Help! The Taj on a Friday??

Jenny RTW2006 · Jan 3rd, 2006, 01:21

I have booked a tour to the Taj with a car and driver from Delhi through what I thought was a reputable company (Namaste Tours) on Friday, 20 Jan. I just found out from word of mouth that the Taj is closed on Fridays (which Namaste confirmed for me via e-mail this morning). I am only in India for one day during a trip around the world and am stunned that a company would book me a tour to the Taj on a day that it is closed!! (Was I supposed to know this? Isn't that what you hire a tour company for??)

Anyway, I guess my question for all you India experts out there is what (if anything) will I be able to see of the Taj when it is closed? Can you get anywhere near it? Is there somewhere to view it from afar? Unfortunately, there is no way to change my flight arrangements at this point (well, not without significant cost and major rearrangement to the rest of my itinerary) so I guess I am coming to Agra on a Friday regardless.

Any comments or suggestions would be much appreciated as this is one of the points in my trip I was most looking forward to and now I am thoroughly dismayed.

The Chosen One · Jan 3rd, 2006, 02:33

I hve heard that people who go to the mosque will have access to the Taj. Otherwise you should still be able to see if from a distance, and take a picture. Again, this is coming from someone who has never been there, so you may want to look into it a bit more.

seventies'hippy · Jan 3rd, 2006, 02:38

You can get a great view of the Taj from behind it on the other side of the Yamuna River, you won't be disappointed, most tour drivers know how to get there.
Try being there for sunset , you'll get some good pictures.

chapati · Jan 3rd, 2006, 03:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by seventies'hippy

You can get a great view of the Taj from behind it on the other side of the Yamuna River, you won't be disappointed, most tour drivers know how to get there.
Try being there for sunset , you'll get some good pictures.

And you will be standing there without masses of tourists around you (maybe a lonely farmer), it is great there (and it saves you 750 rupees to get in)....

Jenny RTW2006 · Jan 3rd, 2006, 03:29

thanks for the help guys, I'm starting to feel a little better!

LuAnnandJawahar · Jan 3rd, 2006, 05:28

We hope you do are not referring to Namaste India Tours as we didn't send any emails to clients as of yet today and we do not have anybody scheduled on a day trip to Agra, on Friday, January 20, nor would we.

Agra Fort IS open on Fridays, be sure you go there. There are also interesting views of the Taj from the Fort.

edwardseco · Jan 3rd, 2006, 06:02

Yep, the Taj is over rated (but I have been there thrice). See the smaller monuments and especially FS! There is also a strange French video game on the Taj premises..

SHIMLA · Jan 3rd, 2006, 07:53

Sure, the Taj is overrated, hence you'll hardly miss anything. The Fort is indeed great, as are the other monuments/temples - Dayal Bagh, Sikandara, Etmad-ud-daulah; and those at Fatehpur Sikri.

jyotirmoy · Jan 3rd, 2006, 11:11

Do visit Fathepur Sikri, Dayal Bagh & the fort.
Namaste India Tours denies booking. Is it another company with a similar name?

mridula · Jan 3rd, 2006, 11:19

In fact many of the restaurants (small and not that great) let you go to the roof top with your breakfast and you can see the Taj in the distance. I went there last year but somehow without a camera! Have to go again.

bijapuri · Jan 3rd, 2006, 11:31

what's the name of that exquisite building on the way to the riverbank? Amazing place. While I am one who never ceases to be awed b the Taj each time I have visited (have lost count, guessing 6) Fatepur Sikri and the riverbank are well worth the trip.
If you absolutely must see a huge taj looking building- stay in Delhi and go to Humayun's Tomb, which, if it weren't for the TaJ, would be one of the great wonders of the world . .IMHO

chapati · Jan 3rd, 2006, 17:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyotirmoy

Namaste India Tours denies booking. Is it another company with a similar name?

Lets say Namaste Tours wants to keep good name so nobody booked on friday (well only one, small detail).....

steven_ber · Jan 3rd, 2006, 18:04

If I remember right, there is also a company called Namaste Tours (not Namaste India Tours)

Jenny RTW2006 · Jan 4th, 2006, 02:46

Hmmm, didn't realize there were two companies named Namaste. The company I booked through was Namaste Tours Pvt Ltd (www.namastetoursindia.com). They have admitted fault and apologized profusely but it's too late to change the rest of my itinerary so I'll be visiting Agra on a Friday regardless. Thanks to all of you who offered suggestions for my day, I'm sure it'll still be great!

steven_ber · Jan 4th, 2006, 02:54

So Namaste India Tours are not the tour company.

(Only highlighting this as many people read a thread about Namaste Tours and assume it is about Namaste India Tours.)

Jan 3rd, 2006, 01:21	#1
Jenny RTW2006 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 3	Help! The Taj on a Friday?? I have booked a tour to the Taj with a car and driver from Delhi through what I thought was a reputable company (Namaste Tours) on Friday, 20 Jan. I just found out from word of mouth that the Taj is closed on Fridays (which Namaste confirmed for me via e-mail this morning). I am only in India for one day during a trip around the world and am stunned that a company would book me a tour to the Taj on a day that it is closed!! (Was I supposed to know this? Isn't that what you hire a tour company for??) Anyway, I guess my question for all you India experts out there is what (if anything) will I be able to see of the Taj when it is closed? Can you get anywhere near it? Is there somewhere to view it from afar? Unfortunately, there is no way to change my flight arrangements at this point (well, not without significant cost and major rearrangement to the rest of my itinerary) so I guess I am coming to Agra on a Friday regardless. Any comments or suggestions would be much appreciated as this is one of the points in my trip I was most looking forward to and now I am thoroughly dismayed.

Jan 3rd, 2006, 02:38	#3
seventies'hippy Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: UK Posts: 2,132	You can get a great view of the Taj from behind it on the other side of the Yamuna River, you won't be disappointed, most tour drivers know how to get there. Try being there for sunset , you'll get some good pictures. __________________ . . . My Photo Gallery

Jan 3rd, 2006, 05:28	#6
LuAnnandJawahar Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Delhi/U.S. Posts: 663	We hope you do are not referring to Namaste India Tours as we didn't send any emails to clients as of yet today and we do not have anybody scheduled on a day trip to Agra, on Friday, January 20, nor would we. Agra Fort IS open on Fridays, be sure you go there. There are also interesting views of the Taj from the Fort. __________________ Reject violence.

Jan 3rd, 2006, 07:53	#8
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,126	Sure, the Taj is overrated, hence you'll hardly miss anything. The Fort is indeed great, as are the other monuments/temples - Dayal Bagh, Sikandara, Etmad-ud-daulah; and those at Fatehpur Sikri. __________________ Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

Jan 3rd, 2006, 11:19	#10
mridula Sair Kar Duniya Ki Galib , Jindagani Fir Kahan ... Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 2,587	In fact many of the restaurants (small and not that great) let you go to the roof top with your breakfast and you can see the Taj in the distance. I went there last year but somehow without a camera! Have to go again. __________________ Mridula Travel Tales from India

Jan 3rd, 2006, 02:33	#2
The Chosen One Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison WI USA Posts: 78	I hve heard that people who go to the mosque will have access to the Taj. Otherwise you should still be able to see if from a distance, and take a picture. Again, this is coming from someone who has never been there, so you may want to look into it a bit more.

Jan 3rd, 2006, 03:29	#5
Jenny RTW2006 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 3	thanks for the help guys, I'm starting to feel a little better!

Jan 3rd, 2006, 06:02	#7
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 5,834	Yep, the Taj is over rated (but I have been there thrice). See the smaller monuments and especially FS! There is also a strange French video game on the Taj premises..

Jan 3rd, 2006, 11:11	#9
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 5,222	Do visit Fathepur Sikri, Dayal Bagh & the fort. Namaste India Tours denies booking. Is it another company with a similar name?

Jan 3rd, 2006, 11:31	#11
bijapuri Lord of Kalinjar Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: the real surf city Posts: 2,646	what's the name of that exquisite building on the way to the riverbank? Amazing place. While I am one who never ceases to be awed b the Taj each time I have visited (have lost count, guessing 6) Fatepur Sikri and the riverbank are well worth the trip. If you absolutely must see a huge taj looking building- stay in Delhi and go to Humayun's Tomb, which, if it weren't for the TaJ, would be one of the great wonders of the world . .IMHO __________________ lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

Jan 3rd, 2006, 18:04	#13
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,566	If I remember right, there is also a company called Namaste Tours (not Namaste India Tours) __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information. RAC & Waitlists explained.

Jan 4th, 2006, 02:46	#14
Jenny RTW2006 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 3	Hmmm, didn't realize there were two companies named Namaste. The company I booked through was Namaste Tours Pvt Ltd (www.namastetoursindia.com). They have admitted fault and apologized profusely but it's too late to change the rest of my itinerary so I'll be visiting Agra on a Friday regardless. Thanks to all of you who offered suggestions for my day, I'm sure it'll still be great!

Jan 4th, 2006, 02:54	#15
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,566	So Namaste India Tours are not the tour company. (Only highlighting this as many people read a thread about Namaste Tours and assume it is about Namaste India Tours.)

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