Agra
Overview
The main reason to visit Agra is the Taj Mahal. And it is a reason enough. Actually Agra is the Taj Mahal. Yes, it has a fort and a Baby Taj, but nobody would stop in Agra if it wasn’t for the most beautiful mausoleum of the world.
And we totally agree. Visit the Taj Mahal at as many different times of the day and from as many different places as you can and just visit the fort and the Baby Taj from the outside if you are short of time.
And we totally agree. Visit the Taj Mahal at as many different times of the day and from as many different places as you can and just visit the fort and the Baby Taj from the outside if you are short of time.
Sightseeing
-Taj Mahal: 750 ruppes entrance fee. Buy the ticket one day in advance. We bought it in the Eastern Gate office (1.5 km to the right of the Eastern Gate) and entered at 6 in the morning when it opens. You can also enter through other gates but the Eastern one was supposed to be the one with less queues, and it was.
The Taj Mahal is the most famous monument of India and it is an unavoidable sight. And yes, it is as beautiful as you’ve heard about. Go there early morning, walk through the gardens, enter inside, go around it, see it from all perspectives… spend at least 2 hours there and you will see the different light reflected on the white marble.
The most beautiful view is once you cross the main gate. Even if you can get inside the mausoleum, what you see in there is not really special. Still, do get inside and admire all the details of what some say is the most beautiful building of the world.
-Gardens behind Taj Mahal: Go there at sunset. They are some 30 minutes by pedal rickshaw from the Taj Ganj area. 150 rupees to be taken there and back including waiting time.
The gardens themselves are not interesting at all. The thing is seeing the Taj Mahal at sunset from behind. Even if the view is not as beautiful as from the front, still the light and having the river between you and the mausoleum is an unforgettable view.
There’s an entrance fee of 100 rupees to the gardens, but by just walking on the side street to the river you can sneak into them, so no need to pay.
-Agra Fort: It is a really big fort. 300 rupees entrance fee. We didn’t enter as there are more beautiful and important forts in India, but if you are into forts and stuff it is worth a look. However, from outside you can see most of it, and it is actually quite nice and impressive.
-Baby Taj: It is called Baby Taj and the name is really suitable. It is a tiny small version of the Taj situated on the other side of the river. There’s an antrance fee and being far away we sisn’t enter it, we just saw it from the bridge and it doesn’t look anything special. Just go there if you have plenty of spare time and you’re bored.
Accomodation
We stayed at Sai Palace. 400 rupees per night and less than 5 minutes walk from the Eastern gate of the Taj Mahal. Staff are nice, rooms big and it has a nice rooftop from where you can see the Taj.
The downsides are that the wifi is not working most of the time, that the blankets provided are dirty and that the prices of the restaurant in the rooftop are quite expensive.
Still, Sia Palace is a reccomendable place to stay while in Agra.
The downsides are that the wifi is not working most of the time, that the blankets provided are dirty and that the prices of the restaurant in the rooftop are quite expensive.
Still, Sia Palace is a reccomendable place to stay while in Agra.
Food & Drink
A lot of options in the surroundings of the Taj Mahal, both Western and Indian. Especially reccomendable are Joney’s Café (good and cheap Indian dishes) and any restaurant you see with chickens hanging outside. We ordered a half Tandoori Chicken for 130 rupees and it was georgeous!
Don’t forget to try the Indian sweets. You will see places selling them and they are more than good. Pay 5 rupees for each small piece.
There’s a beer shop in one of the streets near Joney’s Café, but they sell the Kingfisher beer at 150 rupees, so quite expensive.
Don’t forget to try the Indian sweets. You will see places selling them and they are more than good. Pay 5 rupees for each small piece.
There’s a beer shop in one of the streets near Joney’s Café, but they sell the Kingfisher beer at 150 rupees, so quite expensive.
Transportation
-From Varanasi: We booked the ticket at the really helpful office for foreigners at Varanasi Railway Station. The train departed at 17:05 and it should have taken 13 hours but it finally took 19. We went in AC 3 Tier class and it was perfect. Price: 940 rupees.
-To Jaipur: We booked the ticket at Agra Fort Station. We travelled in AC Chair and it was really nice, even a bit cold. The train departed at 5 in the morning and it took 4:30 hours. Price: 425 rupees.
From Agra Fort Railway Station, pay 100 rupees to an autorickshaw to the Taj Ganj area, where the Taj Mahal and most of the guesthouses are.
-To Jaipur: We booked the ticket at Agra Fort Station. We travelled in AC Chair and it was really nice, even a bit cold. The train departed at 5 in the morning and it took 4:30 hours. Price: 425 rupees.
From Agra Fort Railway Station, pay 100 rupees to an autorickshaw to the Taj Ganj area, where the Taj Mahal and most of the guesthouses are.
Safety
Agra is safe. The only annoyances are, like in most of India, the traffic and the cows, but these ones are few. Street vendors and rickshaw drivers are also quite annoying trying to take money from you all the time, but jjust ignore them.
|
|
|