Home of the Majestic Taj Mahal (Agra, India)
The Incredible India 5-years before Covid-19 (Part 5)
Taj Mahal means the “Crown Palace”.
The Disney movie Aladdin’s famous song “A whole new world” was literally playing in a loop inside my head from the moment our train stopped in Agra until I finally saw this world-famous architecture.
Back in 1632, the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had this ivory-white marble mausoleum built to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
This is no exaggeration, but having the very first glimpse of the Taj Mahal was indeed a magical experience!
The haze even gave it a more dramatic effect.
There are actually two identical buildings on either side of the Taj Mahal. To the West is a mosque, and to the East is a guest house called Mehmaan Khana.
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The entrance fee for foreign visitors as of 2021 is ₹1100 ($15), plus you need to get another ticket for visiting the main mausoleum of the Taj Mahal for ₹200 ($2.50). The Taj Mahal is open for sightseeing from 6:00am – 6:30pm every day except Fridays.
Ticket booths are open one hour before sunrise and close 45 minutes before sunset.
You can also buy your tickets online through asi.payumoney.com.
There’s another incredible structure that you should see in Agra and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
2.5km northwest of the Taj Mahal is this massive 16th-century fortress of red sandstone, Agra Fort.
It was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638 when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi.
One of the most popular architecture in Agra Fort is the Jangahir Mahal. It was originally built by Emperor Akbar for his son, Jahangir, to serve as his private residence.
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Another famous piece of architecture to see in Agra Fort is the Nagina Masjid, a mosque that’s made entirely in pure white marble!
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Just below the Nagina Masjid was the place for the Ladies’ Market or the Zenana Mina Bazaar. It’s where merchants would sell silk, jewelry, and many other things to the royal ladies of the house and was even restricted to the male members at that time!
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Agra Fort is huge and there are many other architectures to see! The entry ticket price for foreign tourists is only ₹650 ($8.75) and only ₹600 ($8) when you show your Taj Mahal ticket!
People basically come to Agra just to see the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort.
Check this website to see other monuments and their ticket price.
If there are other places to see in Agra that are worth a visit, please share them in the comment section!
Where we stayed
We stayed at the Namastey Hostel which is only 1.5km away from the Taj Mahal. They charge ₹300-₹400 ($4.5) for a night and they serve a lot of free chai!
How to get to Agra
By Train
Take a train to Agra Cantonment railway station (station code: AGC), about 6km away from Taj Mahal.
Check the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation’s official website for train schedules and online ticket booking
Or you can download the IXIGO app, IRCTC’s official booking partner right on your mobile phone for a more convenient train booking!
By Air
The nearest international airport is the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, 200 km away from Agra. So you still need to take a train from New Delhi to Agra Cantonment.
Let’s travel further west, to the Pink City
Disclaimer:
We’re not sure if the hotels and restaurants in the blog are still open due to Covid-19.
Please help us know by writing in the comment box.
Nevertheless, we encourage everyone to support them if ever you visit India as we enjoyed their warm hospitality!
