An amazing monument to a beloved woman, several centuries old, is in Agra. It seems to be preserved by time itself and protected by fate, since none of the numerous earthquakes has not touched the snow-white walls of the mausoleum. An excursion from Goa to the Taj Mahal is on the list of the most popular tourist trips every year.
Excursions in India
Goa is one of the main resorts of the country. It is the smallest of the states, famous for its great beaches and a variety of outdoor activities. But most of the excursion programs provide an exit from 12 hours to several days. This is how to organize trips to Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, where the main attractions of ancient and mysterious India.
The route through the Golden Triangle takes 3 days and 4 nights. If you choose a tour to the Taj Mahal from Delhi without visiting Jaipur, then the travel time is reduced by a day.
Agra and its main attractions
The city in the 16th and 17th centuries was the capital of the Mughal Empire, and its beauty and luxury amazed and delighted contemporaries. Agra is still a major tourist destination, where people flock to see the legendary tomb of Shah Jahan’s favorite wife.
The excursion to the Taj Mahal from Goa is a full day excursion.
Important! It is forbidden to bring matches, lighters, food and drinks with you when you enter the complex.
The fabulous beauty of the Taj Mahal is mesmerizing and astonishing in its scope. The construction lasted two decades, the works were employed more than 20 thousand people. The result is one of the wonders of the world, combining features of Islamic, Persian and Indian styles.
The complex consists of a mausoleum, a park, four minarets and canals. White marble, semi-precious and ornamental stones were used to build the walls. The incrustations use agate, carnelian, and jasper. The building takes on a pinkish hue at sunrise and sunset; at night it is gently silvery under the light of the moon. The slender minarets on the edges of the mausoleum seem to float in the air, an impression reinforced by the openwork carvings that adorn the walls and the reflection of the building complex in the canal that comes almost to the foot of the tomb.
The main building is crowned by 5 domes, 1 central and 4 lateral, the height reaches 74 meters. Once silver doors led to the inner rooms, now they are made of a more practical material, which does not spoil the beauty of the ancient monument of architecture at all. The walls are decorated with handmade tiles and inlays. You can see the antique equipment in the workshops located on the territory of the complex.
To introduce tourists to the unique architecture of the Taj Mahal in Agra, one of the main cities of India, created a virtual tour. It touches briefly on the history of the creation of the complex, but is unable to convey the grandeur and unearthly beauty of the mausoleum and the surrounding landscape.
A sightseeing tour from Goa to Agra focuses on the shrine and the park, second most popular is a visit to the Red Fort, which deserves attention:
- Amar Singh Gate;
- palace buildings;
- Fountains of the 16th century in working order;
- gardens.
Advantages of going to the Taj Mahal on your own
Excursion trips in most cases are more comfortable and clearly organized. But they are limited in time, have an approved schedule and route, deviation from which is not welcomed guide. For those who value personal freedom and are ready to take the organization of the trip in their own hands, it is more interesting to go to Agra by yourself.
The city is 230 km away. from Delhi, all tours from Goa include a visit to the capital, lasting from 1 to 4 days, the cost ranges from $ 200 to $ 550. The price depends on the number of attractions and travel time.
Going to Agra on your own, you can see much more, quietly walk along the chosen route, to feel the atmosphere of the ancient city. Love is timeless, a touching legend that has survived the centuries and now must be voiced to everyone who enters the vaults of the mausoleum. No need to rush and run the halls in pursuit of fleeing minutes. It is much more interesting to look thoughtfully at the unique incrustations with pearls and opals, to admire the skill of the architects, to reflect on the vicissitudes of fate, which gives or takes away the most precious things.
If you want to stay in Agra another day, you have to look for a hotel. The Trident Agra, Aaram Baagh, Ekaa Villa hotels cost about 3,500 rubles, they are located close to the complex and you can continue to explore it, spending the night in comfort.
How to get from Goa to the Taj Mahal?
The distance from Goa to the Taj Mahal is 1,378 km directly and 400 km by road. longer. It is more advantageous to divide the journey into two parts: flying and moving. In the name of saving time, they get to the capital by plane. The flight takes 2.5-3 hours. The interval between flights is about an hour and a half.
Then from Delhi the road leads to Agra, you can get there:
- by bus;
- by train;
- by plane;
- by cab;
- on a rental car.
Each method has its advantages and disadvantages.
Plane
It’s a rare occasion when a flight will take longer than a land trip. This is because of the extra landing at Varanasi airport. The only advantage of such a trip is that there is no need to stand in city traffic jams.
Train
The schedule is very convenient for tourists if you choose morning flights. The first one is at 6 a.m. and at 8 a.m. the train stops at the platform in Agra. A full day is left for walking around the city and sightseeing, as the evening departures are at 6:55 and 8:30 p.m. The advantage is schedule compliance and relative comfort during the trip. Tickets are ordered online or purchased at the ticket office before the train leaves.
Bus
The most economical type of trip with an unforgettable experience. From the window you can see the real, not touristy India. That’s where the benefits end. The bass have no clear timetable, leaving as they fill up. Some flights are so crowded that many passengers ride standing up. Travel time varies between 2.5 and 3 hours, and you can spend almost half a day in traffic jams, typical for the center of the capital.
Cab
Convenient and profitable for small companies. The peculiarity becomes a fierce bargaining before the trip with meticulous discussion of the smallest details. In order to reduce the price of the trip, you should move farther away from the station or order a car through a terminal at the transport company with a fixed price.
Rent a car
If you have a license and confidence in your abilities, then renting will be the best option for a family trip. You can choose a comfortable speed, stop at a favorite place or stop on the way to the village, have a meal in nature and admire the scenery.
Warning! Before signing a rental agreement, you should carefully read the documents and take pictures of the car from several angles, so that then you do not have to pay for the repair of what was already broken or scratched. The driver should remember that there are traffic rules in India, but they do not work and cars move as their owners wish.
Regardless of the method of travel chosen, a tour of the Taj Mahal will leave a lasting impression.
