Taj View Hotel, Agra

Advantages: Breathtakingingly beautiful peice of architecture
Disadvantages: Crowded, smelly and expensive.

...We went to India in September last year and ended our tour of Rajisthan with a trip to Agra and the Taj Mahal. I have to admit I wasn't looking forward to it - in my experience these things are often better in your imagination and on postcards - but that is a somewhat jaded point of view, and we toddled off to stay in a hotel just outside Agra. Firstly, I am glad we did not stay in Agra itself. It stinks. We went to so many parts of India, and saw so much poverty, but Agra was the worst with regards to sanitation and smell. But you take the rough with the smooth in India, and this is really only to be expected some of the time. Hilariously, the touters at the enterance called out to us that we could not go in without them, otherwise we would not be able to see the sunset!!!! In case anyone was remotely likey to buy this line... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: ROMANCE
Disadvantages: Time your first view for the less crowded times.

...but for the Parrotts Flying about and of Course Countless Peacocks. We stopped off for a Visit to Fatephur Sikri the deserted City which was left when the water dried up. But still as it was when lived in. ONWARDS TO AGRA. It was at this point thinking back it would have been best not to visit the Taj Mahal for your first view. Bear in mind we had been on a long road Journey had already had a tour of the above deserted City, it was Hot we were Hungray and the TAJ was packed. Even then the Taj Looked very beautiful but it did not seem Romantic. We had the photos taken which would arrive at our hotel that evening. We had a quick look inside the Taj, but it all seemed a bit rushed and crowded. We went and checked into the Hotel Noveltel Agra a shower and a meal and recovered. THE TAJ IN ITS TRUE GLORY. Next morning while still dark the 22... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: One of the Seven Wonders of the World
Disadvantages: Beautiful from outside but an empty shell inside

...I have just come from Agra and am disgusted by the inflated admission costs for foreigners to the Taj Mahal. When I went there a few years ago the cost to enter was the same for everybody - Indian or foreign visitors, Rs 5. The Government has now revised the costs so that if you are Indian you pay Rs 10 - about 15p and if you are a foreign tourist you now have to pay $30 US. I know the the Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world but this is outrageous and just another way of fleecing the foreign tourists.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful