Day trip from Delhi to Agra

direct2dubai · Nov 22nd, 2007, 15:32

During my short stay in Delhi, I'm thinking of doind a day trip to Agra (just to see the the Taj Mahal).

1. Is this trip doable in 1 day?
2. What is the best way to get to Agra from Delhi?
3. How far is it (in terms of distance and actual time it will take)?

navritu · Nov 22nd, 2007, 15:58

It is very easy to visit Agra and back from Delhi in a day.

We did the same thing last time when we were in India. Took the morning Shatabdi Express from Delhi to Agra Cantt and then took the UP State Tourism Development Corporation Luxury bus from the Agra Cantt station for the day trip to Agra. We saw Fateh Pur Sikri, Agra Fort and Taj Mahal and the bus brought us back to the station in the evening for us to catch the Shatabadi back to Delhi. It was a really lovely experience.

You could also get bus trips from Delhi to Agra and return same day, but we chose Shatabdi.

Hope this helps.

NicoleM · Nov 22nd, 2007, 16:14

I did the same thing, caught the Shatabdi in the morning and went back to Delhi in the evening. The day was not rushed and had time for a drink and a snack in a hotel with "roof top views" and watched the sunset on the Taj. Awesome.

Mickey S · Nov 22nd, 2007, 16:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by direct2dubai

During my short stay in Delhi, I'm thinking of doind a day trip to Agra (just to see the the Taj Mahal).

1. Is this trip doable in 1 day?
2. What is the best way to get to Agra from Delhi?
3. How far is it (in terms of distance and actual time it will take)?

Gosh, this one's never been asked before, has it?

Aishah · Nov 22nd, 2007, 16:33

What Navritu suggests sounds a good idea because you also get to see Fatehpur Sikri, well worth going to in my book. Don't do an organised bus tour from Delhi - far more comfortable by train then pick up bus as Navritu says. I did a bus tour from Delhi(Panicker's) and it was awful - we went to the most ghastly restaurants for morning tea, lunch, dinner etc. and it was a really long day in an uncomfortable bus. Started pick-up around 5.30 a.m. and then continued picking up all over Delhi for about
another 2 hours, same thing of course in reverse coming back - my drop off was around midnight. If you go by train I am sure it will be faster and more comfortable.

direct2dubai · Nov 22nd, 2007, 16:45

Navritu - how long is the train journey and do you remember how much it cost?

Do I have to book the train in advance or on the day?

navritu · Nov 22nd, 2007, 17:42

Hi,

Bhopal Shatabdi (2002) leaves New Delhi (NDLS) at 0615 in the morning and is scheduled to arrive at Agra Cantt (AGC) at 0827, so roughly 2 hours. Return Shatabadi (2001) is scheduled to leave AGC at 2043, arrives at NDLS around 2300, a bit more than 2 hours

.

It is always advisable to book tickets for travel on Indian Trains in advance. You will find a lots of posts on this web site telling you how you can do it. Generally you will get confirmed seats in the Air Conditioned Chair Car (CC) on the Shatabdi express with a day's advance booking.

The advantage of travelling with Shatabadi is that you get fed, breakfast in the morning and dinner on the return trip.

The bus tour I think leaves around 1000 from AGC and returns around 1830. The bus also has a Guide on board so you don't have to pay additional at any monuments for Guide, if I remember correctly. However, you will still have to pay for entrance fees for the monuments if I remember correctly but the Guide had collected that money in advance from us and had sorted the tickets. We also managed to beat the long queues to enter Taj since UPSTDC has some special arrangement, saved us obscene amount of time

.

The fare for Shatabdi one way for an Adult is INR 400. The bus I think cost us around INR 200 each, not sure though.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Navneet

shashank.aggarwal · Nov 22nd, 2007, 17:54

Even I have done this several years back, went to the Nizamudin station, bought the tix (not Shatabadi), once in Agra hired a car, visited Agra Fort, Taj, Fatehpur Sikri and driver dropped us back to the station in the evening at the time of return train.

ChocolatNY · Nov 26th, 2007, 13:15

i have to work from 630 PM - 1130 PM or so, so i was thinking i'd take the shatabdi from delhi to agra, then rent a car to go see Taj and Agra Fort. stay in Agra for the night, then the following morning, return to Delhi, see Fatehpur Sikri on the way back.

1) How far is Fatehpur Sikri from Agra? is it closer to Delhi or Agra? Do I need to go by car to see FS?
2) Can someone recommend a car service in Agra?
3) Is there a morning train that goes from Agra to Delhi? What is the last evening train to go Agra-Delhi?

nayan · Nov 26th, 2007, 13:26

Fatehpur sikri is very close to Agra. I think it takes abot 30 mins by car.
I had done this trip entirely by car in 2004.
we started from Delhi at 6am. reached Agra by 10:30 am. Saw Sikandra(Akbars tomb) on the way. It was very nice, quiet and amazing ly green. We reached Taj around 11.45am. Was there for around 2 hrs.
went for lunch in a nearby restaurant. left for fatehpur sikri and reached around 3:30 pm. we spent about 2.5 hrs there.
Started for delhi again around 6pm. reached by 10.30 pm

ChocolatNY · Nov 26th, 2007, 13:29

thanks nayan! you didn't see Agra Fort??
how much did your car service charge you for the trip? can you give me his contact number?

ooh, also seeing that you're in hyderabad, can you give me some numbers for a car service in hyd?

nayan · Nov 26th, 2007, 13:40

No we didnot see Agra fort. I was keener on Fatehpur sikri. did not want to do a too hectic trip.

I did this trip with colleagues. we visited a few random travel/car hire agencies in Janpath.... bargained hard... then decided on one for around 2800 rupees (everything included). There were four of us so it came to a very reasonable 700 per head. the car was a good condition AC Indica. The pick up and drop was from our hotel in Vasant Vihar. BTW it was 2004 August... so i am sure rates must have increased somewhat since then.

I usually donot need any car service in hyd as I have my own car here but I will try to get some info for you and post it here.

Aishah · Nov 26th, 2007, 20:59

I did see Agra Fort when I did that ghastly Panicker's bus tour - I really liked it. So if you can fit it in, try to do so. We did Taj, Fort, some piece of wallof historical interest and totally unmemorable - something to do with a battle long ago - and Fatehpur Sikri. There also seemed to be quite a bit of commentary about historical events which escape me now as we drove around very uninteresting countryside! Taj, Fort and Fatehpur Sikri are stunning.

ChocolatNY · Nov 26th, 2007, 21:07

agree with Aishah. i haven't seen Fatehpur Sikri, but i loved the Agra Fort, it's stunning!
wow, I am glad I did not do Panicker.. seeing that they have so many bad reviews! I had called them but found them rude, so I decided against them.

ChocolatNY · Nov 27th, 2007, 09:25

what exactly is there to see at fatehpur sikri?

Nov 22nd, 2007, 15:32	#1
direct2dubai Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: near the sea Posts: 6	Day trip from Delhi to Agra During my short stay in Delhi, I'm thinking of doind a day trip to Agra (just to see the the Taj Mahal). 1. Is this trip doable in 1 day? 2. What is the best way to get to Agra from Delhi? 3. How far is it (in terms of distance and actual time it will take)?

Nov 22nd, 2007, 16:33	#5
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 4,442	What Navritu suggests sounds a good idea because you also get to see Fatehpur Sikri, well worth going to in my book. Don't do an organised bus tour from Delhi - far more comfortable by train then pick up bus as Navritu says. I did a bus tour from Delhi(Panicker's) and it was awful - we went to the most ghastly restaurants for morning tea, lunch, dinner etc. and it was a really long day in an uncomfortable bus. Started pick-up around 5.30 a.m. and then continued picking up all over Delhi for about another 2 hours, same thing of course in reverse coming back - my drop off was around midnight. If you go by train I am sure it will be faster and more comfortable. __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Nov 22nd, 2007, 17:54	#8
shashank.aggarwal Mr. Badboy :D Join Date: May 2007 Location: ~ Dilli ~ Posts: 5,162	Even I have done this several years back, went to the Nizamudin station, bought the tix (not Shatabadi), once in Agra hired a car, visited Agra Fort, Taj, Fatehpur Sikri and driver dropped us back to the station in the evening at the time of return train. __________________ Travelogue - Around India Random Reviews

Nov 26th, 2007, 13:15	#9
ChocolatNY Wandering Gypsy Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 170	i have to work from 630 PM - 1130 PM or so, so i was thinking i'd take the shatabdi from delhi to agra, then rent a car to go see Taj and Agra Fort. stay in Agra for the night, then the following morning, return to Delhi, see Fatehpur Sikri on the way back. 1) How far is Fatehpur Sikri from Agra? is it closer to Delhi or Agra? Do I need to go by car to see FS? 2) Can someone recommend a car service in Agra? 3) Is there a morning train that goes from Agra to Delhi? What is the last evening train to go Agra-Delhi? __________________ We are Pilgrims; we shall go Always a little further: it may be Beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow Across that angry or that glimmering sea...

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Nov 22nd, 2007, 15:58	#2
navritu Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Oxford, England Posts: 12	It is very easy to visit Agra and back from Delhi in a day. We did the same thing last time when we were in India. Took the morning Shatabdi Express from Delhi to Agra Cantt and then took the UP State Tourism Development Corporation Luxury bus from the Agra Cantt station for the day trip to Agra. We saw Fateh Pur Sikri, Agra Fort and Taj Mahal and the bus brought us back to the station in the evening for us to catch the Shatabadi back to Delhi. It was a really lovely experience. You could also get bus trips from Delhi to Agra and return same day, but we chose Shatabdi. Hope this helps.

Nov 22nd, 2007, 16:14	#3
NicoleM Nicole Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 34	I did the same thing, caught the Shatabdi in the morning and went back to Delhi in the evening. The day was not rushed and had time for a drink and a snack in a hotel with "roof top views" and watched the sunset on the Taj. Awesome.

Nov 22nd, 2007, 16:45	#6
direct2dubai Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: near the sea Posts: 6	Navritu - how long is the train journey and do you remember how much it cost? Do I have to book the train in advance or on the day?

Nov 22nd, 2007, 17:42	#7
navritu Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Oxford, England Posts: 12	Hi, Bhopal Shatabdi (2002) leaves New Delhi (NDLS) at 0615 in the morning and is scheduled to arrive at Agra Cantt (AGC) at 0827, so roughly 2 hours. Return Shatabadi (2001) is scheduled to leave AGC at 2043, arrives at NDLS around 2300, a bit more than 2 hours . It is always advisable to book tickets for travel on Indian Trains in advance. You will find a lots of posts on this web site telling you how you can do it. Generally you will get confirmed seats in the Air Conditioned Chair Car (CC) on the Shatabdi express with a day's advance booking. The advantage of travelling with Shatabadi is that you get fed, breakfast in the morning and dinner on the return trip. The bus tour I think leaves around 1000 from AGC and returns around 1830. The bus also has a Guide on board so you don't have to pay additional at any monuments for Guide, if I remember correctly. However, you will still have to pay for entrance fees for the monuments if I remember correctly but the Guide had collected that money in advance from us and had sorted the tickets. We also managed to beat the long queues to enter Taj since UPSTDC has some special arrangement, saved us obscene amount of time . The fare for Shatabdi one way for an Adult is INR 400. The bus I think cost us around INR 200 each, not sure though. Hope this helps. Cheers Navneet

Nov 26th, 2007, 13:26	#10
nayan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hyderabad/tokyo Posts: 691	Fatehpur sikri is very close to Agra. I think it takes abot 30 mins by car. I had done this trip entirely by car in 2004. we started from Delhi at 6am. reached Agra by 10:30 am. Saw Sikandra(Akbars tomb) on the way. It was very nice, quiet and amazing ly green. We reached Taj around 11.45am. Was there for around 2 hrs. went for lunch in a nearby restaurant. left for fatehpur sikri and reached around 3:30 pm. we spent about 2.5 hrs there. Started for delhi again around 6pm. reached by 10.30 pm

Nov 26th, 2007, 13:29	#11
ChocolatNY Wandering Gypsy Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 170	thanks nayan! you didn't see Agra Fort?? how much did your car service charge you for the trip? can you give me his contact number? ooh, also seeing that you're in hyderabad, can you give me some numbers for a car service in hyd?

Nov 26th, 2007, 13:40	#12
nayan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hyderabad/tokyo Posts: 691	No we didnot see Agra fort. I was keener on Fatehpur sikri. did not want to do a too hectic trip. I did this trip with colleagues. we visited a few random travel/car hire agencies in Janpath.... bargained hard... then decided on one for around 2800 rupees (everything included). There were four of us so it came to a very reasonable 700 per head. the car was a good condition AC Indica. The pick up and drop was from our hotel in Vasant Vihar. BTW it was 2004 August... so i am sure rates must have increased somewhat since then. I usually donot need any car service in hyd as I have my own car here but I will try to get some info for you and post it here.

Nov 26th, 2007, 20:59	#13
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 4,442	I did see Agra Fort when I did that ghastly Panicker's bus tour - I really liked it. So if you can fit it in, try to do so. We did Taj, Fort, some piece of wallof historical interest and totally unmemorable - something to do with a battle long ago - and Fatehpur Sikri. There also seemed to be quite a bit of commentary about historical events which escape me now as we drove around very uninteresting countryside! Taj, Fort and Fatehpur Sikri are stunning.

Nov 26th, 2007, 21:07	#14
ChocolatNY Wandering Gypsy Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 170	agree with Aishah. i haven't seen Fatehpur Sikri, but i loved the Agra Fort, it's stunning! wow, I am glad I did not do Panicker.. seeing that they have so many bad reviews! I had called them but found them rude, so I decided against them.

Nov 27th, 2007, 09:25	#15
ChocolatNY Wandering Gypsy Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 170	what exactly is there to see at fatehpur sikri?

User Name		Remember Me?
Password

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
From Delhi to Agra in one day	Grimes	Agra	9	Jul 9th, 2008 21:26
Day trip to Agra	rachelinindia	Agra	13	Nov 27th, 2006 22:40
From Delhi to Agra, possible to do it in a day?	diplomacy	Agra	5	Apr 21st, 2006 20:33
Delhi to Agra Day trip finally booked!	smerch1468	Indian Railways	1	Dec 5th, 2005 20:44
Agra Day Trip	nadine	Agra	10	Nov 24th, 2004 07:14