Agra, one of the most celebrated cities of India, offers a wide range of tourist destinations to visitors coming from various parts of the world. However, after visiting Agra, one can always choose from a list of attractive destinations while considering a trip to nearby places. One can visit pious cities of Mathura and Vridavan, believed to be associated with birth and childhood of Lord Krishna. To experience Sufism one should visit world heritage site of Fatehpur Sikri unraveling the structures of architectural brilliance built during Mughal period. Wildlife enthusiasts should go for the famous Bharatpur Sanctuary and Chambal safari known for their abundant flora and fauna. Top Five Tourist Places near Agra: Mathura Mathura is a religious city in North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh located approx. 50 km from Agra. There are several legends associated with this place. The name of this city has been mentioned in ancient Indian epics like Ramayana. Also, it is believed to be the birth place of Lord Krishna. Because of all these reasons Mathura is included in list of seven holy cities of India. Most of the tourist places are of historic or religious significance. In ancient times, the famous Keshav Dev Temple was built on this site considered to be legendary birthplace of Lord Krishna. The first two centers for production of human images of Gautam Buddha also belong to Mathura. The other popular attractions of this place are Krishnajanmabhoomi, Jai gurudev Ashram, Kans Tila, Rangeshwar Mahadev Mandir and Mathura museum. Vrindavan- the Pious Indian city Famous for its association with childhood days of lord Krishna, Vrindavan or Vraj is another highly respected town located 15 km from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh state of India. The ancient forest where this city lies is believed to have once been the place where Lord Krishna played during childhood. Dotted with hundreds of temples, this region has a special reference in traditions of various religions. All these temples are devoted to worship of Radhekrishna. Famous visiting sights in Vridavan are Madan Mohan Temple, Banke Bihari Temple, Radha Vallabh Temple, Jaipur Temple, Sri Krishna-Balarama Temple and Shree Radha Ras Bihari Ashta Sakhi Temple. Fatehpur Sikri- Mirror To Mughal Architecture Fatehpur Sikri city, a world heritage site, was constructed by Akbar, the Great Mughal Emperor. He built this city in honor of Shaikh Salim Chisti, a sufi saint who resided in a cave on crest at Sikri, and predicted the birth of his son. Besides being the first planned Mughal city, it puts forth a unique example of Mughal architecture which was an amalgamation of Indian, Islamic and Persian architecture. Popular highlights of this region are Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chishti, Diwan-i-Am, Panch Mahal etc. One can always visit these places en route to Agra. Bharatpur Sanctuary- the Famous Bird Sanctuary Bharatpur Sanctuary, one of the world’s finest bird sanctuaries is situated 55km away from Agra. It was laid down by the Maharaja of Bharatpur and is home to hundreds of migratory birds. Also known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park, it gives protection to endangered species of Siberian cranes. Besides native water- birds this sanctuary is also occupied by Sambar, Nilgai, Chital and Boar. Though it is open all throughout the year, best time to visit is October to February. Chambal Safari Excursion The National Chambal Sanctuary, near Agra is a famous destination for wildlife admirers. Situated along the sides of Chambal River, this sanctuary is home to important flora and fauna. It is probably the last existing home to Gangetic River Dolphin. 1200 Gharials and 300 Marsh Crocodiles finds protection in this sanctuary and attracts a lot of visitors towards this place. Besides, various native and migratory birds, eight species of turtles along with smooth coated Otters find shelter in this National Park.
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