the peak hours of the day. 

Aside of the Taj Mahal, Agra is also the site of Agra Fort, a better preserved fort than Delhi Fort and made of the same beautiful red sandstone. A peaceful place, although it will always be in the shadow of the Taj Mahal the fort is truly an impressive building. Furthermore, from the fort you can glimpse the Taj Mahal from yet another angle to add to your album. 

As a town, Agra is no jewel in itself, its commerce being built mainly around the Taj Mahal and the Fort and travellers tend not to linger after seeing these sites, although there are other temples and gardens that are worth seeing. 

Due to the sheer number of tourists passing through Agra to visit the Taj, the accommodation options are endless and varied, though perhaps with an emphasis on budget options to satisfy the constant stream of backpackers. There are also luxury options where you can wake up to a view of the Taj Mahal from your bedroom and it doesn’t get much better than that!