Agra - to go or not to go?

lizzie1802

I've heard mixed reports about Agra and the Taj. I will be going to Rajistan (jaipur, jodphur and jaiselmer) is it worth the trip?

Merchant

The Taj is absolutely worth it. You just have to see it yourself. No photos really do it justice. It brings grown men to tears. It's one of the most beautiful things in the world.

And it's the Taj Mahal for crying out loud! If you have a chance to see it, you should, even if you're not a hopeless romantic. It's an important feature of Indian political and artistic history.

People say they don't like Agra mostly because of all the tourist claptrap that has developed around Taj. But Agra was once the Mughal capital of India, and Shah Jehan built some other nice stuff there, too. His work in Delhi (Jama Masjid, Red Fort) will make more sense to you after you see Agra.

There's no harm in telling the touts to bugger off. You don't have to be nice to them . . .

seventies'hippy

Definitely go, especially when you're going to be so close,
Though one night is enough to catch the Taj & a feel for the place

Happy Travelling

Karma Queen

hmm depends how much time you have. the taj is beautiful, but agra is a hole. if you have only limited time, i'd suggest seeing more of rajhastan instead - udaipur or pushkar or something?

LuAnnandJawahar

twenty years from now you will kick yourself in the butt if you went to Rajasthan but didn't visit the Taj..........

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India Edge

Worth it. You've seen a zillion pictures of it but seeing the Taj for real is like hearing a symphony performed live as compared to a recording.

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jarman_ah

I think if I were going to be that close, I would definitely go and see it, as everyone is going to ask you what it is like and most people would feel aghast if you said to them, "Oh, I didn't bother...."

Just don't make it a major part of your trip. Try to do Agra en route to somewhere else, and stay there for as little time as possible. I think it was Karma Queen (above) who said that Agra is a hole.... her advice is always worth listening to.

If possible, try to see the Taj first thing in the morning.... between 6 and 7 a.m. Then you may just agree with all the nice things said about it above. It is, indeed, an attractive building, but with tourists swarming all over it (which will happen from about 7:30 a.m. onwards; school groups from about 8:30) all the charm goes out of it.

The other benefit of seeing it at 6 and leaving it at 7 is that you have a whole day to get out of Agra!

Personally, I think the Taj is attractive, but overrated. It's also a rip-off, at 750 rupees a look. You can get a double room for a night just nearby for half that.

However, that's not to rubbish it. I can agree with just about everything that has been said above, except for maybe one comment..... actually, I think that photographs DO "do the Taj justice", and maybe that's why it isn't quite as impressive as you are probably hoping. It looks JUST like all the photos you've seen, except that it's bigger... after you've looked at 100 photos from every conceivable angle, there's little new to learn when you're actually there (unlike, for instance, Monument Valley, which seemed to yield a new sight at every step).

I liked the Taj, and I'm not sorry I went, but when I think back over all the great places I saw in India, the Taj would be lucky to find its way into the top twenty. On the other hand, Hampi.......

edwardseco

Worth it but for more than the Taj. Agra is a hole but you ain't gonna live there so..

SHIMLA

The Taj is an overhyped and overrated monument; and Agra is a garbage dump. However, Agra has better attractions like the Sikandra, Etmad-ud-Daulah, Dayal Bagh and the magnificent Fort. Fatehpur Sikri - a MUST - is just 35 kms. from Agra.

Hence, go !

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lyndy

lizzie1802-Agra is not as bad as everyone makes out! No worse than Delhi! Just tell people who bother you to nick off!

To see the The Taj Mahal is worth any amount of inconvenience & hassle, imho. If you are a budget traveller stay close to the Taj at Hotel Sheela, get up early around 6 am and walk the 50m to the East gate, take a torch and walk slowly up the walkway and see this most majestic of buildings when there are few others around. It is unique, extraordinary and unforgettable!

The Red Fort in Agra and Fatehpur Sikri, an hour's drive away from Agra, are each worth a visit as well.

unclelach

I made a return visit to Agra in 2003 to see Sikandra and revisit Fatehpur Sikri but skipped the Taj. The Taj is well worth visiting once but one's impressions depend upon, amongst other things, preconceptions, sense of wellbeing, company, weather etc.

Avnish

Agreed with most of what the others said. Agra can be a bit hectic and irritating so best to go there for the day and check out the Taj and The Red Fort. On you way outta there to Fatehpur Sikri, all which 'apparently' can be visited with the same ticket that you will buy when visiting the Taj.

But how can you go all the way there and not see the Taj (as overrated as it may be)

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bodhisattva2001in

Better go to Rajasthan, but not the places you have mentioned. Because most of the places are very much touristic and commercial. No beauty left. Better you go to some uncommon places like "Kumbhalgarh, Sadri, Khimsar" etc.

bodhisattva2001in

You may go to Gajner, Bikaner, Mt. Abu or Dungarpur.

SHIMLA

Ha ! This statement supports what I've maintained all along - that most tourists visit Agra and the Taj more because of their having to, rather than their wanting to!!

After all, what will people back home say when you tell them you visited India but did not see the Taj???

For the same reason, 9 out of 10 visitors will praise the monument - daring to express a true but negative opinion of the world famous tomb will be amounting to sacrilege, will it not ????