Discover Agra

One of the biggest highlights of the trip – Taj Mahal

After Jaipur, I continued towards Agra, and it was probably one of the parts of the journey where I really felt that I was heading towards something I had been looking forward to for a long time. The Taj Mahal had been one of those places I had seen in pictures countless times, but at the same time I was unsure whether it would really feel as special when I finally stood there.

When I arrived in Agra, it was immediately clear that the city revolves around the Taj Mahal in many ways. There were lots of tourists, traffic, small shops and people trying to sell all kinds of things. After Jaipur I was already quite used to the intense Indian traffic, but Agra still had its own pace. There were a lot of people on the streets and sometimes it took longer to get around than I had expected.

I decided to get up early to visit the Taj Mahal. This is something I definitely recommend. Getting up early may not be the most enjoyable thing when you are travelling and would rather sleep, but this time it was worth it. The air was still relatively comfortable and it was much quieter than later in the day.

And then came the moment when I saw the Taj Mahal for the first time. I had seen the building in pictures so many times that I almost thought I already knew what it would look like. But when you actually stand there in front of it, it is something completely different. The size, the details and especially the symmetry make the building feel almost unreal.

I slowly walked closer and actually tried to put my phone away for a while. It is very easy to end up just taking pictures when you visit a place like this. I wanted to experience the place first and then take pictures afterwards.

What impressed me the most were the details. From a distance, the Taj Mahal looks quite simple with its white marble, but when you get closer you can see how much work has gone into the building. The small details in the marble and decorations make it possible to walk around for quite a while and keep discovering new things.

Of course, I took quite a lot of pictures as well. It is almost impossible not to when you are standing in front of one of the world's most famous buildings. At the same time, I tried not to spend the entire time behind the camera. Some places are simply worth experiencing without constantly thinking about the next picture.

Another thing that struck me was how many people there actually were. Even though I arrived early, the area was already full of visitors. It did not ruin the experience, but you need to be prepared for the fact that you will not have the Taj Mahal all to yourself.

After the visit, I walked around Agra and tried to get a feeling for the city itself as well. Agra is not like Jaipur, where I felt that I wanted to walk around for several days without a plan. For me, the Taj Mahal was the main highlight, but there was still plenty of interesting things to discover around it.

I also visited Agra Fort and it was definitely worth spending time there. The fort is enormous and it is easy to understand why it has played such an important role in the city's history. From there, you also get another view of the Taj Mahal, which gave me a completely different feeling compared to standing right in front of the building.

I actually think Agra Fort made the entire Agra experience better. If I had only gone there, seen the Taj Mahal and immediately left the city, I probably would have felt that I had missed part of the experience.

The food in Agra was also something I enjoyed. Just like in many other places in India, there is an enormous amount to choose from. I ate both simple local food and at restaurants that were a little more adapted to tourists. After spending some time in India, you almost start developing your own favourite dishes and know roughly what you want to order.

I especially enjoyed taking a break in the middle of the day. The heat can become quite intense and after walking around the sights, it is very nice to sit somewhere with air conditioning, order something cold and simply relax for a while.

The traffic was, as usual, something that required patience. There were lots of tuk-tuks, motorbikes, cars and people in the same places. Sometimes it almost felt like the traffic had its own system that I did not quite understand, but after a while you get used to it.

Something I really took away from Agra was how different a place can feel when you are actually there compared to how you imagined it. The Taj Mahal was just as impressive as I had hoped, but the experience around it – the people, traffic, heat and overall atmosphere – made the visit even more memorable.

It also became something of an ending to a longer part of my journey through India. I had experienced very different environments, from Kerala in the south to Jaipur and then Agra. The contrast between the places almost made the journey more interesting than the destinations themselves.

When I was standing and looking at the Taj Mahal, I actually thought a little about how far I had travelled to get there. It is a special feeling to stand somewhere that you have previously only seen in pictures and suddenly realise that you are actually there.

I therefore definitely think Agra is worth a stop if you are in northern India. The Taj Mahal is obviously the main reason, but I recommend staying a little longer than just a few hours and also visiting Agra Fort and experiencing the city around it.

After Agra, however, it was time to continue the journey. The next stop would be Kathmandu in Nepal, which meant another change in both environment, culture and landscape. From India's intense cities and historic sights, the Himalayas and a completely new part of the journey were waiting.