Bike Rental in Agra Scooty on Rent in Agra for the Taj, Agra Fort & Mehtab Bagh

The Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal and completed in the mid-17th century. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and is open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset, except on Fridays. Petrol vehicles are not allowed within 500 m of the monument. Park your scooter at an official lot, such as Shilpgram near the east gate, and take the battery bus or walk. Allow two to three hours to explore the gardens, the riverside terrace and the mosque beside the mausoleum.

Agra Fort was rebuilt in red sandstone by Akbar from 1565, and Shah Jahan later added marble palaces such as the Diwan-i-Khas shown here. From the Musamman Burj, where Shah Jahan spent his last years, you can see the Taj across the river. Enter through the Amar Singh Gate and allow at least two hours. Parking is available outside the gate.

Mehtab Bagh, the Moonlight Garden, is a Mughal garden on the opposite bank, laid out in line with the Taj Mahal. Its riverside lawns give one of the best views of the mausoleum, especially at sunset. Ride over via the Yamuna bridge and arrive about an hour before sunset to find a good spot. The garden was excavated and restored by archaeologists in the 1990s, and its walkways follow the original Mughal plan.

Itimad-ud-Daulah's tomb was built between about 1622 and 1628 by Empress Nur Jahan for her father, Mirza Ghiyas Beg. It was one of the first Mughal buildings clad in white marble with inlaid semi-precious stones, which is why locals call it the Baby Taj. It is much quieter than the Taj, so take time to study the delicate inlay work. The tomb stands in a walled garden right on the riverbank.

Akbar planned his own tomb at Sikandra, and his son Jahangir completed it around 1613. Its grand gateway is decorated with bold inlaid patterns, and blackbuck and spotted deer roam the walled gardens. The four white marble minarets on the gateway are among the earliest of their kind in Mughal architecture. The ride along the Mathura road can be busy. Visit in the morning and combine it with Mariam's Tomb nearby.

Agra's Jama Masjid was built in 1648 by Jahanara Begum, Shah Jahan's eldest daughter. The lanes around it, including Kinari Bazaar, are packed with shops selling wedding wear, spices, jewellery and sweets. Park outside the bazaar and walk in, as the lanes are too crowded for riding. In the evening, stalls nearby serve chaat, kachori and kulfi.