To visit the Taj Mahal , you have to go to the city of Agra. Agra, which is the second stage of our 3-week itinerary in North India, is also home to other curiosities such as the red fort or the baby Taj. We give you in this article of our travel blog all our advice and tips for an unforgettable stay in Agra and in particular to enjoy the visit of the Taj Mahal in the best conditions.
Taj Mahal: Travel diary of Agra in northern India
By the way, we are Franck and Richard. We are travel bloggers and have been exploring the world by sharing our inspiring stories, itineraries, city guides, practical advice and alternative tips with you since 2008 on One Day One Travel.
We took the train from New Delhi Station (NDLS) in AC 3 Tier (3A) class to Agra Cantt Station (AGC). The distance to be covered is 195 km in 4 hours . As often, Indian trains are late. We did not deviate from this rule because our train was 2 hours late.
The interior of the train is clean and air-conditioned. We share compartments for 6 people, the opportunity to share some good times with the Indians.
On the landscape side, the slums along the roadside gradually give way to fields that the peasants still work by hand. Harvesting and harvesting are done manually. We are taking a real leap into the past. We quickly realize the spartan living conditions of the Indian villagers. This atmosphere is interspersed with stops in medium-sized cities.
We guide you in this article: How to book a train in India?
Please note: Seat numbers are randomly distributed when booking tickets online. Therefore, on paper, you are not guaranteed to travel together if you have booked multiple tickets. It is therefore once on board that we negotiate its placement between passengers. In any case, remember to print one ticket per passenger in case you are not in the same car in the end.
You have arrived in Agra. We give you the best advice for getting around in this city of more than 1 million inhabitants.
The Rickshaw. Convenient especially for short trips in town. He creeps everywhere and saves precious time. His excessive use of the horn. You can keep it for a few hours or for the day. A race costs between 50 and 100 Rp for 2 people.
Very affordable option in India and convenient to see a lot of things in town and in the region without spending too much energy. Check with your hotel to find someone reliable.
We stayed 2 days and 2 nights in Agra which is a city of 1.3 million inhabitants anyway. However, there is a rather friendly atmosphere there which is good after the chaos of Delhi.
The TOP 3 unmissable visits to Agra in North West India
It is of course the visit to the Taj Mahal that attracts travelers and tourists from all over the world. However, it would be a shame to miss out on other marvels such as the Agra fort or the mini Taj . We tell you more in the next section.
Here are our favorite but also essential visits to Agra first on video , just to immerse you in the unique atmosphere of this essential city when traveling in the region.
The Taj Mahal is the symbol of India. This mausoleum of Mughal architecture dating from 1648 is obviously one of the most visited sites in India . The Taj Mahal is also one of the new wonders of the world .
We advise you to visit the “Palais de la Couronne” as soon as the site opens, that is to say at sunrise . You will thus avoid the rush of passing tourists as much as possible. You will then enjoy the monument like us in complete peace of mind.
The Taj Mahal and its white marble encrusted with precious stones is just sublime under the first rays of the sun. Plan 2 to 3 hours of visit on site.
When you want to visit the Taj Mahal , you absolutely have to follow a few rules unless you want to queue for long minutes in front of the Do not bring chewing gum, cigarettes, matches, lighters, flashlights or scissors. otherwise you will be refused entry . Indeed, it is very strict and the controls worthy of an international airport.
