Where to see Taj best on FRIDAY?

owenrf · Sep 4th, 2006, 19:47

Oops. I got e tickets for the train on Friday to Agra, plus I have to leave for Mumbai Saturday, sooooo it seems I'm going to the Taj on the "off" day. Can anyone tell me where to view it best from outside? (something I'm actually pretty used to!) And since I'm there the day, what happening, exciting thing to do otherwise --
Owen

Alchemy · Sep 4th, 2006, 22:35

There's a few rooftop restaurants in the Taj Ganj area, but it can't be said often enough that it's just not the same -- nothing compares to watching the Taj up close, so I urge you to re-book if at all possible.

bijapuri · Sep 4th, 2006, 23:11

I'd say go to the opposite side of the river, and take in the exquisite Itmad-ud-Daulah's tomb, then down to the riverside to see the TaJ from a few hundred meters. That said, whatever you have to do or cut out of your itinerary to get there on Thursday is worth it. I've been there at least 6-8 times over 35 years, in all seasons and times of day, and walking thru that last gate and seeing that thing again never fails to take my breath away. Whatever anyone says, there's nothing like it!

Eve68 · Sep 4th, 2006, 23:21

It's definetely one of the sights I'm looking forward to seeing at the risk of thinking like a tourist. I just can't imagine going to India and not seeing the Taj. When are the best times of the day to see it and how's the security issue after the threats?

PeakXV · Sep 4th, 2006, 23:22

The inlay and calligraphy work you will miss from outside the grounds but IMO the atmosphere and allure of the Taj from the Yumana river side is the ultimate experience.

dzibead · Sep 5th, 2006, 00:27

On the other side of the river you can also see the remains of the Mahtab Bagh complex, which is directly across from the Taj. There's an interesting book called The Moonlight Garden on the archaeology of that site.

In addition to your probably truncated visit to see the Taj, you could also go to Fatehpur Sikri, which is not far from Agra. It's the abandoned capital of the Mughal Empire and is a World Heritage site. Here's a link to some info and photos:

http://www.wsu.edu:8001/~dee/MUGHAL/FATEHPUR.HTM

bijapuri · Sep 5th, 2006, 06:20

indeed, Fatehpur sikri and even Koldeo Gana bird park at Bharatpur are nott too far away, as is Akbar's tomb. FS is prolly the best alternative to the TaJ.

owenrf · Sep 5th, 2006, 06:35

Thanks for all the great responses. I have totally re-thought the day and will do my own tour of the backside of the Taj, the sites across the river and a pm excursion to FS. Next time I'm in Delhi I'll do the inside! You guys are great.

aaahh!!

bjrobe72 · Sep 5th, 2006, 09:40

Here's the Taj from the Shanti Lodge Rooftop Restaurant in Taj Ganj; it's a great place to view from:

http://www.traveljournals.net/pictures/73404.html

Shark · Sep 5th, 2006, 12:32

The roof top at Hotel Kamal is a great venue also. It must be very close to the Shanti as the view looks very similar.

Sep 4th, 2006, 19:47	#1
owenrf Owen Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Delhi Posts: 13	Where to see Taj best on FRIDAY? Oops. I got e tickets for the train on Friday to Agra, plus I have to leave for Mumbai Saturday, sooooo it seems I'm going to the Taj on the "off" day. Can anyone tell me where to view it best from outside? (something I'm actually pretty used to!) And since I'm there the day, what happening, exciting thing to do otherwise -- Owen __________________ "Everything has to submit to the test of reason. . . ." M.K. Gandhi

Sep 4th, 2006, 23:11	#3
bijapuri Lord of Kalinjar Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: the real surf city Posts: 2,646	I'd say go to the opposite side of the river, and take in the exquisite Itmad-ud-Daulah's tomb, then down to the riverside to see the TaJ from a few hundred meters. That said, whatever you have to do or cut out of your itinerary to get there on Thursday is worth it. I've been there at least 6-8 times over 35 years, in all seasons and times of day, and walking thru that last gate and seeing that thing again never fails to take my breath away. Whatever anyone says, there's nothing like it! __________________ lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

Sep 4th, 2006, 23:22	#5
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 5,878	The inlay and calligraphy work you will miss from outside the grounds but IMO the atmosphere and allure of the Taj from the Yumana river side is the ultimate experience. __________________ What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us. ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

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Sep 4th, 2006, 22:35	#2
Alchemy Fair and Lovely Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Europe Posts: 161	There's a few rooftop restaurants in the Taj Ganj area, but it can't be said often enough that it's just not the same -- nothing compares to watching the Taj up close, so I urge you to re-book if at all possible.

Sep 4th, 2006, 23:21	#4
Eve68 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: USA Posts: 105	It's definetely one of the sights I'm looking forward to seeing at the risk of thinking like a tourist. I just can't imagine going to India and not seeing the Taj. When are the best times of the day to see it and how's the security issue after the threats?

Sep 5th, 2006, 00:27	#6
dzibead res ipsa loquitur Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,884	On the other side of the river you can also see the remains of the Mahtab Bagh complex, which is directly across from the Taj. There's an interesting book called The Moonlight Garden on the archaeology of that site. In addition to your probably truncated visit to see the Taj, you could also go to Fatehpur Sikri, which is not far from Agra. It's the abandoned capital of the Mughal Empire and is a World Heritage site. Here's a link to some info and photos: http://www.wsu.edu:8001/~dee/MUGHAL/FATEHPUR.HTM

Sep 5th, 2006, 06:20	#7
bijapuri Lord of Kalinjar Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: the real surf city Posts: 2,646	indeed, Fatehpur sikri and even Koldeo Gana bird park at Bharatpur are nott too far away, as is Akbar's tomb. FS is prolly the best alternative to the TaJ.

Sep 5th, 2006, 06:35	#8
owenrf Owen Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Delhi Posts: 13	Thanks for all the great responses. I have totally re-thought the day and will do my own tour of the backside of the Taj, the sites across the river and a pm excursion to FS. Next time I'm in Delhi I'll do the inside! You guys are great. aaahh!!

Sep 5th, 2006, 09:40	#9
bjrobe72 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Orlando, FL USA Posts: 11	Here's the Taj from the Shanti Lodge Rooftop Restaurant in Taj Ganj; it's a great place to view from: http://www.traveljournals.net/pictures/73404.html

Sep 5th, 2006, 12:32	#10
Shark Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia, New South Wales Posts: 160	The roof top at Hotel Kamal is a great venue also. It must be very close to the Shanti as the view looks very similar.