1st possibility: a standard trip as proposed by TCI travel agency (see info below). Entry ticket at Taj Mahal is not included.
2nd possibility: rent an ambassador (with A/C) provided by TCI for the whole day to visit Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Seekri. The cost is 5700 INR and the entry tickets to these monuments are not included. You know that for visiting Taj Mahal foreigners pay about 20 US$.
3rd possibility: rent an ambassador (with A/C) provided by TOCAS (another travel agency) for the whole day to visit Taj Mahal. In this case the fare is calculated on a km base, and approximately it is 3500 INR. If you want to visit Fatehpur Sikri too, the cost is a little bit more because you run for more Km. As above the entries tickets to these monuments are not included.
4th possibility: take a train from Delhi to Agra and back. There is the Taj Express that daily runs between these cities and the cost of a one-way ticket is appr. 600-700 IRS.
5th possibility: Perfect Travel – 160 USD Agra – (Taj Mahal, Agra fort), Sikarda, Fatehpur Sikri, including guides and entrance fees, AC car, driver, gas, taxes (0700 – 2000) /one person).
In the morning the first train is at 0700 IST and it takes about 3,5 hours to reach Agra. The problem is in the evening because there is only one train and the departure time from Agra is at 1900 Hr IST, this means that you are in Delhi rail station at 2230-2300 Hr.
You can take local trains too, but they are delayed every time. These trains take about the same time as the express one and only the “monkey” class is available: almost impossible to quantify any possible delay, so I cannot advise you.
WHAT TO SEE
The Agra Fort
The Mughal splendor in Agra began from the period of Humayun but the real building and establishment began when Akbar succeeded Humayun. In 1565 Akbar pulled down the brick fort of Lodi at Sikandra and started his new fort on the riverside in red sandstone. Shah Jehan who succeeded Jehangir destroyed some of Akbar’s simple sandstone buildings to build a cluster of rich buildings with inlaid marble palace rooms along the river front (1628-1637). The exquisite Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) was started in 1646, just 2 years before his new city at Delhi was ready. There are many fascinating buildings within the massive walls which stretch for 2.5 Km, surrounded by a moat over 10 meters wide. Inside, the fort is really a city within a city. Shah Jahan’s beautiful marble Moti Masjid (known as the Pearl Mosque) is an example of perfect proportion. Some of the beautiful buildings within the fort are Diwan-I-Am (hall of public audience), Diwan-I-Khas (hall of private audience) and the Musamman Burj.
Agra Fort: 10 USD
Fatehpur Sikri
Forty Km southwest of Agra lays a deserted sandstone city, Fatehpur Sikri. In the 16th century Salim Chisti, a mystic, came to this little community of stonecutters and spent his days meditating in a grotto. Legend soon grew around him and word came to the emperor Akbar who set out on a pilgrimage to ask the holy man the blessing of an heir. When a son was born the king named him after the mystic and decided to shift his capital to Sikri. Within a period of six years a complex of forts, palaces and mosques sprang up. But Akbar was forced to abandon his new capital and Fatehpur Sikri became a ghost town. It is haunted today by memories of a resplendent era.
Amber Fort: 12 USD
Taj Mahal: 21 USD
Amber Fort (Jaipur)
Amber Fort situated about 11 Km out of Jaipur on the Delhi-Jaipur road, Amber was once the ancient capital of Jaipur state. Construction of the fortress palace begun in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, the Rajput commander of Akbar’s army. It was later extended and completed by the Jai Singhs before they moved to Jaipur on the plains below. The fort is a superb example of Rajput architecture, stunningly situated on a hillside and overlooking a lake, which reflects its terraces and ramparts.
City palace: 150 INR
Observatory: 4 INR
Hawa Mahal: 5 INR
Amber Fort: 50 INR
PROGRAMME AGRA
0700 Hr: Leave Delhi by air-conditioned luxury coach/car.
0915 Hr: Fixed breakfast at Country Inn Kosi.
1115 Hr: Visit Sikandra - Tomb of Akbar (photo stop).
1230 Hr: Visit Taj Maha1.
1400 Hr: Buffet lunch at Hotel Taj View,
1500 Hr: Visit Agra Fort.
1600 Hr: Free time for shopping.
1700 Hr: Leave for Delhi.
1845 Hr: Fixed evening snacks Country lnn Kosi
2200 Hr: Arrive Delhi.
PACKAGE
Cost 1500 INR per person
(Children below 10 years of age will be charged half the rate)
Package includes:
Air-conditioned coach (2x1 or 2x2, push back seats)/car.
All taxes as on date.
Breakfast/evening snacks at Country Inn Kosi.
Buffet lunch at Taj View.
English speaking tour escort accompanying group on tour.
English speaking guide in Agra.
Bottle of mineral water per person.
Shoe covers to enter Taj Mahal.
Copy of group photograph at Taj Mahal per person with compliments of TCI.
Transfers from Shilpgram - Taj Mahal - Shilpgram by battery bus.
Entry tickets for Indian Nationals.
We carry umbrella's along to save you from sun and rain.
TOUR OPERATOR
NEW DELHI TCI
Contact: Malayanil Singh
Travel Corporation (India) Unlimited
Hotel Metro, N-49, Connaught Circus, New Delhi 110001
Tel: 011/3328367, 3356167, 3315181 (Ext 473)
Mobile: 9810135141
Fax:011/3313320,3316705, 3357292
E-mail: tajtour-del@rci.co.in
Website: www.tcindia.com
COURTESY OF JUKKA-PEKKA MUSTONEN