Korai Village
Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Just outside of Fatehpur Sikri, Korai is a small, traditional village that's largely populated by members of the Qalandar community. In recent years, travel companies and village residents have made efforts to bring in tourists, making Korai a great place to learn about life in rural North India while supporting the local economy.
The Basics
Until the early 1970s, many Qalandar people earned their income by performing on the street with captive animals, a practice that has since been outlawed. This led to a loss of income for many members of the community, who instead had to turn to manual labor to eke out a living. A few years ago, Manya Kalia, the daughter of a travel agent from Delhi visited the village and saw its potential as a tourist destination. Kalia met with residents a few times, and soon came up with a plan to start promoting Korai among clients.
Today, the village offers visitors to India's Golden Triangle the chance to get an inside glimpse of village life, either on village tours or as a stopover between Agra and Fatehpur Sikri.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Korai Village is a must-visit for travelers wanting to see what life is like in a village in an accessible, visitor-friendly way that supports the local economy.
- While residents are generally OK with being photographed, it’s respectful to always ask permission first, especially if you’re photographing women.
- If you want to bring something to give to children in the village, consider school supplies or educational toys.
- The village is best visited on foot, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes and sun protection. If you have mobility concerns, it’s best to check with your guide about how to visit comfortably.
How to Get There
Korai Village is located on the Bikaner-Agra road, a 15-minute drive from Fatehpur Sikri and a 45-minute drive from Agra. Most visitors come en route between the two destinations, usually by taxi, though there is a regular bus service on the road. You can also hire a round-trip rickshaw from Fatehpur Sikri.
When to Get There
As Korai is a village, it’s always accessible to visitors. That said, this part of India is best visited during the cooler months of the year between late October and March, when the weather is mild. Things heat up in April and by May, when the temperatures can be dangerously high, while the July–September monsoon season can be humid and often rainy.
Fatehpur Sikri
The nearest major attraction to Korai Village, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was founded by Emperor Akbar and served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1571 until 1585. By 1610 it was abandoned due to inadequate water supply and has remained a ghost town ever since. It's also the site of the Buland Darwaza, a massive sandstone gate measuring around 167 feet (51 meters) high.
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