Today drive to Agra, 240 km (approximately five hours) away, the home of the icon of eternal love, Taj Mahal.
En route, visit Fatehpur Sikri. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site showcasing the grandeur of Mughal architecture, and well worth the time.
This magnificent fortified ancient city, 40km west of Agra, was the short-lived capital of the Mughal Empire between 1571 and 1585, during the reign of Emperor Akbar. Akbar visited the village of Sikri to consult the Sufi saint Shaikh Salim Chishti, who predicted the birth of an heir to the Mughal throne. When the prophecy came true, Akbar built his new capital here, including a stunning mosque – still in use today – and three palaces for each of his favourite wives, one a Hindu, one a Muslim and one a Christian (though Hindu villagers in Sikri dispute these claims). The city was an Indo-Islamic masterpiece, but built in an area that supposedly suffered from water shortages and so was abandoned shortly after Akbar’s death.
On arrival in Agra, check-in at hotel.
Overnight, stay at hotel.