Is Taj a bit over rated...??

beach · Sep 17th, 2007, 21:39

Probably Taj is the top monument in India. The second, third ... or even the fifth is no less awe inspiring. Taj somehow overshadowed the rest...

Me too eager to visit Taj one day, that’s for the records

( .... till then I’ve to be contented with Bibi Ka Maqbara , the so called poor man’s Taj! )

capt_mahajan · Sep 17th, 2007, 22:23

And don't forget Ibrahim Roza at Bijapur, the alleged inspiration for the Taj. I liked it, and the Gol Gombuz too.

photo here:
http://www.travelblog.org/Photos/22663.html

Quote:

This is the tomb of Ibrahim Adil Shah II (ruled 1580-1627), the fifth king of the dynasty and, like the Mughal emperor Akbar, known for religious tolerance. Built on a single rock bed, it is noted for the symmetry of its features. It is said that the design for the Ibrahim Rauza served as an inspiration for that of the famous Taj Mahal

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bijapur,_Karnataka

kiranlal · Sep 17th, 2007, 23:12

i am sure it is over rated. i like the ranakpur temple better than taj.

tacita · Sep 17th, 2007, 23:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by shashank.aggarwal

...everytime I am there I take a gasp...something strikes you...the sheer size, majesty, perfection...the things that are beyond the beauty...patterns, pain, time, suffering, love...everything...

thanks for this, shashank. i was equivocating, but your lovely words, especially those last few, have made me decide to keep it in my itinerary.

tonylittle · Sep 17th, 2007, 23:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhans

captain,

Do miss something. The tgouts at FS ar the worst I ever met in ndia...

Hans

You are right in fact in the world

Tony

shashank.aggarwal · Sep 17th, 2007, 23:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by janice

thanks for this, shashank. i was equivocating, but your lovely words, especially those last few, have made me decide to keep it in my itinerary.

Make sure that you hire a really good guide, and if possible take pains to find a good guide...He can show you the true picture...

On earlier visits we never hired a guide and simply adored the monument for some time and came back, however on our last visit, we decided to hire a guide, I don't remember what was the fee, however we ended up paying the fees plus a tip that was higher that his actual fees...

but every rupee was worth it, from that day I never visit a historical site without a guide...

kiwi_razz · Sep 18th, 2007, 00:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by shashank.aggarwal

Make sure that you hire a really good guide, and if possible take pains to find a good guide...He can show you the true picture...

On earlier visits we never hired a guide and simply adored the monument for some time and came back, however on our last visit, we decided to hire a guide, I don't remember what was the fee, however we ended up paying the fees plus a tip that was higher that his actual fees...

but every rupee was worth it, from that day I never visit a historical site without a guide...

Same here. Been 3 times too, and the second time we took a guide. Adds that extra dimension which we really enjoyed.

jenk · Sep 18th, 2007, 01:13

Do you have advice on how to select a good guide? I have a feeling that there are going to be a number of clamoring candidates at a place like the Taj or FS? Inquiry probably doesnt belong here but I justify it since we are going to be confronting this exact issue in Agra in a month....

shashank.aggarwal · Sep 18th, 2007, 01:33

jenk thats a real issue, what I would say members on IM should start recommending people ..

if they like services of some particular guide, they should mention the contact details of the person, so that other members can directly contact the person..

machadinha · Sep 18th, 2007, 01:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by shashank.aggarwal

jenk thats a real issue, what I would say members on IM should start recommending people ..

if they like services of some particular guide, they should mention the contact details of the person, so that other members can directly contact the person..

Umm, yes, and leave the mods to decide what is advertizing and what is not.

Er, no, thank you. Stuff like that is just well beyond the scope of this site, and we are in no position to control it (That's just this mod speaking, mind).

tacita · Sep 18th, 2007, 01:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by shashank.aggarwal

...what I would say members on IM should start recommending people...if they like services of some particular guide, they should mention the contact details of the person, so that other members can directly contact the person..

Quote:

Originally Posted by machadinha

Umm, yes, and leave the mods to decide what is advertizing and what is not....Er, no, thank you. Stuff like that is just well beyond the scope of this site, and we are in no position to control it (That's just this mod speaking, mind).

but members can share that sort of information by personal message. jenk, why not edit your post to ask those with recommendations to contact you by PM?

shashank.aggarwal · Sep 18th, 2007, 01:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by machadinha

Umm, yes, and leave the mods to decide what is advertizing and what is not.

Er, no, thank you. Stuff like that is just well beyond the scope of this site, and we are in no position to control it (That's just this mod speaking, mind).

well it seems same as recommending a hotel, OR a tour company Or any other resource for that matter..

machadinha · Sep 18th, 2007, 02:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by shashank.aggarwal

well it seems same as recommending a hotel, OR a tour company Or any other resource for that matter..

Yes, which the site is getting stricter on.

jenk · Sep 18th, 2007, 02:14

Im really asking for a method here of identifying a good guide - other than understandable english and liking their looks - I understand that specific recommendations may be an issue here tho frankly Ive seen them on other forums.

machadinha · Sep 18th, 2007, 02:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenk

Im really asking for a method here of identifying a good guide - other than understandable english and liking their looks

It's a good question -- that I have no answer on, other than going with your feelings, or something fluffy like that. The above reminded me of after all my vehemently not wanting a guide sort of walking around at the same pace as some tour group in Jodhpur fort. The guy seemed very knowledgeable, and I think it really added to the overall experience, yes.

I think in Bundi palace we likewise had a knowledgeable and not at all pushy guide -- the kind you'd leave with a tip bigger than his fee, indeed.

You sometimes have to drop that overly fear of "touts" I think and just go with the flow, it's what Indians seem to do when they can make use of such services, and can be really worth it.

But a sure-fire method? No idea.

Quote:

I understand that specific recommendations may be an issue here tho frankly Ive seen them on other forums.

Probably, but then "We are like this, only"

(A little more seriously btw: How would you identify a decent tour guide or taxi driver or some other operator in your hometown of around 1.5 million which is Agra's population, or come up with a foolproof system of doing so?)

Sep 17th, 2007, 21:39	#31
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	Probably Taj is the top monument in India. The second, third ... or even the fifth is no less awe inspiring. Taj somehow overshadowed the rest... Me too eager to visit Taj one day, that’s for the records ( .... till then I’ve to be contented with Bibi Ka Maqbara , the so called poor man’s Taj! ) __________________ Hampi info

Sep 17th, 2007, 23:12	#33
kiranlal The only one of its kind Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Trivandrum,Kerala,India,Malaysia,Singapore Posts: 521	i am sure it is over rated. i like the ranakpur temple better than taj. __________________ A big world and small people

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Sep 18th, 2007, 01:13	#38
jenk Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Brooklyn NY Posts: 106	Do you have advice on how to select a good guide? I have a feeling that there are going to be a number of clamoring candidates at a place like the Taj or FS? Inquiry probably doesnt belong here but I justify it since we are going to be confronting this exact issue in Agra in a month....

Sep 18th, 2007, 01:33	#39
shashank.aggarwal Mr. Badboy :D Join Date: May 2007 Location: ~ Dilli ~ Posts: 5,501	jenk thats a real issue, what I would say members on IM should start recommending people .. if they like services of some particular guide, they should mention the contact details of the person, so that other members can directly contact the person..

Sep 18th, 2007, 02:14	#44
jenk Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Brooklyn NY Posts: 106	Im really asking for a method here of identifying a good guide - other than understandable english and liking their looks - I understand that specific recommendations may be an issue here tho frankly Ive seen them on other forums.

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