काठमांडू 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.

Nestled beautifully in the lap of Himalayas, Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal is rich in history and culture. This beautiful and scenic city is dotted with Hindu shrines, Buddhist temples, ancient monuments, stupas, monasteries, museums, art galleries and vibrant cafes. Home to some UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Kathmandu is a famous tourist destination. Whether you are on honeymoon, family trip or adventure trip, Kathmandu has something for every traveller.
 
Best Time to Visit
The months from September to November are considered best to visit Kathmandu. The weather remains pleasant and ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities. You can also witness festivals like Dashain and Tihar during this time which are celebrated with great spirit.
 
Places to Visit
Being a major tourist destination in Nepal, Kathmandu boasts of many tourist spots. Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath Temple, Kopan Monastery and the Changu Narayan are some of the prominent religious sites. Natural Art History Museum, Taragaon Museum, National Art Gallery, Nepali Art Council Gallery and Kaiser Library are good to visit if you are art and history lover. For adventure enthusiasts, there are many hiking and trekking trails around Kathmandu Valley. Durbar Square, Garden of Dreams, Hanuman Dhoka and Langtang National Park are other notable attractions. Kathmandu is a shopper’s paradise that offers a wide range of merchandise. Cashmere shawls, thangkas, singing bowls, beads, jewellery, Nepali tea and handicrafts, rice paper products and trekking gear are perfect takeaways from Kathmandu. Thamel, New Road, Durbar Marg, Indra Chowk and Asan Bazaar are some of the popular shopping hotspots. From Goibibo you can book any hotel in Kathmandu.
 
Hotels and Restaurants
As this city is rich in culture, Kathmandu offers a wide variety of dining options ranging from fine-dine restaurants to local eateries. Momo is a popular food in Kathmandu that is easily available in almost all local food joints. Juju Dhau, Sel Roti and Khajuri are some other local food items that you must try. Ghar-e-Kabab, Thamel House Restaurant, New Everest Momo Center, Corner Cafe, Momo Star and Rama’s Kitchen are some recommended places.

Kathmandu offers all kind of accommodation options for stay. Right from Budget Hotels in Kathmandu to 5 star Hotels in Kathmandu, from Resorts in Kathmandu to service apartments in Kathmandu, one can find multiple options as per their need and pocket. Goibibo being the leading travel website has largest collection of hotels on its platform. Popular locations in Kathmandu for stay are near Kathmandu Airport, Pashupatinath Temple, Thamel, Darbar Marg and Boudhnath. It is very easy and convenient to compare and book hotels online on Goibibo.
 
Transportation
Being the capital city, Kathmandu is well connected to other parts of the world by air. Kathmandu can be reached by air, road and rail from India. Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), which is around 6 km from the city centre is the only international airport in the country & serves many international flights. Popular airlines like Air India, Indigo, Nepal Airlines, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Malaysian Airlines and a few others connect Kathmandu to major cities of countries like India, Thailand, UAE, Turkey, Malaysia and Singapore. 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. If you want to travel to Kathmandu from India by train, then Gorakhpur in UP is the nearest railway station. You can commute to Kathmandu via road from Gorakhpur. Travelling to Kathmandu from India via road is an easy and cost-friendly option. There are several buses to and from Kathmandu that traverse cities like Varanasi, Darjeeling, Lucknow, Patna and Gorakhpur. Cabs, auto-rickshaws and minibuses are best options to travel within the city.