What can you gift your wife who is as crazy as you are for travelling on her birthday – A Surprise Taj Mahal Trip!!!
It was a short unplanned trip to Agra that too in summer when the temperature rises to 45 degrees there. Yes, she was surprised at first and got badly tanned later. I have been to Agra twice so here I am discussing all details that will help you plan your Agra trip.
Days required– 1-2 days
Nearby places to go – Fatehpur Sikri, Mathura/Vrindavan
Best time to visit – winter season (October to February). I don’t think anyone wants to roam around Taj and Red fort in the scorching heat of summers.
How to reach – Agra is the part of the Famous Golden Triangle ( Delhi-Agra-Jaipur).
By air – Agra has an airport with limited connectivity though there are flights from Delhi and Jaipur.
By train – Agra Cantt. is the main railway station and one can easily reach Agra from Delhi and Jaipur.
By road – one can easily find a bus to reach Agra from Delhi, Jaipur, Kanpur and Gwalior.
Self-drive is also a good option as it is 4-hour drive from Jaipur and Delhi and highways are really good.
How we traveled – I have visited Agra twice both time by train as it is very convenient. This train runs between Jaipur and Agra Cantt. You can board the train in the early morning, reach Agra by 10 am then explore the place and again in the evening, the same train will take you back to Jaipur.
Where to stay – There are many hotels in Fatehabad Road area. Also, you can stay much closer to Taj Mahal near Tajganj area. Moustache and Zostel are very popular hostels among backpackers.
How to go around – Agra can easily be explored by auto rickshaw. You just need to bargain well. Agra Cantt. the railway station is very near to Red Fort and Taj Mahal.
Places to visit –
- Taj Mahal – One of the most beautiful monuments ever made in mankind history. One can not explain the beauty of Taj in words.
Birthday Trip - Red Fort – very similar to that in Delhi. The fort is near to Taj and you get beautiful photographs here with Taj in the background.
In front of Red Fort - Mehtab Bagh – This garden is across the river and is famous among photographers as it provides a good view of the Taj minus the crowd.
- Itmad-Ul-Dulah – Baby Taj – it is said the structure was used as a draft complex for the Taj Mahal.
Where to eat –
Deviram sweets – have your breakfast like a local at this sweet shop – Bedai with aaloo ki sabzi and jalebi.
Chaat Gali – Sadar bazaar has Chat Gali with many street food stalls. Famous ones are Agra chat house and Agrawal chat house.
Panchhi Petha – Agra is famous for Taj and Petha. Panchhi has become a global brand for Petha worldwide. You will find Panchhi Petha everywhere in Agra and most of them are fake. Either buy online through their website or go to their Hari parwat crossing Outlet for authentic Panchhi Petha.
Quick tips for fellow travelers –
1. Taj Mahal is closed for visitors on Friday.
2. Viewing Taj at night is also an incredible experience. It can be done 2 days before, the night of and 2 days after the full moon night. Visit the official site for timings, entry fee and booking.
3. Taj Mahal is open from sunrise to sunset. Reach Taj early in the morning so that there is less crowd around you and you can escape the high temperature of noon.
4. Bargain with shopkeepers and auto drivers.
5. Buy shoe cover from any of the vendors for Rs 5 or 10. It will not be available inside and it is mandatory.
6. Don’t litter inside Taj. Be a responsible traveler.
7. There are 3 entry gates for Taj. Tickets are available there. Better to come as early as possible to skip the long queue.
8. This rule is new for visitors. Govt. has limited viewing hours for Taj Mahal recently. If you exceed the time limit (3 hours), there is a 100% penalty for it.
Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)
Destination overall rating 9/10 – I should not rate one of the wonders of the world but this rating is overall rating for Agra. The city is very polluted and because of that, the silvery-white Taj has become greyish white.
Expanse 1/10 – not much to spend here. You can find budget hotels easily. Local transport is cheap.
Travel ease 7/10 –Agra is easily reachable via Delhi and Jaipur. The city does not have much extensive public transport system but auto rickshaws are easily available.
Food 6/10 – Do buy Panchhi Petha for your friends and family back home. Other than Petha, I didn’t find anything special here.