Delhi to Agra n Back. Train or Car?

When I go to Delhi I'll be on a tight schedule, but want to fit in a quick trip from Delhi to Agra to see the Taj in one day. I can't stay in Agra the night, so that's out. It doesn't sound all that expensive either way so cost isn't a consideration, it's more of comfort, fun, travel times, and getting in the sightseeing. Seems like I should try to fit in Fatephur Sikri too if I can.
So it's either go by train or hire a car? What are the pro's and cons? and if it were you, how would you plan your day?

Oh, about the car. I read somewhere that night driving back in the dark isn't a good idea?? Finally, my travel partner is worried about getting car sick if the road/driving is bad!!

Hello Ensie,

The pros of taking the train:

- more comfortable than car.
- quicker
- cheaper

Cons:
- you WILL run into touts, etc. at the train station - which can be a HUGE hassle.


pros of taking a car:
- it will take you directly to the Taj
- you get to see the countryside

cons:
- can be uncomfortable and long
- more expensive than train

Hope this helps.

I took a one day tour from Delhi Tourism (governmental orgn) and enjoyed the company of my travel companions more than the sites (guilty!!! so what?)

it was eight of us in a jeep, an Indian couple from India, two Indians from Australia, a woman from Pakistan, a girl from Australia and myself. we had fab time! the guide was somewhat boring (trying to get us to go to shops even if it was not in the programme) but we had fun making fun of him.

no trouble with touts (apart from the guide himself)

here are details (originally from radz)

Delhi Tourism - one day trip to Agra.
Departure 7.am,return 10pm.
Tariff: Non ac adult Rs630.A/c Rs700.

Delhi Tourism, Central reservation office,Cofffe Home 1,Baba Kharak Singh Marg,(D-6)Tel,3365358/3363607
http://delhitourism.nic.in

Agra's MUST SEE sights are: Taj, Dayal Bagh, Sikandara, Etmad-ud-Daulah and Agra Fort and you will need to spend the entire day visiting these spots, including the transit from Delhi.

A night halt at Agra hence becomes a necessity if you wish to see Fatehpur Sikri too.

Hi Ensie
If you dont mind for budget then i will suggest go by car,
If you can start early morning around 6am (if u can 5) from Delhi
you will reach around 9.30 am ,morning hrs less traffic,after seeing Taj,then Fatehpursikri.

Night driving AGRA TO DELHI the road is good.so it wont be problems. Only winders i wont suggest night driving.

radz

The Shatabadi Express between New Delhi and Agra is uncharacteristically (for India) comfortable - if a bit expensive. Even left on time when I took it.

with a car you can see Sikandra on the way, highly rec. With a train,nyet.

Shatabdi is very efficient, tho . . . .

HI. Thanks for the comments.
I'll consider the option of taking the Shatabdi round-trip and making arrangments for a car in Agra to take us around there. I'll look into the Indian Railways site and see if I can figure out a booking.

As for the car all day from Delhi to Agra and back. I am mainly concerned about the safety of drving at night on the road back. I heard to avoid traveling in the night/dark. Is this a genuine concern on the Agra to Delhi route?

you can always make a strong request to the agency for a sane driver, and remind the driver FORCEFULLY of your expectations.

Hi
You could take a bus trip from ITDC ( India Tourism Development Corp.)
A govt orgn. They send an english speaking guide with the bus The bus is AC. Takes you to Taj , Sikandara and Fatehpur Sikari (Main attractions of Agra) Bus leaves at 06 30 Am gets back to Delhi 10 00 PM. Drive is comfortable on four lane highway connecting Delhi Agra.
Hope it will help
Have a good time

Hey, U just replied to a 2 year old thread so I guess it wont be much help for that person but maybe it cud be of use to anyone planning to go in the future ...

Cheers

I took the ITDC trip 12 years ago. Not enough people signed up to send a bus so they put us in old Ambasador sedans. The road both ways was pretty hairy, especially at night, but they have upgraded the Delhi-Agra road a lot since then. One does get a good idea of what it is like to travel India's roads, as well as see some village life, by taking the road. We saw a huge accident and drove thru a farmer's field to detour around it. We were able to visit Sikunder (sp?), and after touring the Taj we caught a cab to the house of a friend on the outskirts of Agra and had a great lunch. We caught back up to our ITDC tour at Agra fort.

ITDC provided food, at government rest house style places. Our guide did steer us into one tourist trap, and our driver stopped on the way back to buy booze. At the time my wife was working as an editor of a big newspaper in Delhi and she wrote an editorial about this.

There are definitely two schools of though on Delhi-Agra transportation among locals: they either prefer to drive or prefer the train, and it's probably a majority who prefer the train.

Portie

Definately train...its much more convenient and you dont have to deal with unprecedented traffic jams, driving at night etc.. shatabdi of course is the best but Taj Express also has convenient timings.

Hello, just wondering if you have the details for ITDC ( India Tourism Development Corp.) as in how much it costs and if there is a better tour option? Thanks alot!

I am also thinking of driving to Agra with wife. Driving at night is a bit of a risk that i do not intend to take in India. Google map on my phone is sufficient to help me out (already used it on other parts of the country). I heard the highway between Delhi and Agra is nice. Will post a report once back