Planning this day trip .

hellsbellsbaby · Jan 26th, 2009, 16:57

Have spotted this day trip to Agra from Delhi with

www.indiatraveltours.com

It's done by train with a guide and your lunch thrown in at the Taj View Hotel .

Now it all sounds very good but I'm wondering if we get enough time to enjoy the Taj Mahal and we won't be rushed around like loonies .
It doesn't mention what time you'll be leaving Agra for Delhi . Am I just be too cautious ?

Indizen · Jan 26th, 2009, 17:17

If they take you to Agra and back by the Shatabdi Express train, the timings are pretty much fixed. Just find out which train from your agent.

hellsbellsbaby · Jan 26th, 2009, 17:41

It is by that one , departs 6am but doesn't mention the return time .

smakkar · Jan 26th, 2009, 18:05

That is bound to happen, when planning through Travel agents.

Why not do it on your own, it's easy..!! and, you'll have all the time you want to spend... Probably, spend more than one day, you can then also visit Fatehpur Sikri and Bharatpur Bird Sanctury also... all 3 places are very close by...

hellsbellsbaby · Jan 26th, 2009, 19:16

The above trip also includes Fatehpur Sikri...not that I have any idea what that is .

wonderwomanusa · Jan 27th, 2009, 00:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellsbellsbaby

The above trip also includes Fatehpur Sikri...not that I have any idea what that is .

You do have a guidebook, no? Of course, you could always Google this...

labrol · Jan 27th, 2009, 00:13

The Taj Mahal, The Agra fort, Sikandra and Itamadud daulah's tombs are all that can be covered in a day, in a rush. Delete the last two and you have a comfortable trip.
Fatehpur sikri is a red sand stone capital of Akbar, the Great Mughal, a contemporary of Queen Victoria(No,Queen Elizabeth, as corrected by Ronsaik below) of England. The place is an hour from Agra. Had to be abandoned for lack of water source. Include it only if youy are staying a night in Agra. In that case you can ask for a car tour Delhi-Agra-Bharatpur-Vrindawan-Delhi. Start one morning, end the next night.

labrol · Jan 27th, 2009, 00:14

What is the price of your tour quoted?

karuna · Jan 27th, 2009, 00:18

You know, it rings faint bells. I'm sure someone did one of these tours once with the lunch and posted about it. You could try a little search, I'm not sure when or which forum though.

It's very, very easy to do this yourself, by train or by hiring a car and driver. If you're the person who said there's an older woman coming (I forget, I'm sorry), then car and driver might be more convenient (door - to - door pickup and dropoff), but train is comfortable and cheaper.

ronsaik · Jan 27th, 2009, 00:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by labrol

Akbar, the Great Mughal, a contemporary of Queen Victoria of England.

Elizabeth, not Victoria.
Akbar ruled from 1556 to 1605
Elizabeth from 1559 to 1603.

ronsaik · Jan 27th, 2009, 00:37

But I would urge the OP not to waste his dollars by visiting Agra without reading up a bit on Indian history. Else it'll be like seeing the Wailing Wall for the brickwork.

labrol · Jan 27th, 2009, 00:43

Thanks for the correction, Ronsaik.

hellsbellsbaby · Jan 27th, 2009, 15:15

The tour is about 70 USdollars and yes it's me with 2 elderly relatives .

Now my plans are all over again...really didn't want to spend more than a day in Agra , we'll have to discuss it some more .

labrol · Jan 27th, 2009, 16:12

In that case just look around Agra and cut Fatehpur Sikri. Also is it 70 dollars per person?. Does it include monument entry charges and food?
In that case it would be better to hire a car with an english speaking driver. It will cost Rs 5200/- for the three of you. The entry charges to the monuments would be another Rs.1000 per person. Total 8200 rupees or about $170 for all. Eat at a restaurant opposite the fort or carry packed lunch to save time and health.

hellsbellsbaby · Jan 27th, 2009, 16:49

That's a great idea...will see what they say , as I know they were looking forward to the trip . It did come with lunch at the Taj View hotel but no entry fees .

Jan 26th, 2009, 16:57	#1
hellsbellsbaby oh she of little faith . Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: land of fishermen , sobrasada & oranges Posts: 222	Planning this day trip . Have spotted this day trip to Agra from Delhi with www.indiatraveltours.com It's done by train with a guide and your lunch thrown in at the Taj View Hotel . Now it all sounds very good but I'm wondering if we get enough time to enjoy the Taj Mahal and we won't be rushed around like loonies . It doesn't mention what time you'll be leaving Agra for Delhi . Am I just be too cautious ?

Jan 26th, 2009, 18:05	#4
smakkar Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Delhi and everywhere else... Posts: 526	That is bound to happen, when planning through Travel agents. Why not do it on your own, it's easy..!! and, you'll have all the time you want to spend... Probably, spend more than one day, you can then also visit Fatehpur Sikri and Bharatpur Bird Sanctury also... all 3 places are very close by... __________________ All my Travels... www.flickr.com/photos/saurabh_sunny/ A lot still pending though...............

Jan 27th, 2009, 00:13	#7
labrol Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gurgaon, India Posts: 305	The Taj Mahal, The Agra fort, Sikandra and Itamadud daulah's tombs are all that can be covered in a day, in a rush. Delete the last two and you have a comfortable trip. Fatehpur sikri is a red sand stone capital of Akbar, the Great Mughal, a contemporary of Queen Victoria(No,Queen Elizabeth, as corrected by Ronsaik below) of England. The place is an hour from Agra. Had to be abandoned for lack of water source. Include it only if youy are staying a night in Agra. In that case you can ask for a car tour Delhi-Agra-Bharatpur-Vrindawan-Delhi. Start one morning, end the next night. __________________ Alone I walked. Strangers joined in. We became a caravan.

Jan 27th, 2009, 00:18	#9
karuna Just a big girl with a small dream Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: A little town you've probably never heard of Posts: 2,976	You know, it rings faint bells. I'm sure someone did one of these tours once with the lunch and posted about it. You could try a little search, I'm not sure when or which forum though. It's very, very easy to do this yourself, by train or by hiring a car and driver. If you're the person who said there's an older woman coming (I forget, I'm sorry), then car and driver might be more convenient (door - to - door pickup and dropoff), but train is comfortable and cheaper. __________________ Mosquitos suck.

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Jan 26th, 2009, 17:17	#2
Indizen Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 2,507	If they take you to Agra and back by the Shatabdi Express train, the timings are pretty much fixed. Just find out which train from your agent.

Jan 26th, 2009, 17:41	#3
hellsbellsbaby oh she of little faith . Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: land of fishermen , sobrasada & oranges Posts: 222	It is by that one , departs 6am but doesn't mention the return time .

Jan 26th, 2009, 19:16	#5
hellsbellsbaby oh she of little faith . Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: land of fishermen , sobrasada & oranges Posts: 222	The above trip also includes Fatehpur Sikri...not that I have any idea what that is .

Jan 27th, 2009, 00:14	#8
labrol Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gurgaon, India Posts: 305	What is the price of your tour quoted?

Jan 27th, 2009, 00:37	#11
ronsaik Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 391	But I would urge the OP not to waste his dollars by visiting Agra without reading up a bit on Indian history. Else it'll be like seeing the Wailing Wall for the brickwork.

Jan 27th, 2009, 00:43	#12
labrol Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gurgaon, India Posts: 305	Thanks for the correction, Ronsaik.

Jan 27th, 2009, 15:15	#13
hellsbellsbaby oh she of little faith . Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: land of fishermen , sobrasada & oranges Posts: 222	The tour is about 70 USdollars and yes it's me with 2 elderly relatives . Now my plans are all over again...really didn't want to spend more than a day in Agra , we'll have to discuss it some more .

Jan 27th, 2009, 16:12	#14
labrol Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gurgaon, India Posts: 305	In that case just look around Agra and cut Fatehpur Sikri. Also is it 70 dollars per person?. Does it include monument entry charges and food? In that case it would be better to hire a car with an english speaking driver. It will cost Rs 5200/- for the three of you. The entry charges to the monuments would be another Rs.1000 per person. Total 8200 rupees or about $170 for all. Eat at a restaurant opposite the fort or carry packed lunch to save time and health.

Jan 27th, 2009, 16:49	#15
hellsbellsbaby oh she of little faith . Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: land of fishermen , sobrasada & oranges Posts: 222	That's a great idea...will see what they say , as I know they were looking forward to the trip . It did come with lunch at the Taj View hotel but no entry fees .

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