Best Time to Visit Agra and Why
The best time to visit Agra is from October to March when the weather is pretty, with an average temperature of about 12-15C. However, this is also the peak season of Agra travel as it is a so perfect time for sightseeing.
Agra is a beautiful city which gives a sneak-peek into India's historical past through its beautifully carved windows. No matter which weather you are herein, the Taj Mahal has something new to offer in its one of the various avatars. Agra is also a culturally rich destination, with a rich heritage to relive the Mughal era bit by bit. During festive times, it is a double whammy for the travelers, who get to see the architectural extravaganza along with the colorful festivity.
Clubbing great weather and great festival celebrations together you can make a trip to remember for yourself. Well, tick it off your bucket list and hop on to your tour to Agra. Here is how Agra will treat you in each of its three seasons – summers, monsoon, and winters.
Summers:
The onset of summers brings festivals to Agra. Not too hot and not too cold, this is the time of the year when you can have twin fun – sight-seeing with festival celebrations.
Taj Mahotsav - Agra celebrates its famous Taj Mahotsav in February for 10 days, near the Taj Mahal. Shilpgram, the village of craft, is the venue of the festival. Through the festival, Uttar Pradesh Tourism promotes its crafts and arts of the region. The hard work of the local artists, weavers, and craftsmen is put on exhibition, and the festival gives a sneak-peak into the culture and traditions of the region.
Along with local and global food and folk performances, Ghazal and Mushairas i.e. poetries steal the show. Children love the camel, elephant, and horse rides and also there’s a dedicated play zone for them. The grand procession that marks the opening of this fair also brings the spring along with.
Things to buy from this market: Chicken Kaari (traditional Lucknow embroidery), Badohi's hand-woven carpets, Saharanpur's wooden carvings, famous Banarasi silks, pottery and much more.
Holi - Holi is a festival of colors and togetherness in North India. People put colors on each other and make seasonal sweets to mark the festivities. However, there are many variants to this festival depending on the region it is played in. Agra and nearby city Mathura are famous for its Barsana and Brij Holi. A good time to be in Agra to witness the distinct traditions.
Summer in the northern part of the country is dry and typically start around Mid-February while lasting around mid-June when the monsoon season takes over. The schools have freshly closed and there are a lot of buzzes around. The summers in this part of the country are fierce with the mercury soaring up to 44-48 degrees Celsius. The increasing temperatures, in company with hot winds, do not make a comfortable combination either. But if you must travel during this time of the year, then light airy and modest cotton clothing is recommended. Please do not forget your Sunscreens, anti-tan lotions, a bottle of water, glucose, and sunglasses. The buses are usually not a good travel medium during this time. Travelers from foreign countries find coping difficult due to the difference in temperatures and tend to fall ill.
See more about Best Things to Do Over the Summer Holidays in Agra
Monsoons:
Monsoon season in India is marked from Mid-June to the end of September. Good time to visit the Taj as it is green all around and a rain-drenched Taj in its manicured version, is a stunner. A photographer's delight, the Taj is the best photo op against dark clouds and lush greens. Yamuna River remains full of water around this time and presents an apt backdrop.
It is good to travel in easily dry-able clothes, waterproof footwear, and umbrellas/ raincoats to avoid getting drenched. The traffic could pose a problem around this time however natural scenery is at its best.
Kailash Fair: The monsoon months August and September see this fair in honor of Lord Shiva in the form of Shiva Ling
Winters:
Starting from October to mid-February, Agra witnesses a host of travelers as the onset of winter is the most pleasant time of the year. A temperature between 10 and 15 degrees celsius is pleasant and tourist-friendly. This is also a time India celebrates many festivals like Bateshwar Fair, Ram Barat, Navratri, Dushehra and the famous festival of lights - Diwali. Also, it is the wedding season in India, you could also enjoy barat i.e. when the groom goes in a procession to the bride's place to solemnize the marriage.
In Agra, winters are severe from mid-November to mid-January. Heavy woolen clothing is advised during this time of the year. Early mornings and late evenings are foggy and flights and trains often get canceled or delayed owing to it. Traffic jams are yet another rampant possibility in this region. Hence it is advised to keep a day or two in hand for travel convenience.
Bateshwar Fair – Organized in October to November, this is a month-long affair. This is a Hindu festival celebrated in respect of Lord Shiva. Devotees take a holy dip in the river Yamuna. Cattle fair, handicraft stalls, food, and jolly rides are the highlights of this fair.
Ram Barat – A part of Ramleela, Lord Ram's Marriage procession is fondly celebrated across Agra, sometime before Dushehra. The Ramleela stops on the day of Dussehra culminating in the killing of Ravana – the devil king. A special palace set is set up for the event and many bedecked exhibitions showcase the stories from Ramayana.
Diwali - The festival of lights marking the victory of good over evil is celebrated with complete festival fervor. Firecrackers, rows of earthen lamps, lightings and lots of traditional good food changes the energy of the city. Markets are specially decorated and the complete city brightens up in festival colors.
In all, you can plan your visit to Agra at any time of the year as per your convenience. Each season will give you a different version of the Taj still mesmerizing enough for another visit, maybe in another season. Try to include a festival in your itinerary to get an interesting angle of India you may not get in any other country for its distinguished flavor.