Trip to Agra

12th May 2007; Trip 2 Agra.


I had to start from my place at 0530 hrs, it was 0545 hrs and I was still waiting for cab. I had to pick up Mr. Kaufman (He is come from USA, to help in setting up LAB in Aricent Cisco office) at 0600 hrs from his Hotel, I knew he will be ready sharp by 0600 hrs, cab came at 0550 hrs and I could reach hotel just in time. Dav (David) appreciated the same, it looked like he never expected me on time ( basically he expected me to come on Indian Time J), very shortly we started for Agra via Faridabad and Abhay joined us at around 0700 hrs from Faridabad.

None of us had breakfast so we stopped by one of the road side Dhaba’s, there we had some kind of Paratha (They charged us double money just because Dav was with us) but at the same time they gave special attention to us. We reached so called Clean and Green city (Agra) at around 10-1030 hrs.

We headed to the Battery operated bus to go to Tajmahal. Our cab driver told us that we don’t have to pay anything for foreigners in bus, he also told us that for Indians they charge illegally, that’s how India works isn’t it?

The moment we got down from battery operated bus; few guides surrounded us with some kind of Government ID card, what was that? Even I have no idea about it; well we opted not to go for a guide. We got our tickets and went for a small security check on the entrance before getting into Taj.

Surprisingly one of the guides managed to follow us and asked for Rs 150 (I am not sure how he managed to come inside without any tickets), we denied him as we never wanted a guide but after 5-7 times of denial he asked just Rs 20, we finally agreed to him and decided to go ahead rather than he bothering us all the time, he explained few things and clicked some snaps for us.


It was afternoon time and hot out there, but when we saw Taj we forgot everything, we just kept looking at it. Only sad part was we could not see the reflection of Taj in water due to absence of water. This building is a miracle in itself, nice example of complete stone work; all the stones carved by hands, every single stone with n number of designs, among all best one was Lotus made up of 64 pieces of ruby stone, which glows when light falls on it.

White marble with combinations of Turkish and Arabic design on it makes it more beautiful, good light effects keeps you stunned for a moment. Very good symmetry is maintained in constructions and that makes it more beautiful and stunning.

We had good time going around and clicking snaps all the time J. After exploring every corner of the Taj, we decided to go back. We took lot of snaps and made sure we are carrying all our memories with us.

After visiting Taj we had our Lunch and went for Agra fort, its very much similar to Red fort, best part is you can have a nice view of Taj from Agra fort. The place from where Shahajahan used to look at Taj is outstanding, this place is locked but you can feel the greatness of this place on the fort. Taj looks so beautiful from the fort and beauty gets doubled if you see Taj during Sun rise and Sun set.
At around 1700 hrs taking finale glance at Tajmahal and Agra fort we started our journey back. On our way I was thinking about the standards at which we have kept the National monuments and the way we take care of them.

Taj and Agra Fort are so beautiful but area ( except 500 m around Taj ) around these national monument is not at all maintained, we talk about one of the 7 wonders of the world but I don’t think it is been kept to the standards. l was surprised to see boards saying that “clean city green city” all over the places in Agra, but in reality what you see is dirt around, trust me the city is not at all maintained. They run battery operated buses and autos near Taj ( with in 500 m range ) and charge Rs 5 per person illegally ( don’t provide any Ticket for this ). This battery operated service is to keep area around Taj pollution free and for the same reason they don’t allow tourist vehicles to enter in this area, but at the same time Motor Bikes of local shop owners are allowed till ticket window, it looks like they don’t create any pollution hehehehe…. the amount of smoke these bikes emit is more then what a tourist vehicle dose, any ways point is not to ask to allow any tourist vehicle but to make sure battery operated buses which are actually free and making tourist to pay and the bikes of local people emitting smoke should be taken care.

As if this was not good enough shops near ticket window, which in first place should have not been there are making sure they give real bad impression of great India to the foreigners. Do I need to tell you how…? Well I don’t understand, do we really need shops so near to one of the 7 wonders, if answer is YES shouldn’t they be more organized and honest.

Picture is not much different with the ticket widows, with foreigners ticket one drinking water bottle is complimentary which is never given to them unless asked for and rather these bottles are sold outside the ticket window, surprising isn’t it? I have seen tourist places around the world and I have seen how polite they talk to you and how helpful they are to you when you ask for ticket or any kind of info, but in India why cant these people just smile a bit and pass greetings to our guest, is it really that hard…... huh

By: Yogi
Tips for AGRA visit:
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