Tuesday we left Delhi for Agra. We’d booked a car to drive us the three-four hours to Agra, rather than hassle with the train. I’m glad we did. The driver met us in the hotel lobby at 9. We checked out of our luxurious hotel and then hit the road…along with millions of other New Delhians.
The traffic was bad to start off with but once we got out of the city, it eased up a lot. Plus we used toll roads, some of which are took expensive for locals to use. We saw our first major car accident, a taxi that had spun to face the other way, slammed into the sidewall and was pretty much totalled. No ambulance was yet on the scene but there was no one in the car when we got there. I hope the people involved are ok.
The drive to Agra was easy and passed through the countryside where there were mustard seed and potato fields, as well as brickworks. I was struck by how the city suddenly ends and then we were into countryside. Cities are weird things.
We stopped for a snack and a toilet break but otherwise shot through to Agra, making what seemed like good time. Our driver, Mr Singh, drove us into Agra, a city that seems unfinished, or in a state of decay or perhaps its all fine and my Western sensibilities are too delicate. It looked like chaos to me.
He dropped us at our hotel – the Courtyard Marriott Agra – which was a lot nicer than I was expecting. The rooms are great. It’s another oasis. We checked in and rested for about an hour and a half before Mr Singh picked us up at three and drove us to Agra Fort.
Agra Fort
Don’t talk to anyone. Don’t even say no if they offer you something. Just ignore them and keep walking. If anyone offers you their services as a guide, don’t accept. They’re not guides. Any of them. Watch out for pickpockets.
These were Mr Singh’s words when we arrived at the fort. It’s the same for all the tourist places apparently but I suddenly felt I was going to be under seige. In the end, it wasn’t so bad. I ignored everyone, bought the tickets from the counter, and we went into the fort. No more hassles after that.
Agra Fort is huge, and stunning, and a treat for the eyes. It consists of many different buildings built out of different coloured stone used depending on function and age. The carvings in the walls are all unique and all beautiful. We could see the Taj Mahal in the distance too, as well as monkeys and parrots and squirrels. We wandered about, unfortunately unable to see all of it as part of it, the mosque I believe, is under repairs.
It was a beautiful place and well worth the visit.
Our Second Taj Mahal Experience
Having seen the Taj Mahal from a distance and with the sun beginning to set, we mentioned to Mr Singh that we’d like to see the Taj from a different viewpoint in the sunset.
He drove us to a garden which is on the other side of the river from the Taj Mahal. There were a few other people there, but not as many as that who were actually at the Taj Mahal across the way.
Unfortuantely the fog was still hanging around and the sun was setting not where I thought it would be (mistaking how the Taj was aligned) so the ‘look’ wasn’t what I expected, but hey, we saw the Taj-freaking-Mahal. I can’t wait to see it close up tomorrow.
We took our photos anyway, plenty of silly ones too, and then went back to the car. On the drive earlier we’d also seen the ‘Baby Taj’ across the way, and got to experience a bit of Agra-the-City outside the window. Lots and lots of monkeys. Squads of them all sitting in the ruins. Plenty of cows and goats, even pigs too!
We were glad to get back to the hotel. I realised I had no idea where we could get dinner if we weren’t going to eat at the hotel, but luckily, Glen had heard the word ‘buffet’ when we checked in so that was our dinner sorted.
The hotel also had a few bits of entertainment on around the place. A puppet show was set up near the pool – the ‘cobra’ scaring Christine half to death – as well as a musician in front of the fountain in the foyer, and a man with a magic act and shop.
We went to our rooms and to bed relatively early, the large amount of food we’d had at dinner added to our tiredness. Tomorrow will be another busy day.
Travels with Dan 
What do you say, eh?