काहिरा से आगरा उड़ानें

Agra is one of the most populous city of Uttar Pradesh. It is a major tourist destination because of its many magnificent Mughal era buildings like the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. It is also an important part of the Golden Triangle tourist route along with Delhi and Jaipur. This former capital of Mughal Empire is mainly popular for the Taj Mahal and this is the reason that most of the tourists miss out many other interesting activities or places. Next time while planning a trip to Agra, don’t forget to explore more of this amazing city. Here’s a list of the top ten things to do in Agra:

1. Spend a day with villagers at Korai Village

Take a break from the usual sightseeing and try out something new by spending a day with the villagers. Korai Village is located at a distance of 8 Km before Fatehpur Sikri. Here you can explore the rural area of the city by interacting with the villagers and learning about their simple lifestyle. You can also visit their huts and can see how they cook their food in the traditional village style. Don’t forget to meet the village wizard Mohammad who is popular among tourists for his tricks.

2. Take a forest walk inside the Taj Nature Park

Here is another chance to see the Taj Mahal while walking amidst a beautiful park made by the Social Forestry Division of Agra. It is spread over 70 hectares of land and is just 500 meters away from the east gate of the Taj Mahal. You’ll be walking through a 9 km trail amidst various species of birds, wildlife, trees and shrubs. In some places, elevated photo points are made from where one can click a shot of the Taj Mahal. It almost touches the right bank of the River Yamuna and is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.

3. Buy Leather Goods at Sadar Bazaar

Sadar Bazaar is a popular local street market of Agra. Located at West of Khari Baoli near Agra Cantt Railway Station, Agra Fort and Taj Mahal, the bazaar is famous for the leather work, shoes and handicraft items. Marble inlay items like coasters, vases, table tops, boxes and other gift items can also be bought from here. It is open daily (except Tuesday) from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Don’t miss out on the local street foods like chaat (especially bhalle) and pani-puri from the evening stalls.

4. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at Joney’s Place

Located on the Miyan Nazir Road, Tajganj, Joney’s Place restaurant offers delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner. Try out the North Indian style breakfast of puris and cholley, a grand lunch with a glass of refreshing banana lassi. Diners can choose from a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian curries, macaroni, pancakes, sandwiches, pasta and even falafel and hummus. The malai kofta and the toasted tomato and cheese sandwich are highly recommended. It is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

5.Go to Marble Cottage for Marble Inlay Handicraft Items

Located at Jasoria Enclave, Fatehabad Road, Marble Cottage, Agra is a famous factory cum small retail shop of Marble Inlay Art and handmade products. Established in 1974, now with its team of 15 highly skilled craftsmen, it creates magnificent objects in marble. You can choose from variety of things like Taj Mahal replicas, White Marble Table Tops, White Elephant, Marble Inlay Photo Frame, Chess Boards, Candle Holders, Marble Jewellery Boxes and Marble Animal Figures. Beautiful carpets and rugs are also available here.

6.Visit Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary

It is located 20 Kms from Agra on the Delhi-Agra Highway (NH2). Spread over an area of 7.97 square kilometres, it was declared as a National Bird Sanctuary in 1991 by U.P. Forest Department. The place also houses a beautiful man-made lake known as Keetham Lake that is a perfect spot for relaxation. It is estimated that more than 106 species of migratory birds come to this sanctuary every year. One can also see a variety of fishes and aquatic birds. Some of the aquatic birds inhabiting Keetham Lake include Darter, Purple Heron, Black necked Stork, White Ibis, Little Gerbs and Paddy Bird.

7. Attend the Taj Mahotsav Festival at Shilpgram

Taj Mahotsav is an annual 10 day festival that is held at Shilpgram. This festival celebrates the rich crafts, arts and culture of India. Around 400 artisans from all over the country come together and showcase their unique crafts. Stone/wood carvings from Tamil Nadu, Chikan work from Lucknow, Bamboo work from the North East, Paper Mache work from South India and Kashmir, brass wares from Moradabad and Pottery from Khurja can be found here. Get a slice of the folk dances and taste varieties of lip-smacking Indian dishes. At Fun Fair, kids can enjoy joy rides like merry-go-round, Train-rides and Ferris wheel.

8.Have a look at Hammams of Fatehpur Sikri

Hakim’s Hammam of Fatehpur Sikri is the largest surviving Hammams (domed bath house) of Mughal India. It is a majestic structure with exquisite stucco work and golden paintings that occupies an area 105 metres by 78 metres. It is assumed that the Hakim’s bath house was used by Akbar and other royal family members. The water required for the baths was supplied by a well which is situated in the south-east corner. The building has a dressing room, a room for steam bath and two large rooms which were probably used for massage therapy.

9.Take a bite of Mughlai Food at Only Restaurant

Located at 45, Taj Road, Only Restaurant is the best place to try Mughlai food in the city. The interiors of the restaurant are pretty appealing with bright tablecloths and bamboo walls. The menu offers Mughlai, Chinese and Continental cuisine. Live music programmes are also held every evening. It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. A must go place for foodies!

10.Watch the romantic musical drama ‘Mohabbat-The Taj’

The Sanskritik Natyashala of Kalakriti Conventional Centre organises ‘Mohabbat-The Taj’, a series of musical play that depicts the love story of Shahjahan and Mumtaz. The place can seat up to 585 people and has a 70 mm wide backdrop screen. They have created the world’s largest replica of Taj Mahal in Makrana marble which is carried by a hydraulic lift on the centre of the stage. The regal costume of the artists, the magnificent jewellery and the language of the songs of the play are worth seeing as they take you back to the Mughal era. Daily live shows are held at 6:30 p.m.

Cairo, located on the River Nile is the capital city of Egypt. The city is highly recognized for its star attraction: the Pyramid of Giza. Dating back to some 2000 years ago, today’s Cairo has been through many religious influences from Egyptian civilisation to Islam and Christianity. The city boasts of impressive skyscrapers, ancient landmarks and mosques. While no one forgets to remember King Tutankhamun, it gets interesting for visitors to visit the Egyptian Museum and admire his relics. 
Best Time to Visit
Cairo is visited by tourists throughout the year. June to August gets hot and humid while December to February enjoys a favorable climate when hordes of tourists plan to visit the city. Cairo International Film Festival, Coptic Christmas and Eid al-Fitr are famous festivals that are celebrated here enthusiastically. Find best hotels in Cairo at Goibibo.
Places to Visit
Grand Egyptian Mosque is one of the notable attractions in the city. The museum displays royal mummies, priceless Egyptian and Roman antiquities, artefacts of the renowned King Tutankhamun and well-kept treasures of ancient pharaohs. Giza Necropolis and the Great Sphinx that date back to the 26th century are acknowledged as history’s treasures to the modern world. At the heart of Coptic Cairo, lie Babylon Fortress, the Hanging Church and the Greek Church of St. George. Cairo Citadel and Azhar Mosque are praised for the Islamic style architecture. One thing you cannot miss is the walk along the River Nile. Museum of Islamic Art is another place to acknowledge history. Khan Al-Khalili Bazaar is a sprawling market located in the city’s heart where you can shop stuff from exotic spices to shiny brassware. Not just stores selling stuff, there are also many shisha bars and cafes in this bazaar where you can stop and calm your tourists’ nerves. 
Food and Restaurants
From Middle-Eastern cuisine to European and Mediterranean, visitors have a variety of options to choose from. Koshary, Ful Mudamas (popular breakfast), Fattah, Mahshi, Fiteer Baladi (Egyptian style pizza), Fseekh, Kebda Sandwiches, Hawawshi, and Torshi (pickles) are traditional dishes of Egypt. Baklava, Kunafah, Basboosa and Om Ali are four popular desserts for sweet lovers. Koshary, Abou Tarek, Gad, Farahat, O’Pasta, Fatatri El Hussein, Zooba, Kazouza, Kebdet el Prince, Hawashi el Rafaey, Sabaya, Copenhagen, U Bistro & Bar, Revolving Restaurant, Sequoia are well-known restaurants in the city. Zamalek and downtown Cairo have plenty of bars and restaurants. There are also traditional ahwas (coffeehouses) to sip Arabic coffee and enjoy shisha.     
Transportation
Cairo International Airport (CAI) is the main airport serving the city. The city connects to several international destinations with direct and connecting flights. However, there are very less direct flights between Mumbai and Cairo but there are several connecting flights between Cairo and Indian cities. EgyptAir provides non-stop travel to Cairo while Oman Air, Kuwait Airways, Air Arabia, Saudia Airlines and Etihad are some airlines that provide non-stop travel from India. Cheap flight tickets from here to other popular cities can be booked online on Goibibo. Also, flight status & other details related to flight booking & air tickets can be easily accessed on it. So for cheapest air tickets, it is recommended to book flights online. Taxis and London Cab are efficient for travel from the airport to places in the city. Cairo is a huge city and transport systems here are well-maintained. There are a number of bus services that ply between Cairo and other cities of Egypt. You can avail air-conditioned and normal buses by booking in advance or reaching the spot. 
For getting around the city, Cairo Metro, local buses, microbuses, river buses and Nile taxis are affordable options. Cairo Metro covers popular attractions such as the Egyptian Museum. You can also take the river bus to reach Old Cairo. Uber and Careem are app-based cab services that efficiently take you through the city. Rental cars are available but due to clogging traffic and lack of parking places, these are not recommended.