Tips for Taj Mahal Visit

13 Little Known Tips for Taj Mahal Visit By Rachel Jones On 29 July 2014 In Asia, India, Tips and Tricks Taj Mahal Agra travel tips I have deviated a bit from the stories of my backpacking trip! If you remember last, I was in Rishikesh staying in an ashram and trying to be all “spiritual”, while mostly failing. The terrible bus ride: It was tough to leave zenned-out Rishikesh. We had such a relaxed time at our ashram and were sort of dreading going to Agra. I’m not going to lie- I just wanted to fast-forward and have already seen the Taj Mahal. It was feeling like a chore. Chloe and I hitchhiked to Haridwar, where we took a rickshaw to the bus stop. The bus to Agra was pretty unbearable. I was still suffering really bad from the side effects of dengue fever and the last couple hours I was in tears telling Chloe I think I needed to go to a hospital. I wasn’t eating because I knew I’d just get stomach cramps and I think Chloe and I both were dehydrated and tired from the ashram. Agra. The Taj Mahal is a World Wonder perfectly placed on the Yamuna river and stunningly magical but the same can’t be said about Agra. It’s a loud crowded town filled with pollution, touts, and litter. Getting to the Taj is usually a little out of the way for tourists. Taj Mahal Agra travel tipssource Taj Mahal Agra travel tipssource photo 1/ photo 2 Taj Mahal Agra travel tips I think it’s worth the stop BUT do it in ONE day only. Get in and get out. I know some people will be offended by this, but hey, like I always say: I’m going to tell it on the blog like I would to a friend, and I wouldn’t be telling my bestie to book a few nights in Agra. We got in and out easily thanks to catching up with a couchsurfer. The guy let us put our bags at his place; he is a police officer and drove us to the Taj area then picked us up later. So nice and helpful! He really was a saint especially with how sick I was feeling. This is where Chlo and I said our goodbyes and I went on to Varanasi while she went off to dusty Rajasthan. 13 Tips for Taj Mahal Visit 1. First of all, I recommend reading up on the Taj on Wikipedia. I’m not going to go into the past here but it did take 22 years, is made of all marble, took 20,000 workers to build, and was built to show love to a woman. Some say the workers’ thumbs were cut off so they couldn’t ever built something like it again. Taj Mahal Agra travel tips Taj Mahal Agra travel tips 2. It is hard to get to if you aren’t doing the Golden Triangle all at once. It’s less than 200 km from Delhi, but you’ll most likely book a local bus at the station. Follow my local bus tips to stay safe. You can hire a driver or tour guide from Delhi to plan a daylong tour. You can also take a train in or fly! 3. If you have the budget and time to do so, I recommend staying ­­­­­at the Oberoi (all Oberoi’s are fancy and amazing) so you can see the Taj from your hotel window just like so many celebrities and royals have! Now, unfortunately I am not a famous blogger who gets free stays at 5 star hotels, but in this case, if you own this hotel and are reading this, please, hit me up! ;) I will totally let you pour me a cup of tea at the Oberoi! 4. Get there EARLY. It opens at 6 am and you should be there right then! I didn’t make it at that time and it was quite crowded while I was there. To me, it wasn’t a big deal- I’m not much of a monument person anyway. I know some people would have been bummed though. Taj Mahal Agra travel tipssource photo 1/photo 2 Taj Mahal Agra travel tips 5. Be prepared to be hassled, and I don’t mean by vendors. I mean by the nicest families ever… but there are just a few too many of them. If someone wants a photo with you (and they will), just know that once you agree, a line will form. I must have taken at least 30 photos with people and finally had to say no which always makes me feel bad when it’s nice people. You have to make sure you get your experience there, not just help make other people get a photo they want. Taj Mahal Agra travel tips Taj Mahal Agra travel tips 6. There are a few different entry gates. They all charge the same. Foreigners pay 750 rupees while nationals pay 20 rupees. At the time, I was a little annoyed, but looking back and now that I live in India, I completely understand. Foreigners get a free bottle of water, everyone gets shoe covers you must wear inside. 7. This is a line that’s quite long going in. You cannot bring snacks in with you. They will search your purse. Lockers are located outside the gate. Audio guide are available but I didn’t get one. 8. It’s a little bit of a toss up for what time of year to go to the Taj Mahal. Read my tips of when to travel to India to know when the best time is for weather, but keep in mind, if you can handle the high heat off-season it would be ideal to miss the crowds. Taj Mahal Agra travel tipssource photo 1/ photo 2 Taj Mahal Agra travel tips 9. Know ahead of time that although it’s gorgeous from the outside, the walk inside is… not… It was like herding cattle being pushed through the walkways of the Taj. It was quite stinky, hot, and crowded. I couldn’t wait to get to get back outside! 10. After the Taj, check out the Agra Fort before you head out of town. 11. Now for the shopping: unless you want some wholesale marble (which is readily available) don’t shop in Agra. Prices are marked up 100x the real amount. Are you even surprised? I did buy a postcard here at 4x the normal price, but it was very pretty. 12. If you’re looking for the perfect photo, it seems all the best come from across the river. I didn’t make it over there and I am by no means a professional photographer, but if that’s your thing you’ll want to find a viewing point. They are not free. Taj Mahal Agra travel tipssource 13. This is the comment I almost don’t want to say, but don’t plan your whole trip around seeing this monument and if you can’t seem to fit it in your itinerary, it won’t be that big of a deal. You know, I once wrote a 4 page rant about my rickshaw driver in Jaipur, but in regards to one of the seven wonders of the world, I wrote, “I saw the Taj Mahal today”. That’s it. It was gorgeous just like the photos, but it wasn’t what made backpacking India special.