Agra is home to the Taj Mahal and attracts millions of visitors, making it a hotspot for incredibly aggressive touts, unauthorized 'guides,' and persistent hawkers. Do not accept tours from people approaching you on the street or outside monuments; only hire government-approved guides. A very common scam involves rickshaw drivers taking you to overpriced marble or gem shops where you are pressured to buy fake goods. Violent crime against tourists is rare, but pickpocketing is common in the dense crowds around the Taj Mahal gates. Summer temperatures in Agra (April to June) regularly exceed 45°C (113°F), posing a severe risk of heatstroke.