THE legend is, of course, that you either go to Agra to see the Taj Mahal... or if you visit Agra for other purposes, don�t leave without seeing the Taj Mahal. The Lonely Planet suggests that the romance of the world�s most famous monument still astonishes in its power and beauty. That is true. And the Taj Mahal apart, Agra also has its Red Fort and the I�timad-ud-Daulah, but otherwise it is a provincial town crumbling apart under authority�s neglect. The city is not just a great tourist destination but in a way it is a shopper�s paradise as well.

There are plenty of shopping areas and malls from where you can buy the specialities of the city... and these can be anything from the famous Petha sweet to a miniature replica in marble of the Taj Mahal itself. The city also abounds with eating out places serving most international and Indian cuisines on their menus, but Agra is more famous for its snack shops and sweetmeat stores.