Agra — City of the Taj
On the Palace on Wheels route: Day 7 of the 7-night, 8-day itinerary.
About
About Agra
Agra was the Mughal capital for much of the 16th and 17th centuries, and it shows: this is a city built almost entirely around imperial monuments rather than a princely Rajput fort, marking a distinct shift from the Rajasthani cities earlier on the Palace on Wheels route.
Its best-known monument, the Taj Mahal, was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1632 as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, completed over the following two decades by an estimated 20,000 workers. Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right, served as the Mughal seat of power before Delhi and later as Shah Jahan's place of imprisonment by his own son.
The Journey
Agra on Palace on Wheels
Palace on Wheels arrives in Agra by early afternoon, timed so guests see the Taj Mahal in the shifting light of late afternoon — its white marble surface said to change tone from ivory to gold to pearl depending on the hour, which is, for most travelers, the single reason this journey was booked in the first place.
Agra Fort follows, along with optional stops at Fatehpur Sikri and Itmad-ud-Daula (the "Baby Taj") for guests with extra time. This is the final full sightseeing day of the trip, and it closes with the most festive dinner of the week aboard Palace on Wheels, with a farewell cultural performance in the lounge car before the overnight return to Delhi.
Top Highlights in Agra
- Taj Mahal
- Agra Fort (UNESCO)
- Fatehpur Sikri (optional)
- Itmad-ud-Daula (Baby Taj)
Climate & Best Time to Visit
Agra's climate closely mirrors Delhi's: scorching summers (April–June), a humid monsoon, and mild, hazy-clear winters from October to March — the latter also gives the best chance of the soft, golden late-afternoon light the Taj Mahal is famous for in photographs.
Food & Cuisine
Food in Agra
Famous Local Food
Agra's food reflects its Mughal past as strongly as its monuments: rich, slow-cooked Mughlai dishes and kebabs are common, but the city's real specialty is petha, a translucent, syrup-soaked sweet made from ash gourd, sold in dozens of flavors from shops across the city. Bedai (a spiced, deep-fried bread) served with aloo sabzi is Agra's classic breakfast.
Onboard on This Leg
The final full evening aboard Palace on Wheels is traditionally the most festive of the journey: a farewell dinner in the restaurant car paired with a closing cultural performance in the lounge, a deliberate send-off after a day that took in Agra's Mughal monuments before the overnight run back to Delhi and the end of the trip.
On This Stop
Day 7 · Night 6
Best for: The Taj Mahal & Mughal monuments
View Full ItineraryAll Destinations
Book Your Palace on Wheels Journey
See full pricing for every cabin class, or check upcoming departure dates.