AGRA

(includes Sikander)

HOTELS
●ITC Mughal Hotel – Taj Ganj (at ITC Mughal Hotel); 011-91-562-402-1700; itchotels.in.
●Oberoi Amarvilas – Taj East Gate Road; 011-91-562-223-1515 or 800-562-3764; oberoiamarvilas.com; life-changing views of Taj Mahal, which is situated 2K feet away; Mogul-style hotel has 64 carved, stone fountains; some rooms have balcony views of Taj Mahal; 102 rooms; 2 5th floor, corner luxury suites have living-dining rooms and balconies; spa and 2 fine restaurants.

RESTAURANTS
●Mahjong Room – Taj Ganj (at ITC Mughal Hotel); 011-91-562-402-1700; itchotels.in; Cantonese and Sichuan cuisine.
●Peshwari – Taj Ganj (at ITC Mughal Hotel); 011-91-562-402-1700; itchotels.in; speciality restaurant where nearly everything cooked on tandoor.

SERVICES
●Guides – (1) Prof. Vir Tripathi; 011-91-98-3703-0507; $16 per day; 25-year guiding veteran; (2) Nagendra Chauhan; 212-319-1354; affiliated with ourpersonalguest.com; (3) Rajput demiroyal and scholar; Dr. Navina Java; navinajafa.com; $1K per day; affiliated with Remote Lands, 646-415-8092 or remotelands.com; he guided Clintons and Kissingers.

SHOPPING
●Akbar International – 289 Fatehabad Road; 011-91-562-233-0076; akbarinternational.com; local marble goods.
●Kalakriti – 41/142 A/1 VIP Road; 011-91-562-223-1011; oswalonline.com; local marble goods.
●Kohinoor Jewellers – Fatehabad Road; 011-91-562-223-0027; kohinoorjewellers.com.

SIGHTS & SITES
●Agra Fort – grand monument group in red sandstone; started in 1565; took 8 years to construct; most buildings added later use marble.
●Akbar's Tomb – Sikander (5 miles from Agra); www.agraindia.org.uk/sikandra/index.html; sandstone and marble tomb commemorating greatest Mughal emperor; huge courtyard with 3-story minarets at each corner.
●Fatehpur Sikri – 1 hour (26 miles) west of Agra; Moghul capital complex; 16th Century architectural masterpiece.
●Itimad-ud-Daulah Tomb – located on Yamuna River’s west bank, near Yamuna Bridge Railway Station.
●Taj Mahal – Agra (on Yamuna River banks, 2 kms southeast of Agra Fort).