Taj Mahal Travel Guide

Agra is the home of the Taj Mahal in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

 Agra is part ofthe Golden Triangle, a popular tourist route which also includes Delhi andJaipur. The easiest way to get to Agra from Delhi is by train or car.

 If you'retaking a train, get off at Agra Cantt station. 

 At the station, use the prepaidtaxi or auto rickshaw to get to your hotel.

 It will take three or more hoursto get to Agra from Delhi.

 We recommend taking a chauffeur-driven rental car from NewDelhi or once you get to Agra. 

 Cars are clean well maintained andair-conditioned. 

 The driver tourist/ guide knows how to get to all the attractionsand available to you at all times. He'll remain with you and guide you throughyour itinerary and will make stops along your road trip.

 For instance on most recent roadtrip from Jaipur to Agra and back to New Delhi we were able to stop and see localmarble and stonemasons, roadside entertainers, and we saw a huge localgathering. 

 We also ate at a local roadside cafe, and viewed the countryside, and when needed, he made stops for our personal needs.

 For us this is acomfortable and up close way to travel in India. Look below in the descriptionsection for the link for private car rentals for this tour in Agra. Agra is located on the banks of the Yamuna river in the Indian state ofUttar Pradesh.

 Agra has become a major tourist destination because of the TajMahal, the Agra fort, and the Fatehpūr Sikrī all UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

 We started our golden triangle tour in Delhi and then drove to Jaipur and thendrove another four and a half hours from Jaipur to Agra.

 We arrived in Agra in theevening and as we traveled through its streets we saw cows, vegetable carts, stores,

 stalls of all kinds, and crowds of people and of course extreme trafficduring the peak hours. As we drove through one of the street markets goingto our hotel, 

 we were stuck in heavy traffic but you don't need to befrustrated with traffic if you get caught in it.

 Instead consider it part ofthe Indian local experience and be amazed as I was watching what appears to be chaos and deadlock resolve itself through honks and shouts. 

 After a delicious and relaxing breakfast we visited the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal or the Taj is awhite marbled mausoleum built along the banks of the Yamuna River in the city ofAgra. 

 The Taj Mahal is open from sunrise to sunset generally 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.Monday through Friday and Sunday and is closed on Fridays. You can purchase yourtickets at any of the three gates west, south, or east. 

The East Gate provides the easiest access. Whether you arrive by taxi or rickshaw or a private car, yourdriver will probably drop you off at the Shilgram parking area where theticket office is located.

 In an effort to preserve the Taj, polluting vehicles arenot allowed near the complex so once you purchase your tickets you can walkeither the 15-20 minutes to the actual entrance of the Taj Mahal or you cancatch an electric bus from the ticket center to the entrance.

 If you are not anIndian citizen or a visitor of a SAARC or BIMSTEC country, youhave to pay the foreigner entrance fee Once you arrive at the entrance, you'llhave to go through security. 

 Your bags will be checked. You may be frisked, andyou will go through metal detectors. There are separate lines for men andwomen. Make sure to take your passport with you. 

 Please purchase the correcttickets for your status or you will be turned away. This process can becumbersome but once you see the Taj for for yourself it is so worth it! Pleasenote that large bags and backpacks are not allowed in the Taj Mahal complex. 

There are many restrictions, please check at their official website. Please alsonote that children below the age of 15 are free. 

Once you pass through security, follow the signs to the main gate into the complex and be prepared to be wowed.

 Once you see the Taj for yourself you will agree that it is one of the sevenwonders of the world. 

 At the far end of the complex you'll see the Taj Mahal withtwo large red sandstone buildings which is a mosque and a guest house whichmirror each other and face the sides of the Taj. 

 In front of those buildings willbe a 300 meter square Mughal garden. As you walk through the mughal garden to the Taj, you will observe raised pathways that divide each of the four quarters ofthe garden into sixteen sunken flowerbeds. 

Halfway between the tomb and the gateway in the center of the garden is a raised marble water tank with areflecting pool. It is at this spot that you will find the main photo bench. Youwon't miss it, there's usually a crowd waiting for their turn on the bench. Thetomb is the central focus of the Taj Mahal complex. 

 This white marblestructure stands on a square plinth and consists of a symmetrical buildingtopped by large dome and finial. Four large minarets trim the tomb, one in eachcorner of the plinth facing the chambered corners. 

 The main chamberhouses the false tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. The actual graves arelocated at the lower level. Before going up to the tomb.

 you must wear your shoecovers which were provided with your ticketthen you will climb up the stairs to the main chamber level. The Taj beganconstruction in 1632 by over 20,000 artisans and was completed in 1653. 

 TheMughal Emperor Shah Jahan built this mausoleum for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, after her death. The Taj Mahal complex is 42 acres. What makes the TajMahal so spectacular are not only the marble structures but the artistry inthe decorations on the inlay tiles as well.  

Take the time just to take itall in before you leave the Taj Mahal. Once we finished our visit to the TajMahal we visited the Agra Red fort. 

 the AgraRed fort also known as the Agra fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located inAgra, India and is about 2.5 km northwest from the Taj Mahal. 

 You can get to the fort by a taxi or rickshaw or by private car. The Agra fort is open fromsunrise to sunset generally 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. 

 If you are not an Indiancitizen or a visitor of a SAARC or BIMSTEC country, you'll have to pay theforeigner entrance fee. 

 You may also be charged a video and a camera fee. Personal guides are available for an additional fee and can be hired whereyou purchase your tickets. They will approach you.

 Guides may be helpful in maneuvering through relatively quickly however it's not really necessary. Once at the entrance, you'll have to go through security. 

 Your bags will bechecked, you may be frisked, and you will have to go through metal detectors. 

 There are separate lines for men and women Agra fort was built in red sandstone asa military base and royal residents for Akbar and the capital of the MughalEmpire until it was moved to Delhi in 1638. Once you pass through security, you will enter the fort through the Amar Singh gate. 

 Once you pass the gateyou will see Jahangir's palace which is made of red sandstone.

 In front of thepalace you'll see the Hauz-i-Jehangir a huge bowl carved out of a single blockof stone which was used for bathing If you continue walking east you'll findthe Musamman Burjand Khas Mahal, the Khas Hall is a white marbled octagonaltower and palace where Shah Jahan was imprisoned for eight years and until his death in 1666.

 It was from here where Shah Jahan could gaze out at the Taj MahalYou will also see the Mina Masjid,

 Shah Jahan's private mosque which is nowclosed to the public Another mosque is the Nagina Masjid orgem mosque built in 1635 by Shah Jahan for the ladies of the court. Below wasthe ladies bazaar where the court ladies bought their goods. 

 Along the easternwall of the fort is the Diwan-i-Khas , the hall of private audience. The hall once housedShah Jahan's Peacock Throne which was in set with precious stones and the Koh-i-noor diamond. 

Overlooking the Yamuna River and the distant Taj Mahal is ahuge slab of Onyx with an inscription around the edge. Near here is the SheeshMahal , 

the mirror palace with walls inlaid with tiny mirrors. As you continue intothe complex, you will go to the Diwan-i-Am the Hall of public audience. In front ofthe hall is the grave of John Colvin a lieutenant governor of the Northwestprovinces who died of an illness in the fort during 1857. 

 On your way in oroutside of the complex, don't forget to see the main and the largest gate theDelhi Gate which faces the city on the west side and is embellished with inlaywork in white marble. 

 There's also a wooden drawbridge flanked by twolife-sized stone elephants. The fort will take you an hour moredepending on your interest. 

 You can visit the Agra fort, Taj Mahal, and the Fatehpur Sikri in one day. If you plan to go to multiple attractions in Agra, considerbuying a composite ticket for a discount On our tour of the Golden Triangle westarted out in Delhi, 

 we flew in and toured around Delhi for a few days and then took a chauffeur-driven road trip to Jaipur which took about five hours. 

Afterwe completed visiting Jaipur, then we went and drove from Jaipur to Agra whichwas about four and a half hours; and then we drove back to New Delhi which tookthree and a half hours. 

 We have gone road tripping through the GoldenTriangle several times and we prefer this itinerary, mostly because it'sshorter back to New Delhi.