Agra

Please be mindful of animal welfare when travelling in India. Many animals are used here to aid people's work, but beware of animal abuse happening in the tourism industry. If you witness animal abuse, please report it immediately to the local animal welfare agencies.

People for Animals Agra

http://www.pfa-agra.org/

Helpline: +91 (0) 9458826367

Wildlife SOS India

Helpline: +91-9917109666

Animal Welfare Board of India

(main office in Chennai)

Phone : 044-24571024, 24571025

Please visit and support our school (located behind the Temple).

You can teach a class (we offer room discounts to teachers), chat to our students, buy our unique postcards, pins and tote bags (all proceeds go towards the development of our school), donate books or school supplies. Visit our website and blogs for more details:

- local delicacies: petha and gajak; bedai and jalebi; singhara (water chestnuts);

- Longshree Juice Corner - fresh juice at a local juicery;

- Dasaprakash Restaurant - the best vegetarian South Indian food in Agra served in a romantic classical setting (within walking distance or a short rikshaw ride from the guesthouse);

- Zorba the Buddha - central Sadar Bazaar - vegetarian mixed cuisine;

- Vedic Vegetarian Restaurant, Cafe Sheroes Hangout, Tea'se Me, and more;

- have a birthday party in our garden (we require one week's notice);

Siddhartha School

See & Do

- Hing ki Mandi - a spice market (called Achoo Market by the locals), around the corner from us;

- Subhash Bazar - buy clothes, saris, shawls, devotional trinkets (Lohar Gali street), marble decorative items (Chhipitola), stationery; discover lots of small temples and design places hidden in the market alleys; support a small Tibetan community selling their merchandise there;

- Sadar Bazaar - books, magazines, postcards, clothes, shoes, food, and currency exchange;

- Bijalighar Crossing - local sari and textile businesses; have an Indian kurta made by the local tailors (enquire at reception) and experience the madness of a local sari shop;

- Raja ki Mandi - a market near St John's College;

- Buddha Vihar - meditate, chant some OM or catch a lecture by our resident monk (in Hindi only);

- Shahjahan Garden - go there for a morning jog with peacocks, parrots and chipmunks;

- Agra Fort and market- around the corner from us;

- Ram Bagh - the oldest Mughal park, where you can relax by the river;

- Hanuman Temple - go there to pray, meditate or and watch skilled stone carvers at work (up the hill from us);

- the Wildlife SOS Sanctuaries near Keetham Lake - see some peacocks, birds, bears and elephants; get educated about animal protection projects in India;

- Sikandra at sunset - breathtaking architecture, tranquil romantic atmosphere, peacocks and grazing antelopes;

- Fatehpur Sikri - have a picnic or play some outdoor games;

- the white temple of Dayal Bagh - enjoy some peace and quiet (and possibly some free vegetarian food);

- the Taj Nature Walk - unique views of The Taj!

Buddhist Sites & Other Destinations

- take a train to the famous towns of Mathura (50 km - 1 hr) and Vrndavan (80 km - 2 hrs) - Lord Krishna's birthplace - to see some beautiful temples and to shop at the handicrafts market full of mischievous monkeys (be careful not to wear glasses or carry plastic bags - monkeys are expert thieves!);

- visit Bateshwar (75 km - 3 hrs), a quiet town with white temples on the banks of the river Yamuna;

- New Delhi (190 km - 3 hrs), the red city of Jaipur (230 km - 4 hrs by train or bus), Lucknow (300 km - 6 hrs by train), Khajuraho (440 km - 8 hrs by train) are all possible and attractive destinations for those travelling from Agra;

- venture out to our Buddhist Hermitage in Bihar and experience village life in the ancient city of Vaishali (1000 km - 18 hrs by train, bus and car), where you can find the best preserved Pillar of Ashoka, World Peace Pagoda, giant Peace Bell installed by Bhante Kaundinya, a stupa with Buddha's ashes, as well as Thai, Japanese and Jain monasteries. Historical Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) was a frequent visitor in Vaishali and he preached his last sermon there.

- travel to Sankisa Basatpur Village (130 km) to see Visahari Devi temple commemorating Buddha's visit, a shrine where Buddha's right foot first touched the ground, a deer park where Buddha preached a sermon;

We provide full assistance with train/bus ticket reservations.