Comparison · Agra vs Kathmandu · India / Nepal
Agra vs Kathmandu
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Yann ( talk ), CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Agra for Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and a short break; choose Kathmandu for Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. Kathmandu is generally less expensive, and the two are about 724 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 724 km
- Less expensive
- Kathmandu
- Best time for Agra
- October–March
- Best time for Kathmandu
- March–April and October–December
Side by side
| Agra | Kathmandu | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | India | Nepal |
| Known for | Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Mughal architecture | Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath and Durbar Squares |
| Best time to visit | October–March | March–April and October–December |
| Ideal stay | 2 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $60–$150 | $50–$120 |
| Cost level | Very affordable | Very affordable |
| Warmest month | May, 42°C (108°F) | June, 29°C (84°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 22°C (72°F) | January, 19°C (66°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | AGR, DEL | KTM |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Agra for…
Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and a short break. Agra was the capital of the Mughal Empire for much of the 16th and 17th centuries, and it holds three UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and, 37 km away, the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri. Most visitors arrive from Delhi on a fast train…
Choose Kathmandu for…
Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. Kathmandu sits at about 1,400 metres in a bowl-shaped valley ringed by hills, and the valley's seven UNESCO monument zones — the Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan — are all within an…
Top sights compared
| # | Agra | Kathmandu |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taj Mahal | Kathmandu Durbar Square |
| 2 | Agra Fort | Swayambhunath |
| 3 | Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah | Boudhanath |
| 4 | Mehtab Bagh | Pashupatinath Temple |
| 5 | Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra | Patan Durbar Square |
Food compared
| Agra | Kathmandu |
|---|---|
| Petha | Momo |
| Bedai and jalebi | Dal bhat tarkari |
| Dalmoth | Newari khaja set |
| Mughlai biryani | Bara |
Which is cheaper?
Kathmandu is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $50–$120 per person there, against $60–$150 in Agra (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Kathmandu on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 724 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 7 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Agra or Kathmandu cheaper?
Kathmandu is usually less expensive: about $50–$120 a day mid-range against $60–$150 (estimates).
+Is Agra or Kathmandu better for a first trip?
Pick Agra for Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and a short break, or Kathmandu for Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife.
+How far is Agra from Kathmandu?
About 724 km in a straight line.