Hotel Sheela Agra : location

Hotel Sheela is situated in the so called Taj Trapezium Zone, which is a 100% pollution free area. The Indian Government has prohibited the entry of vehicles in this area to safeguard the beauty of the Taj Mahal. This means you cannot get to Hotel Sheela by car, but there is no need to walk either.

There are two ways to get to our hotel: one is from 'Purani Mandi', which is the southern entrance, and the other from 'Shilpgram', the eastern entrance to the Taj Mahal. At both entrances security personnel will ask your auto rickshaw driver or car to stop. From both check points you can get a cycle rickshaw, a battery operated auto rickshaw or a tanga (horse cart) to go to Hotel Sheela. This will cost around INR 10 as both barriers are just 500 metres from the Taj Mahal and Hotel Sheela.

Ever since the Taj Mahal was built in the 17th century, it has attracted visitors from across the world. An exquisite monument of love: once seen, never forgotten. The Taj is remarkable for its perfect proportions and rich pietra dura and it exhibits some of the most advanced phases of Mughal architecture. The calligraphic ornamentation is amazingly intricate: artistic marbled poetry.

Also built by Emperor Akbar is the Agra Fort, a citadel with imposing gates and walls of red sandstone. Most of the edifices inside the fort were built by Shah Jahan, whose architectural creations display refined artistry as apposed to the robust style favoured by Akbar. Agra Fort can also entertain visitors with a special light and sound show.

About 12 kilometres from Agra lies the Tomb of Akbar at Sikandra. On the southern side, it has a huge gate with four magnificent minarets rising above its roof. Also within driving distance of Agra is the exquisitely crafted tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah, also known as The Baby Taj.

Even Hotel Sheela is steeped in history. Just take a look at these pictures taken in the 1990's, when we had just started our business. Before we took over, the grounds served as a local school. In 1988, we opened as Sheela Lodge. Then simply equipped with a campsite and just a few rooms, Hotel Sheela has since had a name change and expanded to the thriving business that it is today. And if you are wondering, the unique aerial shots in this slide show were taken by attaching a camera to a kite.

And if that is not enough to keep you occupied, about 35 kilometres southwest of the city is Fatehpur Sikri, Emperor Akbar’s original capital. Still perfectly preserved, this complex of palaces, mosques, gardens and pavilions is a rich legacy of the Mughal era. You can stroll through the emperor’s khwabgah or bedroom. Climb to the top of the Panch Mahal, the five-tiered palace and look down on the Pachisi courtyard. Then, move to the Anup Talau, the sandstone platform on a pond, where Mian Tansen, the famous singer of Emperor Akbar's court, once sang. And no trip is complete without a visit to Salim Chisti’s Dargah, where you can tie a thread on the jali work of its walls and make a quiet wish. A short drive from Fatehpur Sikri takes you to the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.

Agra is an integral part of the Golden Triangle connecting with Delhi and Jaipur. Being well linked by air, rail and road transport, the city can easily be the stepping stone to other destinations in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. About 50 kilometres from Agra is Mathura and 10 km. further north is Vrindavan, both pilgrim centres dedicated to Lord Krishna. If the Taj is the beacon that draws you to Agra, you will be delighted to discover there’s so much more.