Agra, the Indian jewel - Reporter on the Road

Few months ago, I had no idea what Agra was. ‘It’s an Indian city’. Ok. ‘And one of the most visited cities in India’. Oh wait, what?. Yes, Agra has one of the seven wonders of the world, the beautiful Taj Mahal ! Part of the so-called Golden Triangle (Delhi – Agra – Jaipur), Agra has some wonderful monuments to see.

There are many places I would like to visit in my life and I honestly never thought about the Taj Mahal. I find it very beautiful on pictures, but I was far from realizing how incredible it was! Some places worth to be seen, with your own eyes!

This was exactly my first thought when I arrived at the site. I find it so difficult to share the emotions and the feelings I had when I arrived just in front of the Taj. No picture can really share the feeling. At that moment I realized something very important: I will never let someone to tell me about a place, I will go there too.

I spent one day in Agra, a city full of contradictions, as one of the most beautiful monument of the world stands in a very poor city where people don’t seem to benefit from the tourists. I am sharing some postcards I took in Agra…

Postcards

The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal, a Mughal-era building, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It looks splendid on pictures but it will leave you speachless once you are actually in front of it! It is a very touristic place so it is better to visit it early in the morning. If you would like to see it during sunset or during sunrise, there is a special spot for it! I have shared my most beautiful pictures from the Taj on this post.

The Tomb of I’timad-ud-Daulah
“Baby Taj”

Tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah, also called “Baby Taj”, is a Mughal mausoleum (like the Taj Mahal) located in Agra. It is wonderful and I am very happy I visited. It is often described as a “jewel box” as it is seen as a draft of the Taj Mahal.

Metabh Bagh garden

Accross the river, there is a 25 acre Mughal garden called the “Moonlight Garden”, where it is possible to have an alternative perspective of the Taj and the perfect spot for sunrise or sunset. Mehtab Bagh was built before the Taj, by Emperor Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire. The entrance fee for foreigners is 100 roupies.

How to organize a day trip to Agra from Delhi?

Located 206 kilometers South from New Delhi, it is easy to plan a day trip to Agra. To reach Agra, you can take the highway (2h30/3h00 drive) or take the train (but book your ticket in advance to avoid scam). There is an express train that takes only 2 hours. However, do not expect all trains to run on time.

If you decide to go by car, you can easily book a taxi for the day. The taxi costs approximately 5000 roupies – 75€ for the day. You can share the taxi with 2 or 3 people. Usually, the driver pick you up around 6a.m in New Delhi so you arrive around 9 – 9.30a.m in Agra. The drive is nice.