Kanch Mahal
Agra, Uttar Pradesh · monument
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry Fee₹15
Kanch Mahal is one of the most overlooked jewels of Mughal Agra — a compact, exquisitely detailed garden palace tucked just east of the great southern gateway to Akbar's Tomb at Sikandra. According to the Archaeological Survey of India, the structure was raised during the reign of Emperor Jahangir in the early 17th century, though some accounts also link it to Shah Jahan and describe it as a mahal (residence) for royal women and a shikargah (hunting lodge) used when the court hunted in the wooded countryside around Sikandra. Its name — literally "Glass Palace" — comes not from window glass but from the shimmering glazed mosaic and coloured-tile detailing that once made its friezes and roofline sparkle like glass under moonlight.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Panchhi Petha (Sadar Bazaar and other city outlets) - Agra's best-known pure-vegetarian petha house; easiest to pick up on the way back into the city. Confirm the specific branch on arrival.
- ✦Deviram Sweets (Pratap Pura area) - long-standing pure-vegetarian Agra institution famed for bedai with jalebi in the morning; a short drive back toward the city centre.
- ✦Pure-vegetarian sweet and snack shops along the Sikandra / Mathura Road stretch - handy for petha, mithai and chai; quality varies, so check freshness on the spot.
- ✦GMB (Gopika Mishthan Bhandar) outlets in Agra - dependable pure-vegetarian mithai, chaat and thali counters; plan this as a city-side stop rather than at Sikandra itself.
About
Kanch Mahal is one of the most overlooked jewels of Mughal Agra — a compact, exquisitely detailed garden palace tucked just east of the great southern gateway to Akbar's Tomb at Sikandra.
- According to the Archaeological Survey of India, the structure was raised during the reign of Emperor Jahangir in the early 17th century, though some accounts also link it to Shah Jahan and describe it as a mahal (residence) for royal women and a shikargah (hunting lodge) used when the court hunted in the wooded countryside around Sikandra.
- Its name — literally "Glass Palace" — comes not from window glass but from the shimmering glazed mosaic and coloured-tile detailing that once made its friezes and roofline sparkle like glass under moonlight.
- Architecturally, Kanch Mahal is a textbook of refined Mughal domestic design.
- The three-storeyed building is constructed of brick and lime mortar faced with finely dressed red sandstone, its plan built around a central hall flanked by rooms on the northern and southern sides, with square chambers at the corners pierced by paired openings for cross-ventilation.
- Octagonal double pillars rise from a raised plinth, and the facades carry some of the crispest carved ornament in Agra — arabesques, geometric lattice, lotus buds and vase-and-flower motifs, all worked into the sandstone.
- Traces of the glazed blue, green and orange tile mosaic that gave the palace its name still cling to the friezes, and delicate jali (perforated stone screens) filter the light within.
- Standing within a formerly charbagh-style setting of water channels and tanks, Kanch Mahal is today conserved by the ASI and sees only a trickle of visitors — most travellers walk straight past it to Akbar's mausoleum, which makes this a genuinely peaceful, camera-friendly stop for anyone who lingers.
- For vegetarian travellers, note that no food is sold at the monument itself; Sikandra sits on the north-western edge of Agra, so the dependable move is to carry Agra's famous pure-vegetarian petha and mithai from the city, or plan a snack stop at a trusted pure-veg sweet house on the way back toward Sadar Bazaar or the Bypass.
- The blend of red-sandstone carving, surviving glass-mosaic colour and near-solitude makes Kanch Mahal a rewarding ten-to-twenty-minute detour paired with Akbar's Tomb.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Sikandra, east of Akbar's Tomb, Mathura Road (NH-19), Sikandra, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, 282007
How to Reach: Sikandra, on Mathura Road (NH-19) about 10 km north-west of Agra city centre, immediately east of Akbar's Tomb. From Agra Cantonment Station a taxi costs about ₹350-450 (30-40 minutes); from the Taj Mahal area an auto-rickshaw or taxi is ₹300-400. Local buses and shared autos run along the Mathura Road corridor to Sikandra. There is no metro stop nearby — road transport is the standard way. Combine it with an Akbar's Tomb visit, as the two sit side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kanch Mahal at Sikandra and why is it called the Glass Palace?
Kanch Mahal is a three-storeyed early-17th-century Mughal garden palace built of brick and red sandstone, standing just east of Akbar's Tomb at Sikandra in Agra. It was raised in Jahangir's reign and served as a mahal (residence) and hunting lodge. The name 'Kanch Mahal' means 'Glass Palace' — it comes from the glazed, glass-like mosaic tilework in blue, green and orange that once made its friezes and roofline shimmer, not from any window glass.
Who built Kanch Mahal and when?
The Archaeological Survey of India attributes Kanch Mahal to Emperor Jahangir, built in the early 17th century (circa 1605-1619). Some accounts also associate it with Shah Jahan and describe it as a residence for royal women. It functioned as a mahal and a shikargah (hunting lodge) for the Mughal court, which hunted in the countryside around Sikandra.
Is there a separate entry fee for Kanch Mahal, and what are the timings?
Kanch Mahal is a protected ASI monument beside Akbar's Tomb at Sikandra and is generally open from sunrise to sunset (roughly 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily). Entry is nominal — reported at around ₹15 for Indian and neighbouring-nation visitors and about ₹110 for foreign nationals — and it typically falls within the Sikandra/Akbar's Tomb ticketing. Fees are revised periodically, so please confirm the current ticket at the ASI counter on arrival.
How do I reach Kanch Mahal from Agra city?
Kanch Mahal is at Sikandra on Mathura Road (NH-19), about 10 km north-west of central Agra, immediately east of Akbar's Tomb. A taxi from Agra Cantonment Station costs roughly ₹350-450 (30-40 minutes), and from the Taj Mahal area an auto or taxi is about ₹300-400. Shared autos and local buses run the Mathura Road corridor. There is no nearby metro, so road transport is the standard way — and it pairs naturally with Akbar's Tomb next door.
What is there to see at Kanch Mahal?
The highlights are the finely carved red-sandstone facades — arabesques, geometric lattice, lotus buds and vase-and-flower motifs — along with delicate jali (perforated stone screens) and the surviving traces of glazed blue, green and orange glass-mosaic tilework that gave the palace its name. The three-storeyed structure has a central hall with corner chambers and octagonal double pillars on a raised plinth, set within a former charbagh garden. It is quiet and rarely crowded, making it a peaceful ten-to-twenty-minute stop.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near Kanch Mahal?
No food is sold at the monument, and Sikandra sits on Agra's north-western edge, so it is best to plan a pure-vegetarian stop on the way to or from the city. Panchhi Petha and Deviram Sweets are trusted pure-vegetarian names for petha, bedai and mithai, and GMB (Gopika Mishthan Bhandar) outlets offer dependable pure-vegetarian chaat and thali. Along the Sikandra stretch you will find small pure-veg sweet and chai shops — check freshness on the spot and confirm the outlet on arrival.
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