Agra petha
पेठा Petha · Agra, India
A translucent sweet at the foot of the Taj Mahal, with a widely told but doubtful legend.
Know before you go
- Don't eat or drink inside the Taj Mahal complex (food is not allowed in)
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
Legend
A sweet eaten by the Taj Mahal's builders?
A story told in Agra says petha originated in Shah Jahan's Mughal palace kitchens and was made for the workers building the Taj Mahal. But it's hardly credible: the cookbook of Shah Jahan's time, the 'Nuskha-e-Shahjahani', makes no mention of petha; similar sweets existed in India before the Mughals arrived; and petha is nothing like the milk- and curd-rich sweets of the Mughal court.
Source: Wikipedia: Petha
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Petha is a translucent soft sweet made from ash gourd (white pumpkin); slaked lime is added so that the pieces keep their texture as they cook. Agra is its most famous home, and visitors often buy it as a gift to take home.
Local customs
- Often bought by the box as a gift
- flavours include plain, rose, saffron and coconut
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
India: some states ban alcohol completely
- Before visiting Bihar, Gujarat, Mizoram, Nagaland or Lakshadweep, learn the alcohol rules
- Drinking or carrying alcohol in a dry area
- Drinking in parks and other public places
Drinking or possessing alcohol in a dry state can lead to arrest without bail and 5 to 10 years in prison.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: India travel advice
India: e-cigarettes are banned
- Leave your e-cigarette at home
- Bringing an e-cigarette into India or buying one there
E-cigarettes and related products are banned in India.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: India travel advice
India: no satellite phones or GPS devices without a permit
- Before you leave, check whether your equipment needs a permit
- Carrying a satellite phone or satellite navigation device without a permit (even in transit)
Illegal; you can be fined or arrested and the device confiscated. British tourists have been arrested for this.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: India travel advice
Don’t DON'T
Don't eat or drink inside the Taj Mahal complex (food is not allowed in)
Locals appreciate DO
People in Agra appreciate visitors who buy genuine petha from old shops.
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- There are many petha shops in Agra's old city and near the Taj Mahal
- choose an established brand with sealed packaging. Prices and opening hours are set by each shop
- popular old places often have queues, so go outside peak mealtimes.
Sources & verification notes
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