Last month we went to Agra on a weekend which included overnight stay there.We did not make any booking as it was just for a day.We used the UP roadways Volvo via Yamuna Expressway.It was better than hiring a car as it was bigger and less hot !I am very intolerant to heat!We reached about 11PM and it was sweltering .Since, we hadn't booked a hotel and tried being adventurous, we hoped the auto guy will set us up in a decent hotel.We ended up in Taj residency which is in close proximity to Agra fort.We freshened up and called a cab from a travel agency for Fatehpur Sikri.He came around 1PM and we moved to our destination.Its about 35 Km from Agra.We reached there and had to take a mini bus which takes all travellers to the Sikri fort as private vehicle are not allowed.By now we were exhausted of heat despite AC.
The twist now is that the cab guy suggests a guide as it will be easier as its tough to figure out.We assumed he knows best and got fooled, even foreigners didnot use guides!!Anyhow now the guide takes us to "chadar" sellers to offer these at dargah.We were really not interested in those, but religious stuff and his useless chatter about poor donation and god power made us buy one.Though they were bad quality looking scarfs which wouldn't help any poor and he charged 600Rs,He says Katrina Kaif came four times in past month.I was thinking who the hell cares , more the fool she is.Anyhow now the guide realized i was not impressed and his useless historical knowledge was a letdown as well.I suggest people to not use these useless guides.He charged us Rs600!Then we moved out of Sikri and headed back to Agra and found that Taj will be closed as we will reach by 5:30PM.So, we decided to go to mall or something and kill the time as taxi was booked for 8 hours.The mall was so useless that its indescribable.There went the evening.
We got up early next morning and headed by walk to the Taj Mahal.But then hitch hiked in a big auto type vehicle and then took battery rikshaw inside the Taj west gate.The Taj was beautiful but the maintenance left lot to be desired.By 8:30Am we were out and felt very hungry.The government restaurant there only opened after 10AM!!So, we headed to Agra fort and had some good time there and then had some lunch and moved back to Delhi.
The government needs to focus on Agra city instead of focusing on just the Taj, it was terriblly dirty, dusty, bad roads.I was just happy to be getting back from there.
The twist now is that the cab guy suggests a guide as it will be easier as its tough to figure out.We assumed he knows best and got fooled, even foreigners didnot use guides!!Anyhow now the guide takes us to "chadar" sellers to offer these at dargah.We were really not interested in those, but religious stuff and his useless chatter about poor donation and god power made us buy one.Though they were bad quality looking scarfs which wouldn't help any poor and he charged 600Rs,He says Katrina Kaif came four times in past month.I was thinking who the hell cares , more the fool she is.Anyhow now the guide realized i was not impressed and his useless historical knowledge was a letdown as well.I suggest people to not use these useless guides.He charged us Rs600!Then we moved out of Sikri and headed back to Agra and found that Taj will be closed as we will reach by 5:30PM.So, we decided to go to mall or something and kill the time as taxi was booked for 8 hours.The mall was so useless that its indescribable.There went the evening.
We got up early next morning and headed by walk to the Taj Mahal.But then hitch hiked in a big auto type vehicle and then took battery rikshaw inside the Taj west gate.The Taj was beautiful but the maintenance left lot to be desired.By 8:30Am we were out and felt very hungry.The government restaurant there only opened after 10AM!!So, we headed to Agra fort and had some good time there and then had some lunch and moved back to Delhi.
The government needs to focus on Agra city instead of focusing on just the Taj, it was terriblly dirty, dusty, bad roads.I was just happy to be getting back from there.
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