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Agra, India
Agra was the capital of the Mughal Empire at its zenith, and walking between its three UNESCO World Heritage Sites covers a period of extraordinary artistic achievement. The Taj Mahal is transcendent at dawn, when the white marble glows pink and the gardens are nearly empty. Agra Fort, a massive red sandstone complex, contains palaces, audience halls, and the poignant Musamman Burj, where Shah Jahan spent his final years gazing at the Taj from captivity. The lesser-known Itimad-ud-Daulah, often called the Baby Taj, predates the Taj Mahal and is exquisite in its marble inlay work. The old city around Kinari Bazaar is a lively area of narrow lanes specializing in marble crafts, leather goods, and the famous Agra petha sweet. Mehtab Bagh, across the Yamuna River, provides the classic reflected Taj view at sunset.
explore by interest
Visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise for the smallest crowds and best light — enter through the less-used south gate. The walk from Agra Fort to the Taj along the riverbank takes about 30 minutes.
October through March offers cooler weather ideal for walking between the monuments. Sunrise and sunset visits to the Taj are spectacular year-round.