Explore Agra from Delhi in the Executive Class Wagon of Indian Railways. Enjoy the panoramic experience of the route plus journeys in the Indian Railways are one of a kind.
Posted By : Camper38469346692
My partner and I contracted IMF to put together a day trip to Agra in order to see the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. The itinerary came quickly after we booked, and included the essentials - train tickets to and from Agra from our home base in Delhi, tickets to both attractions, a lunch to keep us going, and a guide to talk us through the experience. All of this was included in the advertised price. Shortly before the day of the outing, Sharique reached out proactively to confirm that we were still available and that we understood where we needed to be and when.
The day of our trip to Agra arrived, and Sharique offered to meet us at the train station with goodie bags of his favorite snacks as well as to ensure we had direction on where to go. Despite Sharique's guidance that we arrive early, my partner and I arrived late to the train station and missed the train he booked for us. When he tried to rebook us on the next train and found it was full, he instead was able to find a driver on VERY short notice who could take us to Agra, stay all day, and drive us back in the evening. Though it wasn't the original plan, he even came along for the entire day trip to ensure that nothing else went wrong! He was incredibly friendly and we had a GREAT conversation during the road trip from Delhi to Agra.
When we arrived, we picked up our tour guide Hashim and headed to the Taj Mahal first. The tickets Sharique obtained for us allowed us to skip some of the line, and Hashim struck a great balance of sharing information and letting us take in the sights. He even suggested photos that we should pose for and snapped them for us! That meant that we could say no to the somewhat pricey photo package that was offered by historical staff at the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal was BEAUTIFUL - the pictures don't do it justice. Hashim took us inside and showed us the beautiful symmetry and impressive mathematical precision of its construction, and gave us some really interesting information on how it's maintained.
After the Taj Mahal, we went to lunch at a restaurant Sharique picked out - Sizzler was a clean, efficient buffet-style restaurant with a good ambience and incredible food. The lamb stew, fried corn, and fish fry were standouts but everything there was great! Going buffet-style let us vary our meals based on hunger, which was an excellent idea on his part.
After lunch, we made an unexpected stop for a hands-on demonstration of the stone working techniques and materials used to maintain the Taj Mahal courtesy of a friend of Hashim's. We were able to try our very inexpert hand at grinding some of the small stone pieces that made up the inlays of the tomb - it gave us a good perspective on the INCREDIBLE amount of skill and effort that has gone into the Taj Mahal's construction and upkeep.
Our final stop was Agra Fort, across the river from the Taj Mahal. Hashim gave us a great overview of the history and function of the fort, from its construction and original use to Shah Jahan's imprisonment to the effects of British occupation. He again suggested and snapped several memorable photos for us, and as a happy accident the delay of missing our train allowed us beautiful sunset views of the fort and the surrounding landscape.
After that, it was time to return home. Sharique kept our spirits high on the late evening drive with spirited conversation and an excellent cup of spicy roadside chai when we pulled into a station to stretch our legs. The car he'd hired brought us directly back to our hotel, and the price he'd gotten for it was very reasonable considering the last minute change.
I can't stress enough how helpful and good-spirited Sharique was throughout this entire process. We learned that he doesn't normally accompany the tours, but joined us for the entire day (7am to 10pm) to make sure that the change in plans didn't ruin the experience. He went above and beyond what we could have expected, and saved the day when our own logistical issues threatened to ruin it. We will be using IML again!
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Posted On : 2024-03-29 13:56:27 
