After New Delhi, the next stop in the “Golden Triangle” of India was the city of Agra. Agra was a two and a half hour bus ride from Delhi through the largely flat agricultural area of the Uttar Pradesh interior.
The Yamuna River, filming site for the “Slumdog Millionaire” movie.
The Trident Agra Hotel:
Like the Eros Hotel in Delhi, the Trident Agra Hotel was another heavily fortified lodging with considerable security. One can’t help but to think the idea was not only to keep the local people out, but to keep the guests inside.
Nevertheless, the property itself was my first Trident Hotel stay in India, a brand that is among the top Hotel chains in India. The property has a quaint garden and a nice pool area (with great Bloody Marys). The dinner and breakfast buffets were excellent. Also noteworthy is this particular Trident had a “no tipping” policy, with signs posted in the rooms.
(Image courtesy of tridenthotels.com)
(Image courtesy of tridenthotels.com)
(Image courtesy of tridenthotels.com)
(Image courtesy of tridenthotels.com)
The Trident Agra was a little far from the rest of the city so I, with some friends, opted to grab a tuk tuk to check out the Taj Mahatsai Festival (against the advise of the tour guide) held on the grounds just outside the Taj Mahal complex.
We were literally the only foreigners there and got plenty of stares, but agreed the food smelled too delicious to turn back simply because of pesky concerns for our safety. We found a little spot packed with locals and decided to try all the paneer specials: Chinese, chili, Indian, and fried. Without a doubt, it was the best paneer we had in India. The rest of the night was spent walking through the market, listening to the Indian pop stars, and acquiring dead-ringer knockoff cricket paddles. In fact, people kept coming up to us asking “where did you get those?”.
The Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah (“Baby Taj”):
The first of the major sites visited was the Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, also know as the “Baby Taj” because it is considered to be a ‘first draft’ of the actual Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal:
The next site visited was for many, the very reason for visiting India, the famed Taj Mahal. I have been lucky enough to visit the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’, and I would place the Taj Mahal right near the top of that list. It gave me chills at my first glimpse of it, being far more impressive then I had imagined it to be.
The entrance gate to the Taj Mahal
The ‘first glimpse’ of the UNESCO World Heritage Site
The ‘money shot’ of the Taj Mahal
The up-close detail
The Agra Fort:
Near the Taj Mahal was another stunning Mughal monument, the Agra Fort. Like the Taj Mahal, it is another UNESCO World Heritage site.
Jahangiri Mahal
Diwan-i-Am
Rare view of the Taj Mahal (from the Agra Fort)
Final Thoughts on Agra:
Its been said that Agra has nothing to offer but the Taj Mahal. I found this is not the case at. It is true that Agra is not as ‘tourist-friendly’ or walkable as other Indian cities. But Agra can be rewarding if you are willing to venture out on your own (with a group) and do a little exploring.
The Taj Mahal has been called the “most perfect architectural monument in the whole of the world” and that could be a gross understatement. It is beautiful as a morning or late afternoon excursion, worth as much time as you can afford to spend there. Agra Fort is also gorgeous, but also very large with little shade. Be prepared to do some walking at the monuments and bring your sunscreen.
Cheers!
Black Kites rule the air over Agra
