How to get from Delhi to Agra? Taj Mahal (Agra, India) How to visit the Taj Mahal

Most tourists get to Agra through the Indian capital -. There are several main ways to reach Agra from Delhi. Agra is also connected by road network and railways with neighboring cities -, and.

Agra Airport (AGR)

Address: Agra International Airport, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Telephone: +(91 562) 240-08-44
www.aai.aero

Agra Airport (also known as Kheria Air Force Station) is connected to Delhi and Mumbai and several other Indian cities by local airlines. However, due to the seasonal nature and high cost of such flights, this method of getting from Delhi or Mumbai to Agra is not popular. Most travelers use trains or intercity buses for this purpose.

Agra Airport on the map

Train Delhi-Agra

Agra is an important interchange station on the popular Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Chennai railway routes. More than 20 trains depart from Delhi to Agra daily. Travel time ranges from 2 to 5 hours.

The best options in terms of ticket price and travel time are the Bhopal Shatabdi express (departure from Delhi - 06:15, arrival - 08:12, tickets - 370-700 rupees) and Taj Express (departure from Delhi - 07:10, arrival - 10:07, tickets - 75-263 rupees), departing from New Delhi Railway Station and heading to Agra City Railway Station. You can check the schedule and price for travel on the Delhi-Agra route on the official website of the Indian Railways.

Delhi-Agra buses

There are many regular and private tourist buses running between Delhi and Agra every day. This is the second most popular way to reach Agra after railway transport.

Travel time is 4-5 hours. The fare for a comfortable air-conditioned bus between Agra and Delhi ranges from 400-1000 rupees. The final destinations of most bus routes to Agra are 2 central city bus stations - Idgah Bus Station and Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT).

Taxi Delhi-Agra

You can get from the Indian capital to Agra by taxi by ordering it from any of the capital's companies that provide similar services. This way to get to Agra is suitable for those who want to see other cities and attractions (Fatehpur Sikri, Vrindavan, Mathura) located on the road from Delhi.

A popular place to order a taxi in Agra is the government “prepaid” taxi counters at the airport and on the main railway. The average cost of the trip will be 4000-5000 rupees.

Taj Mahal: Overview

Taj Mahal (Taj— Machal) is a world famous architectural masterpiece in Agra and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Described by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore as "a teardrop on the cheek of time", it is considered one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich history.

As if transported from Indian fairy tales to the present day, the white marble mausoleum is covered with exquisite carvings and decorated with jade, crystal, lapis lazuli, amethyst and turquoise. According to experts, its current value is approximately 830 million USD. The central dome of the mausoleum reaches a height of 73 meters. Temple complex area ( Taj Trapezium Zone or TTZ) covers an area of 4 thousand square meters and consists of 40 protected monuments, including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites - the Taj Mahal ( Taj— Machal), Agra Fort ( Agra Fort) and Fatehpur Sikri ( Fatehpur Sikri). But is it possible to tell a real oriental tale in the language of dry numbers?

The history of this masterpiece of oriental architecture makes its splendor spiritual, full of love, the bitterness of loss, repentance and love again. Back in 1607, Shah Jahan, the son of the Mughal Emperor Jehangir, at the age of 14, fell in love with the Persian princess Arjumand Banu Begum. They married five years later and were inseparable. But, in 1631, the princess, who received a new name through marriage - Mamtaz Mahal, having given birth to her 14th child, died. Struck by the loss of his beloved wife, Shah Jahan ordered the construction of a mausoleum to forever preserve in stone the memory of his great love and great sorrow. From all over the empire, as well as from Central Asia and Iran, the most skilled masons, inlay makers, carvers, artists, calligraphers, blacksmiths and other artisans were gathered in Agra. It took approximately 22 years to build what we know today as the Taj Mahal. There are also dark pages in its history: the turmoil of the Indian uprising of 1857 allowed soldiers of the British Empire and even government officials to barbarously plunder the mausoleum, cutting valuable crystals and lapis lazuli from its walls. Therefore, at the end of the 19th century, as a measure to restore what had been lost, Lord Curzon, who held the position of British Viceroy, ordered a large-scale restoration project, which was fully completed only in 1908.

Just as there is no such thing as a “bad time to be alive,” there is no such thing as a “bad time to visit” the Taj Mahal. But when planning a visit in summer, you should be prepared for sweltering heat. Therefore, the cooler period, that is, from October to March, is usually considered the best time to travel.

Taj Mahal: How to get there

The Taj Mahal is the embodiment of love and romance, the mausoleum is located in the city of Agra, which is approximately 204 kilometers south of.

The fastest way to reach Agra is by air. Agra has its own airport, which is located approximately 7 kilometers from the city center. Indian Airlines operates daily flights to Agra from many cities in India.

There is also a good network of railways connecting Agra to the rest of the country. Apart from the main railway station Agra Cantonment (Agra Cantonment), there are two more stations: Raja-ki-Mandi ( Raja-ki-Mandi) and Agra Fort ( Agra Fort). The main trains connecting Agra to Delhi are: Shatabdi, Rajdhani and Taj Express. And if you have a couple of thousand extra American dollars, you can take a ride on the elite train “The Palace on Wheels”, here you will have the opportunity to feel like a king in a palace on wheels.

To reach the Taj Mahal from Agra, some kind of local transport is required. Taxis, horse-drawn carriages and pedicabs are available for travelers to take you to your destination. Prepaid taxi services are convenient if you want to visit several different places around the city at once. Active tourists can take advantage of bicycles, which are available for rent on an hourly basis.

With about 3 million people a year (or about 45,000 a day during peak tourist season) visiting the Taj Mahal, and nearby factories and cars polluting the air, it poses a constant threat to the mausoleum's gleaming white marble façade. In 1998, the Supreme Court of India ordered a series of anti-pollution measures to protect the building from deterioration. Some factories were closed and traffic was prohibited in the immediate vicinity of the complex. Since the operation of diesel and petrol engines in the Taj Mahal area is impossible, battery-powered buses, horse-drawn carriages, rickshaws and other environmentally friendly vehicles are actively used as means of transportation.

There are regular bus routes from Agra to a number of major cities in India. At the main bus station in Idgah ( Idgah) operates several directions to Delhi, Jaipur ( Jaipur), Mathura ( Mathura), Fatehpura Sikri ( Fatehpur-Sikri) etc.

Taj Mahal: Lifehacks

The Taj Mahal has its own official website, through which you can find all the information you are interested in.

As mentioned, the Taj Mahal is dazzling at any time. However, the radiance of the snow-white mausoleum changes from hour to hour. The beauty of the Taj Mahal is most evident during sunrise and sunset, as well as on a full moon night.

The time for tourists to visit the Taj Mahal is set and regulated by the Archaeological Survey of India. The complex is open on all days of the week except Friday, when it opens only during the day and only for those who need to attend prayers at the Taj Mosque. Opening hours: from sunrise to sunset. Tickets can be purchased throughout the day at the west and east gates, while tickets at the south gate are only available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. By paying for your tickets, you can be inside the Taj Mahal from sunrise to sunset without restrictions.

An overnight visit to the Taj Mahal lasts from 20:30 to 12:30 and is allowed only for five nights per month: one on the night of the full moon, two days before, and two days after this event, excluding Fridays. It should also be remembered that night viewing is limited (no more than 400 people per night). Visitors are divided into eight groups of 50 people, with each group only allowed to spend 30 minutes in the facility. Tickets for the night walk must be booked in advance, at least 24 hours before the visit, from the reservation counter located at the Archaeological Survey of India office ( Agra Circle, 22 The Mall, Agra, Uttar Pradesh), from 10:00 to 18:00. The cost of a day visit ticket is 750 rupees (11.50 USD) for adults, for children under 15 years of age admission is free. An overnight visit to the Taj Mahal will cost the same 750 rupees for adults, 500 rupees (7.50 USD) for children aged 3 to 15 years. For children under 3 years old - admission is free.

Among the interesting tourist sites located in the vicinity of the Taj Mahal, it is worth mentioning Akbar's Tomb, located at Sikandra - just 13 kilometers from the Agra Fort, which is the burial place of the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great. Ram Bagh Garden ( Ram Bagh), built in 1528, is the oldest Mughal garden in India. Situated on the banks of the Yamuna River, less than 3 kilometers from the Taj Mahal, it was designed in such a way that the wind from the river combined with the greenery helps keep it cool even on the hottest summer days. The original name of this garden was Aram Bagh ( Aram Bagh) or Garden of Relaxation. Also, popular attractions include Jama Masjid ( Jama Masjid), a palace built for the daughter of Shah Jahan; Guru ka Tal ( Guru ka Tal), holy place of worship for Sikhs; Chini Ka Rauza ( Chini Ka Rauza), dedicated to Shah Jahan; Mehtab Bagh ( Mehtab Bagh), moon garden and lake Kefam ( Keetham Lake).

We arrived in Agra at 1:00 pm and took a taxi to the Taj Mahal.

The good thing in India is that at any train station or near the airport there is a “Pre-paid” service, i.e. You can order a taxi or tuk-tuk for a fixed price, and you don't have to haggle with taxi drivers.

A tuk-tuk to the Taj Mahal would have cost 150 rupees, but we were very cold and took a taxi just to warm up. A taxi cost 200 rupees. Also, at the kiosk where we paid for the trip, they asked for a commission of 20 rupees, which is written on the ticket, but I was not in the mood and pretended that they were deceiving me.. In general, they forgave us 20 rupees.

We drove to the Taj Mahal for about 15 minutes, they dropped us off 200 meters before the entrance, and then we need to walk along the paving stones.

How much do tickets to the Taj Mahal cost?

Approaching the entrance, we were somewhat uninspired by the crowd of Indians about 50 meters away, but then we learned that there is a separate queue for foreigners, it is smaller, but the ticket is also 2 times more expensive.

At the box office we bought 2 tickets for 1000 rupees, then we had to hand over our things to the storage room. You can take a bottle of water, passport, money, phone and camera with you. We didn’t see any information about how much the luggage storage cost, but the guard took 100 rupees and, as they say, didn’t choke and didn’t give change. At the entrance you are also examined; your husband’s cigarettes were taken away; apparently the Indian wanted to smoke and they did not return them on the way back. Therefore, it is better to leave all your things in the cell and take only money and documents with you.

Regarding video filming: before the Taj Mahal, you can film in the complex itself; when entering the Taj Mahal, hide your action cameras and video cameras, otherwise they will be taken away, and you will need to pay for their storage (30 rupees), like we did.

Read more about the history of the creation of the Taj Mahal in the article

Is the Taj Mahal worth it?

In this article I will describe my personal impressions, so do not judge strictly, to each his own.

The same photo that is in the top of the must-have photos to take in India. They say that one Englishman specially came to India for 3 days to see the great and mighty Taj Mahal. But he bought the wrong train ticket and left not for Agra, but for Jaipur. He had to see a little more of India than he expected. ..

Before the trip, I specially prepared a dress and sandals in order to take beautiful photos near the Tajik Mahal. But in the end, these things remained in the bag, because... it was very cold and I was afraid of catching a cold (which happens to me) and decided not to risk getting sick for the next 19 days of rest.

That same feeling when the number of Indians with phones around is already crazy... Half an hour passed, and we still haven’t taken a single photo without them((

And nearby, by the way, stood girls in beautiful dresses who were not afraid of the cold and tried to take beautiful photos.

And after another half hour the photo was completed. Look how many Indians are behind.

But someone (not me) left their slippers in 12 degrees of heat and went barefoot to see the burial ground of the hero of the occasion. But I didn’t want something.

Someone (i.e., me) doesn’t know what else to wear to make it warmer. And someone decided to walk through the puddle.

In general, this place (Taj Mahal) is number 1 on the list of attractions in India that should be visited. But in my subjective opinion, it’s just a building.

The Taj Mahal undoubtedly deserves attention, but on this trip I realized that just walking around the sights is not my thing. You can also read about them on the Internet. I want more emotions, unexpected and real.

Dinner in Agra.

On the way back from the Taj Mahal, we went for dinner (in fact, we had neither breakfast nor lunch) at a restaurant on the roof, which was marked with a tripadvizor icon, and ended up congratulating a local employee on his birthday. In general, we also got a piece of cake for free. Unexpected and pleasant.

Regarding food, it should be noted that starting from Agra we visited several vegan cities, where we had to eat exclusively local cuisine without meat, and the thali in this restaurant was not poorly prepared. We also tried the local creamy soup with champignons and lassi with banana (be sure to order if you are in India). Everything is clean and quite edible, especially if you haven’t eaten anything all day.

Where to buy alcohol in Agra?

After eating, we realized that we didn’t have time to get to Agra Fort, so we took a tuk-tuk to the station (it’s also called Agra Fort). By the way, in Agra, my husband decided to continue the “Try to buy alcohol” quest and we took the simple route: we asked for a rickshaw to pick up for us on the way to a liquor store. Alcohol in Agra is also sold only in special stores that only locals know about. The rickshaw driver turned out to be understanding; moreover, he spoke not only English, but also Spanish, and also knew a few words in Russian. And we also taught him a few words in Russian.

The rickshaw driver made us laugh along the way and tried to play with words.

An example of our dialogue:

Do you drink alcohol?
Little.
— How many liters of alcohol do you drink?

We stopped at 3 stores because... The prices in Agra were not encouraging at all. As a result, the rickshaw driver himself went and bought alcohol to make it cheaper. Overall, a local Capitan Morgan for 850 rupees is cheap for Agra.

Train from Agra to Sawai Madhopur.

At about 19:00 we boarded the train, which, by the way, left half an hour earlier (we didn’t understand why), but it arrived again 1.5 hours late.

How to get from Goa to the Taj Mahal is a question that is very often found on travel forums and various Internet resources. Almost all tourists who go to the resorts of Goa want to see the most famous monument of India.

Distance from Goa to Taj Mahal

The distance from Goa to the Taj Mahal directly is 1378 km, by road – 1786 km. It is also worth noting that Agra, the city in which the mausoleum is located, is located only 230 km from the capital of India, Delhi.

How to get from Goa to the Taj Mahal

You can get to the Taj Mahal from Goa as part of excursion groups or on your own. The latter option is suitable for those who do not want to comply with a strict schedule of movement between various objects in Agra, but simply want to stroll along the terraces near the famous mausoleum and be imbued with the spirit of eternal love.

On one's own

To get to the Taj Mahal on your own, you need to purchase a plane ticket that connects Dabolim and Delhi airports. About 20 airliners fly between these air harbors daily, with an interval of 45-70 minutes. Travel time from Goa to the capital of India is 2:30-2:55, depending on the flight.

From Delhi you need to get to Agra:

by train;
by plane;
by bus;
Taxi;
rented car.

Let's take a closer look at each of these types of transport.

Train

When choosing the first of the above modes of transport, it is better to take tickets for the morning train, which departs from the platform of the railway station of the capital of India at 6:15 and arrives in Agra at 8:10 in the morning. Return trains begin their journey at 18:55 and 20:30 and arrive in Delhi at 20:30 and 22:30. Delays on express trains connecting the above cities are rare.

To travel between the airport and the railway station of the capital of India you need to take a taxi. The price of the trip should be agreed upon before getting into the car.

Airplane

There is only one plane flying from Delhi to Agra. Yes, and he does not make a direct flight, but with an intermediate landing at Varanasi airport. The total travel time on it is longer than on the train - 3:05. The only advantage of this method of getting to Agra is that there is no need to move around the capital of India.

Bus

Buses from Delhi to Agra run from the Sarai Kale Bus Stand. Bass are sent as they are filled. They don't have an exact schedule. Travel time is about 3 hours. There are only two disadvantages to traveling to Agra by bus:

High occupancy of buses. It is not uncommon for passengers to travel while standing.
Possibility of getting stuck in a traffic jam and being delayed on the road for 2-3 hours.

Taxi or rented car

Taxi is the most convenient way to travel from Delhi to Agra. You can rent a car right near the airport of the Indian capital. Before getting into the car, you need to bargain for a long time.

You can rent a car at Delhi Airport. Using it is very convenient for companies of 4-7 people and allows you not to obey transport schedules, as well as very quickly move between the Taj Mahal and other attractions of Agra.

There are no traffic rules in India and every driver drives on highways as he pleases. Therefore, the likelihood of damaging or crashing a car is higher than in Europe and America.

Prices

The cost of a flight from Dabolim Airport to Delhi ranges from $73 to $153, depending on the flight time and airline. The price of a train ticket from Delhi to Agra is 370 rupees ($5.5) for a regular carriage or 700 rupees ($10.45) for a first class carriage.

A return travel document by rail costs 75 or 263 rupees ($1.12 or $4). It must be remembered that there is no air conditioning in the general carriages of the trains carrying passengers from Agra to Delhi. For this reason, it is better to take only 1st class tickets for these trains.

The flight price from Delhi to Agra is $45. Bus ride 2-3$. The cost for a taxi voyage is $28-35, and car rental is $40-70 per day.

Excursions from Goa to the Taj Mahal

The routes of all excursions from Goa to the Taj Mahal pass through Delhi. In addition to visiting Agra, they include walks around the Indian capital and its most famous attractions. The duration of tours that include entrance to the Taj Mahal ranges from 1 to 3 days. The cost ranges from $200 to $500, depending on the intensity of the program and the number of objects it includes.

The main advantages of excursions to the Taj Mahal from Goa:

no need to book transport tickets and hotel rooms on your own;
the opportunity to visit up to 10 objects in 2-3 days and hear interesting stories about each of them.

The main disadvantages of organized trips: the need to follow everywhere in a group and there is no opportunity to retire near attractions.