Personally, though, I recommend going to Agra earlyyyyy in the morning, like 4:00 AM and getting to the Taj Mahal right before sunrise. No one is going to be there, and you will have the whole space to yourself for a good 25 minutes. The Taj is a sight to see this early in the morning. Since the marble used in the Taj Mahal is slightly transparent, the Taj Mahal will appear orange in the rising sun.
However, you can’t see the Taj Mahal without going at sunset, which is why you need to hit the Taj early in the morning, find something to do in Agra, and then come back right before sunset. Again, the transparent marble will appear purple, pink, and orange in the setting sun.
Many recommend taking a car to get to Agra, but that can take up to 5 hours, and you don’t want to waste your time in India driving.
I personally would not spend the night in Agra. You will most likely have a hotel in Delhi already, and you don’t want to lug all of your belongings on the train and wait for a hotel. Leave Agra after sunset, make your way back to Delhi, and find something to do in Delhi for the rest of your night, whether it's underground shopping, catching a bite to eat, or more!
However, you can’t see the Taj Mahal without going at sunset, which is why you need to hit the Taj early in the morning, find something to do in Agra, and then come back right before sunset. Again, the transparent marble will appear purple, pink, and orange in the setting sun.
Getting to Agra from Delhi
If you are close enough to go to Agra, you are probably coming from Delhi. Delhi has an established train system that will get you straight to Agra in 2 to 3 hours. Your driver will drop you off as close as possible, and you will have about a 10-minute walk to the train station itself. At the train stations, you will see some of the most authentic people in the Delhi area, lots of local people. Enjoy the views on the train ride and soon enough you will be in Agra. Consider a tour guide in Agra who will pick you up from the train station and take you to the Taj Mahal.Many recommend taking a car to get to Agra, but that can take up to 5 hours, and you don’t want to waste your time in India driving.
Taj Mahal at sunrise
Going early, you will not have to worry about shoulder-to-shoulder crowds to see the Taj. You can get in fairly quickly through the West entrance and see the Taj Mahal as the sun rises. Don’t lose the token they give you or you may have to pay extra to leave!
After seeing the Taj Mahal at sunrise
After spending a good hour or two at the Taj Mahal, you will need a moment to relax. This is when I suggest having your tour guide take you to a nice local hotel with a restaurant. You can get your lunch in, sit in the lobby for a bit, and then find something fun to do in Agra. My group personally visited a stone engraving shop and bought some goodies. Outside of the Taj Mahal, many tourists struggle finding something to do in Agra. Even the local Indians will say that the Taj Mahal is the economy of Agra, and besides it, the rest of Agra is mostly underdeveloped.
Go back to the Taj at sunset!
This time around at the Taj, you will notice a lot more people. It can be quite busy after morning time. However, once you make it past the entrance, you will have room to move, and you can find some hidden corners to take in the view and snap some pictures.I personally would not spend the night in Agra. You will most likely have a hotel in Delhi already, and you don’t want to lug all of your belongings on the train and wait for a hotel. Leave Agra after sunset, make your way back to Delhi, and find something to do in Delhi for the rest of your night, whether it's underground shopping, catching a bite to eat, or more!
After reading this, I did some research on the Taj Mahal and found that it is an amazing example of Mughal architecture as well as a representation of beauty and love. The Taj Mahal is not only a monument but also a symbol of unending love and devotion, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in honor of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. With this useful piece, you've definitely caught my interest in going there myself.
ReplyDeleteIt is a beautiful example of Shah Jahan's architecture. He also has multiple other buildings in the Agra and Delhi area that are worth a visit too!
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