Agra Heritage Culture Walk
As former US president Bill Clinton rightly said, “There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who have seen the Taj Mahal and love it; and those who have not seen the Taj but still love it.” Being on every traveler’s bucket list & the only city of the world to have 3 world heritage monuments (Taj Mahal, Fort & Fatehpur Sikri), Agra is the must-see tourist place in India.
Yet while researching for my upcoming tour project of Agra Heritage Walk it was difficult to find any comprehensive guide for the local city or the local bazar. There is so much written / talked about Delhi and Jaipur, but Agra still remains an untouched part of the Golden Triangle when it comes to things beyond Taj Mahal.
Dont forget to eat PAAN or Betel Leaf…Mostly when a tourist wishes to see the local markets of Agra to feel the essence of this five centuries old city, he is either taken to tourist shops (where everything is overpriced or scam) or taken to some shopping malls which are no different in any part of the world. But that’s not the places where locals go…
Old road side templeThat’s when the idea of Agra Heritage Culture Walking Tour came into my mind where I plan to offer the tour of sites of real Agra local market along with the modern touristy Agra. In the attempt to show people the lost glory of this Mughal city which once remained the capital of India during Mughal period, this local city walk tour covers the local bazaar of spices, vegetables, medicines, jewellery, cooking utensils, the famous street food, temple & the life on the streets of Agra.
Wholesale Gems Shop in Old cityThe overall idea is to offer something that does not resemble a typical group tour. These tours will be informal, small group excursions with a strong focus on independent travel.
We won’t be going to the tourist emporiums and we won’t be eating in over priced tourist restaurants. We’ll be going local. We’ll use public transportation as much as possible; we’ll eat at some of the best food stalls and local eateries around and we’ll visit places that aren’t always written about in guidebooks.
The core focus of any Travel Genes Tour will always be on gaining a first-hand education, interacting with local people and of course, visiting as many fascinating locations as possible.
And the most rewarding part is that our small group will share the entire experience together, supporting each other as we not only discover an interesting place, but as we discover the confidence to push ourselves beyond our usual comfort zones.
Let me show you some of the highlights of Agra Heritage Culture Walk on the streets of Agra:
Beside this Agra Heritage Walk, I have launched Agra Food Walk – Walking Buffet Tour where you explore Agra through your mouth while eating the unlimited authentic Indian food at places where locals eat and the way locals eat…
The duration of food walk depends on your appetite, and we will be indulging in some of Agra’s best local food and sweets including Petha, Kababs, and Kulfi while exploring the busy streets of Agra on cycle rickshaw ride.
And on that note, as I’ve mentioned before, this project is something that I have been extremely excited about and I can’t even explain how much I am looking forward to experiencing India with some of you!