There is nothing new that I can write here about the beauty, grandeur and royal lineage of Agra and its monuments.
I however want to write about my experience with the guides there. That's something I found amiss everywhere on the trip blogs.
Day 1
Disclaimer: This post in no way undermines guides and their profession. Nor is it any authoritative final word. These are just my experiences with the travel guides I met in Agra.
I recently had a chance to go on a trip to Agra. The city is really wonderful and the monuments majestic.
Reaching Agra Cantt station, we looked for a cab. You should prefer to hire the pre-paid taxis that are approved by the government.
We already had our hotel booked online so the driver took us to hotel. The driver was a nice man and occasionally doubled up as our guide telling everything about every turn we took.
For the next two days, we hired him and he took us on the roads of Agra. But we have to waste a lot of energy in bargaining.
He told us about the light and sound show that is held every night at Agra Fort. The show was spectacular. They tell you everything about Mughal history and Agra and is the best refresher course for Agra trip. The show runs alternatively in English and Hindi. So make sure to confirm your language at the ticket window.
I recently had a chance to go on a trip to Agra. The city is really wonderful and the monuments majestic.
Reaching Agra Cantt station, we looked for a cab. You should prefer to hire the pre-paid taxis that are approved by the government.
We already had our hotel booked online so the driver took us to hotel. The driver was a nice man and occasionally doubled up as our guide telling everything about every turn we took.
For the next two days, we hired him and he took us on the roads of Agra. But we have to waste a lot of energy in bargaining.
He told us about the light and sound show that is held every night at Agra Fort. The show was spectacular. They tell you everything about Mughal history and Agra and is the best refresher course for Agra trip. The show runs alternatively in English and Hindi. So make sure to confirm your language at the ticket window.
Day 2
Next day we started earlier. The first place we visited was Taj Mahal. The earlier you visit Taj, the better. Also note that it is closed for public on Fridays.
The moment you enter the complex, you will be approached by many guides and photographers. If there is Crowd, they will even lure you of a VIP gate for entry. But let me tell you there is no such gate. Taj has only three gates and they will take you via the alternative gate where it's less crowded.
In my opinion, you won't need a guide for Taj. Taj has a pretty simple story that almost everyone knows. Moreover, there is a layout map of Taj at the entry which details everything that is inside. That will be sufficient.
Photography is not allowed in the complex beyond a limit. So even the photographer cannot accompany you in case you plan to use him as a guide. We tried, but they are very careful about not eating up each other's business.
Just for your information, there are audio aids available at the ticket counter for a nominal charge. So that will be your best guide if the headphones are available.
Agra Fort
After Taj, we arrived at Agra Fort. Here you will need a guide, as there are no inscriptions or history written anywhere in the fort, except for a brief intro etched out in sandstone tablet once you reach up the slope leading to the fort.
The guide we hired took much pain to introduce us to the forts' history and explained about who lived in which room. But again, we had to bargain a lot before we could reach a consensus.
The moment you enter the complex, you will be approached by many guides and photographers. If there is Crowd, they will even lure you of a VIP gate for entry. But let me tell you there is no such gate. Taj has only three gates and they will take you via the alternative gate where it's less crowded.
In my opinion, you won't need a guide for Taj. Taj has a pretty simple story that almost everyone knows. Moreover, there is a layout map of Taj at the entry which details everything that is inside. That will be sufficient.
Photography is not allowed in the complex beyond a limit. So even the photographer cannot accompany you in case you plan to use him as a guide. We tried, but they are very careful about not eating up each other's business.
Just for your information, there are audio aids available at the ticket counter for a nominal charge. So that will be your best guide if the headphones are available.
Agra Fort
After Taj, we arrived at Agra Fort. Here you will need a guide, as there are no inscriptions or history written anywhere in the fort, except for a brief intro etched out in sandstone tablet once you reach up the slope leading to the fort.
The guide we hired took much pain to introduce us to the forts' history and explained about who lived in which room. But again, we had to bargain a lot before we could reach a consensus.
Day 3
This was the last site we visited. It's beautiful Fort built by Akbar. The fort is built on a hillock. So at the base there is a market and restaurant. There is a paid bus service from Basecamp to the fort.
At this Basecamp, you will meet guides. Our guide told us how Fatehpur and Sikri are two different places with some distance and he will offer us discount if we visit both. It was only on reaching top that we discovered that they are adjacent forts.
After boarding the bus, we reached the fort's entry. Some tourists were going on foot as well. It's not a large distance.
Fatehpur is the palace where Akbar lived with his many wives. And Sikri is the adjacent tomb he got built in honor of Saint Salim Chishti Ji. They first show Fatehpur. It has a ticket counter and the audio aids are available here as well. So if you get those, then you do not need the guide at all.
Sikri is the tomb and thus a religious place and is open for all without any ticket. Our guide told us how there is no money offered on the dargaah and you can offer anything you like which will go to a charity school.
The guide told us to remove our shoes and meanwhile he went inside the tomb. We entered the tomb and the guide took us to a man who was distributing chaddar ( the sheet offered at dargaah). He asked us to have one and put it on the dargaah. When we took it, he said that it costs 1100 rupees. When we relented, he instilled fear in us that we cannot go empty handed in the tomb. Now that's where we felt we were being cheated. As it is with all religious matters, we had to get that from him. But once we got inside, we came to know that there is no such compulsion. Devotees were offering money as their means allowed. Some brought their own Chaddar. But nothing was sort of compulsory as was told to us by the guide and this man. So if you happen to visit this wonderful place, do not follow the advise of such people. Just go inside the Tomb and get the blessings of Chisti Saab.
This last one did leave a bad taste in mouth. But they say, you learn a lot when you travel.
At this Basecamp, you will meet guides. Our guide told us how Fatehpur and Sikri are two different places with some distance and he will offer us discount if we visit both. It was only on reaching top that we discovered that they are adjacent forts.
After boarding the bus, we reached the fort's entry. Some tourists were going on foot as well. It's not a large distance.
Fatehpur is the palace where Akbar lived with his many wives. And Sikri is the adjacent tomb he got built in honor of Saint Salim Chishti Ji. They first show Fatehpur. It has a ticket counter and the audio aids are available here as well. So if you get those, then you do not need the guide at all.
Sikri is the tomb and thus a religious place and is open for all without any ticket. Our guide told us how there is no money offered on the dargaah and you can offer anything you like which will go to a charity school.
The guide told us to remove our shoes and meanwhile he went inside the tomb. We entered the tomb and the guide took us to a man who was distributing chaddar ( the sheet offered at dargaah). He asked us to have one and put it on the dargaah. When we took it, he said that it costs 1100 rupees. When we relented, he instilled fear in us that we cannot go empty handed in the tomb. Now that's where we felt we were being cheated. As it is with all religious matters, we had to get that from him. But once we got inside, we came to know that there is no such compulsion. Devotees were offering money as their means allowed. Some brought their own Chaddar. But nothing was sort of compulsory as was told to us by the guide and this man. So if you happen to visit this wonderful place, do not follow the advise of such people. Just go inside the Tomb and get the blessings of Chisti Saab.
This last one did leave a bad taste in mouth. But they say, you learn a lot when you travel.