National Chambal Sanctuary

Seventy kilometres southeast of Agra, an hour and a half to two by road, the Chambal runs clear between ravine walls, and the way to see it is from a naturalist-guided motorboat. The river holds critically endangered gharial, mugger crocodiles, Gangetic dolphins, otters and Indian skimmers, with more than 300 bird species along the banks. Winter mornings are the time, when gharial come out to bask. Plan a full day with lunch at an eco-lodge; many trips fold in the Bateshwar temple row on the way. Nothing about it resembles monument sightseeing.

Gharial and river dolphins on clear water: the least monument-like day Agra offers