Taj Mahal

[coccinelle]

One of my dreams is to see the taj mahal but don't want to go on an organised trip, can anybody give me any tips on how to go about this. I presume I'll have to fly into Delhi and from there get a bus to Agra. Is this advisable or would it be best to go as a group?

[Buenchico]

I've never been to India but the impression I've gained, through watching countless travel documentaries on TV, is that bus travel is likely to be crowded and uncomfortable. It might be better to fly or to take the train:
http://www.tajmahal.org.uk/how-to-reach.html
(You might like to explore that website. It's packed with information about the Taj Mahal).

That site states that Indian Airlines fly to Agra but Wikipedia says that you need to check out the services of Kingfisher Airlines:
http://en.wikipedia.o...gra_Air_Force_Station
and
http://www.flykingfis...dex.aspx?locale=en-UK

Chris

[KARL]

Chris is right, bus travel tends to be a bit crowded, although there are great variations in the services offered. The train is a perfectly feasible option (I suggest you aim to travel first class, not expensive) but much slower than you might expect in Europe. Although flying is an option, I would suggest it is not one that is justified nor will you get anything like the same flavour of Indian life. Once you get to Agra there will be swarms of people offering you ways to get to the Taj. Equally, once there you will have lots of touts offering tours, souvenirs, trinkets, etc. (I found some of them intensely persistent and annoying) but that is India. You simply need to keep your wits about you, decide what you want, and make a choice each time.You don\'t need to accept anything you don\'t want. Among the throngs there are some genuinely nice people who just want to be helpful.

[Mr Veritas]

Just a small point.
I get the feeling from your question that you think Agra/Taj Mahal is near to Dehli.
Whereas Dehli to Agra is 150 miles.go by train or fly,but 150 miles in an indian bus,no way!

[coccinelle]

Thank you so much for your replies; I'll look into those sights Chris. Mr Veritas, on tours the coach takes 4 hours from Delhi to Agra - this might be what I'll look into - a kind of coach trip rather than public bus. The other option of the train is good Karl so will look into that. Thanks again.

[thugulike]

Fly to Agra, the 4 hours by bus to Delhi are Indian hours. Make sure you go to Taj at dawn when it's quiet.

[coccinelle]

thank you thugulike I'd like to see the Taj at different times of the day notably at dawn and sunset so looking into a stop over. As this is the only area of India we'd be staying in, would like to see something of their countryside. There are private cars which do this or train to Agra and car back to Delhi so now looking into this.

[caththecrazy]

I've been to the Taj - we travelled around rural India and this was the tourist bit we did at the end. Fantastic - well worth it but as mentioned beware of the sellers - it's hard as they come across as very poor and needy (many are but many are not as they seem)

[coccinelle]

thank you caththecrazy. Lucky you seeing this lovely building, I do hope to get to see it and not get put off by all these sellers you mention.

[tamborine]

DIY by hired motor bike, or hire taxi £50 return.

http://www.mapsofindi...ketmaps/delhiagra.htm

[Dee Sa]

I think train is the most popular choice.

[Memore]

I had a 21 day train pass whcih I bought in UK - there is a great Indian travel agent that book it all for you from here based in Wembley - I think train is the best way to travel around India and I didnt think it was that expensive I had first class air con and went Delhi - Agra - Varanassi - Jaipur = Udaipur - Mumbai - Goa - Mumbai it was brilliant - you must stay in Agra a couple of days as the Taj Mahal changes colour during the day - the fort at Agra is also worth going to