Date: September 26, 2011
I had requested for a wake-up call at 04:30 followed by a reminder at 04:40 am and the concierge performed the chore flawlessly. Started getting ready having decided to take bath after coming back from the Taj.
I had organized a guide before leaving for Agra, having found him on Google.
His name was
Shanoo Ali, fluent in about 16 languages and knowledgeable. He had also some good reviews on various travel forums. He turned out be very good and my friend & his daughter were quite impressed and happy with his services. I'm giving his contact details & charges here for the benefit of others:
Mobile: +919927761616
Email: shanno_taj@yahoo.co.in Guide fees: Rs. 950/- for full Agra sight-seeing
Rs. 500/- for only Taj sight-seeing
We all came down to the lobby at 5:15 am and Shanoo was waiting for us. There is a saying - "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely".
I shall add to this - "Luxury & opulence are addictive, absolute luxury & opulence are absolutely addictive". And that is what The Amarvilaas does to you.
No sooner were we ready to move out, the concierge materialized out of no-where and handed us our entry tickets to Taj. Wow.. Of course it would be charged to my room but this saved me from standing in a line at the ASI ticket counter that was some distance away from the Hotel. Since my friend & his daughter were American citizens, their ticket was priced Rs.750/- each while for me it was Rs.20/-. Sometimes it is beneficial to be an Indian..
I had phoned my driver to come to the porch to take us to the gate but then was pleasantly surprised to find the Hotel Golf cart (battery operated) already parked & ready to take us to the last point. Hmmm, impressive to say the least.
We walked a short distance to the Eastern Gate entrance and stood in a que. Almost every person in the line was a foreigner. I was told that mostly foreigners come so early to see The Taj. The rest, and they mostly being Indians amble in around 9 am or so. We stood in the line for about 20 minutes as the security personnel were getting ready with their apparatus and the gates were thrown open at 06:05 am.
This great monument, The Taj, being very high on the terrorists's list and a probable target during the three wars that India fought, has very strict security set-up. The rules & regulations are given below:
Rules and Regulations at the Taj Mahal
Security is tight and rules and regulations are very important and must be followed at the Taj Mahal. There are many rules to be followed at the premises of the monument to maintain the holiness of the monument and other rules are mostly for the maintainance and protection of the monument. Remaining rules and regulations are to be followed for the protection of all the tourists visiting the Taj Mahal.
• Arms, ammunition, fire, smoking items, tobacco products, liquor, food, chewing gum, headphones, knives, wire, mobile charger, electric goods (except video camera) such as Tripods, iPods and similar MP3 and music players are prohibited inside the Taj Mahal complex.
• Mobile Phones are allowed but must to be kept switched off.
• Eating and smoking is strictly prohibited inside the Taj Mahal complex.
• Lockers are available at the gates to keep your belongings (of course, at your own risk).
• Avoid carrying big bags and books inside the monument as this may increase your security check time.
• Video camera (handicam) is allowed up to the red sand stone platform at the main entrance gate of the Taj Mahal complex. There is a charge of 25 Rupees per video camera.
• Photography is prohibited inside the main mausoleum, and visitors are requested not to make noise inside the mausoleum.
• Tourists must co-operate in keeping the monument neat and clean by making use of dustbins.
• Avoid touching and scratching the walls and surfaces of the monument as these are old heritage sites that need special care.
• Tourists are advised to hire official audio guides available at the ASI ticket counter or to use only approved guides and photographers who exhibit their identity cards.
• Tourists are allowed to carry a water bottle inside the monument. Shoe covers, 1/2 litre water bottle and Tourist Guide Map of Agra are provided free of cost with the foreigner's entry ticket for the Taj Mahal.
• Wheelchairs for disabled persons and First Aid Boxes are available at A.S.I. Office inside the Taj Mahal complex. A refundable charge of 1000 Rupees is to be deposited as security before wheelchairs are made available for the disabled.
•
All the above mentioned items along with the mobile phones are banned for the night viewing of the Taj Mahal.
• Video cameras are permitted after the security check during night viewing of the Taj Mahal, though extra batteries are prohibited.
• Remember that the Taj Mahal is a religious site and it is best to dress conservatively when visiting the Taj Mahal complex, not only because the Taj Mahal itself is a mausoleum, but also because there are mosques inside the Taj Mahal complex, if you wish to visit them as well.
Entered the Taj Complex after a thorough security check-up that included a body search as well. The section for females were separate. I shall now stop the narration and let the pictures do the talking.
The Entrance Gate The first view The Sun rises & the first light hits the Taj giving it a divine orange hue - 06:13 am The Sun rises further & the Taj acquires a different hue altogether - 06:15 am The Sun is up & has lit a side of Taj with a soft white light - 06:33 am The The Sun is up on the sky, shining at full power and bathing the Taj in a white light - 07:50 am The Minaar - up above the world so high The real Masjid on the left of Taj The silhouette of the replica Masjid (to maintain symmetry) on the right of Taj River Yamuna flowing by the Taj The devout bathing in Yamuna on the occasion of Amavasya View of the Taj Eastern Gate from the Taj
The Taj sight-seeing was over and it was time to return to the hotel, get ready and leave for Delhi by 11 as my friend had a flight to Mumbai at 16:45. We came out of the complex and my friend wanted to buy some marble trinkets for memories. We entered a shop, outside which some artisans were working on the marble pieces.
Marble carving artisan, claiming to be a descendant of the families of artisans who built Taj.
Using the same tools of trade as used by his ancestors. Sharpening his chisel. — at Taj Complex, Agra. Filial duties also being performed while working.
My friend's daughter bought a set of coasters and a mini Tajmahal. We reached the boarding point & the Golf Cart was waiting. Reached hotel, freshened up, had breakfast and came down to the Lobby. My friend & his daughter were already there and were surrounded by the Hotel staff. Was something wrong?
Oh boy, my friend had found a stapler pin in his sandwich. The hotel staff was extremely distressed and apologetic. This wasn't expected from Amarvilaas. I wanted to write a complaint but my friend stopped me from that. Though it wasn't a part of the deal, Hotel gave my friend a big basket of brunch for the road.
The car & driver were ready and the luggage was already loaded. We left for Delhi. Remembering the previous evening's traffic nightmare, we were apprehensive, but our worries were misplaced. Getting onto NH2 from the City took a while and after that it was a breeze. Stopped at the
Panchhi Petha store on the highway after Sikandara and bought Dry Petha, Angoori Petha & Kaaju Daalmoth for home.
The entire NH 2 unto Faridabad was a breeze and we made good speed. Reached Delhi Airport at 3:35 pm. My friend & his daughter went in and did the check-in & then proceeded for security check. Called me to inform that everything was perfect and thanked.
I returned to my office where my vehicle was parked. Thanked the driver and then left for home. It was an enjoyable trip.
Hope you enjoyed the pictures & the travelogue.
The end.../-