Gurgaon to Agra by road- route suggestions needed.

DCEite · 29th September 2007, 22:50

Hi people
I plan to go on a 1 day trip to Agra(Taj Mahal) sometime next week.
A total of 4 people will be traveling. Some suggestions i need:

1. The most obvious question. The best route?
2. Own car or Taxi?
3. How is the highway/road condition?
4. Any other places of interest other than the Taj-Mahal, assuming only 1 day availability?

Thanks in advance.

hvkumar · 29th September 2007, 23:13

Nothing faster than own car. If you leave early enough and don't get stuck in Badarpur, you can have a fast 2.5 hour drive on NH2 to Agra. I guess you can reach NH2 directly from Gurgaon (at Faridabad or Hodal), but NH2 is a great drive all the way once you clear Faridabad.

I don't think the Delhi-Agra ever gets damaged in the rains.

Apart from Taj, you could also cover Agra Fort. Little tough to go to Fatehpur Sikhri unless you want to drive back to Delhi very late.

Eddy · 29th September 2007, 23:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCEite

Hi people
I plan to go on a 1 day trip to Agra(Taj Mahal) sometime next week.
A total of 4 people will be traveling. Some suggestions i need:

1. The most obvious question. The best route?
2. Own car or Taxi?
3. How is the highway/road condition?
4. Any other places of interest other than the Taj-Mahal, assuming only 1 day availability?

Thanks in advance.

Own car definitely. The highway drive is a breeze.
The only other option will be Agra Fort. Fatehpur Sikri might be a little tough until you start really early and return a little late.

PS: Taj is closed on Fridays

Edit: I think this is the Ramzan season or something, ain't it ? (Afridi withdrew from the team citing this reason

). I dont know whether Taj remains open during this time. Just make sure you confirm before leaving.

greatDrive · 30th September 2007, 07:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddy

.

PS: Taj is closed on Fridays

Are you sure, I thought it was free entry on fridays.

Going by own car is good Idea, Start very early, If you reach Faridabad by 6.00am, reaching Agra will take another 2.15hrs( without any break). Road is always nice except for a small strech near Mathura refinary which have melted tar on roads(Not sure if its still bad- talking about 3 yrs back)

Agra fort & Taj can be covered in a day. Avoid fatehpur Sikri if its a single day trip.
Be sure you don't get attracted to Guides and Emporium Agents, unless you really want to buy something and you have enough knowledge of Art, Craft and sculpture. If really interested in buying , don't forget to bargain hard. Or best is avoid it because going from one shop to another will waste a lot of time.
Have a nice trip.
Cheers

vkochar · 30th September 2007, 07:41

Helo Dceite - Your Agra Guide is here !!!

2 ways of leaving from Gurgaon - One is Going from the Sohna Road - Palwal - This one I would not advise as it is a little broken and only for daily commuters.

Your best bet would be to leave from Gurgaon - take the MG Road - Head towards Qutab Minar and then take right from qutab towards Saket, Go straight on the Badarpur road, after crossing Batra Hospital and when you reach the old fort, there would be a cut for Surajkund Road - take that road and you will be on the Agra - Delhi road within 20 minutes.

The above mentioned route - Gurgaon - Faridabad will take you just 40 minutes if you leave in the morning.

NH2 Delhi - Agra is one of the best roads in India - not broken at all - all wide laned roads - though traffic is heavy but once you exit faridabad - the rest of the 170 kms is a breeze - Take your own car - 2 tolls on the way ( 35 rs each ).

Agra - you can visit the Taj - Red fort is good but visit only if you haven't seen the fort in delhi.

Fatehpur Sikri is great but you cannot manage in a day. ( you can in a way ).

Any other advise - PM me !! CHEERS !!

vkochar · 30th September 2007, 07:49

Oh yes - TAJ IS CLOSED ON FRIDAYS !!

greatDrive · 30th September 2007, 12:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by vkochar

Oh yes - TAJ IS CLOSED ON FRIDAYS !!

Did that start recently?

tsk1979 · 30th September 2007, 15:48

AFAIK, it has always been so.

Eddy · 30th September 2007, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by greatDrive

Did that start recently?

Nope, it has been like this since quite a while. I think its due to Jumma prayer day and the maintenance in the second half of the day.

vkochar · 30th September 2007, 16:46

Yeah been like more than 6 - 7 years - Mainly because Friday is a Religious day and also as Eddy mentioned - Mantainance.

.anshuman · 30th September 2007, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by vkochar

Your best bet would be to leave from Gurgaon - take the MG Road - Head towards Qutab Minar and then take right from qutab towards Saket, Go straight on the Badarpur road, after crossing Batra Hospital and when you reach the old fort, there would be a cut for Surajkund Road - take that road and you will be on the Agra - Delhi road within 20 minutes.

!!

Why take the longer route via delhi when there is a direct road to faridabad from gurgaon turn towards faridabad from bristol round about and faridabad is just 35kms and the good part is the road is nice and you will avoid the traffic too.

greatDrive · 30th September 2007, 18:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by .anshuman

Why take the longer route via delhi when there is a direct road to faridabad from gurgaon turn towards faridabad from bristol round about and faridabad is just 35kms and the good part is the road is nice and you will avoid the traffic too.

Is this the road which comes to bhatkal chowk in faridabad?

vkochar · 30th September 2007, 20:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by .anshuman

Why take the longer route via delhi when there is a direct road to faridabad from gurgaon turn towards faridabad from bristol round about and faridabad is just 35kms and the good part is the road is nice and you will avoid the traffic too.

Well I have not been on that road for over 3 years now and last time I took it, there was a jam and that was a nightmare. Of course things would be different now.

Will try this next time I am in gurgaon heading towards agra !!

kpzen · 30th September 2007, 22:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by greatDrive

Is this the road which comes to bhatkal chowk in faridabad?

Yes, it does end up at Badkal chowk but u dont need to go till there as its a longer route to get into Agra NH. Its better to take the route suggested by anshuman and then cut through Sainik colony and enter NH through Neelam flyover.
Through Badkal chowk there;s no right turn allowed to enter NH so u'll have to take left towards delhi and take a U turn.

DCEite · 1st October 2007, 15:53

Is the TAJ-mahal open tomorrow (Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday)?
If not, then i will have to wait till Saturday. :(

29th September 2007, 22:50	#1
DCEite Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: NCR Posts: 3,413 Thanked: 2,517 Times	Gurgaon to Agra by road- route suggestions needed. Hi people I plan to go on a 1 day trip to Agra(Taj Mahal) sometime next week. A total of 4 people will be traveling. Some suggestions i need: 1. The most obvious question. The best route? 2. Own car or Taxi? 3. How is the highway/road condition? 4. Any other places of interest other than the Taj-Mahal, assuming only 1 day availability? Thanks in advance.
	() Thanks

29th September 2007, 23:13	#2
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	Nothing faster than own car. If you leave early enough and don't get stuck in Badarpur, you can have a fast 2.5 hour drive on NH2 to Agra. I guess you can reach NH2 directly from Gurgaon (at Faridabad or Hodal), but NH2 is a great drive all the way once you clear Faridabad. I don't think the Delhi-Agra ever gets damaged in the rains. Apart from Taj, you could also cover Agra Fort. Little tough to go to Fatehpur Sikhri unless you want to drive back to Delhi very late.
	() Thanks

30th September 2007, 07:41	#5
vkochar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Delhi / Agra / London Posts: 2,146 Thanked: 819 Times View My Garage	Helo Dceite - Your Agra Guide is here !!! 2 ways of leaving from Gurgaon - One is Going from the Sohna Road - Palwal - This one I would not advise as it is a little broken and only for daily commuters. Your best bet would be to leave from Gurgaon - take the MG Road - Head towards Qutab Minar and then take right from qutab towards Saket, Go straight on the Badarpur road, after crossing Batra Hospital and when you reach the old fort, there would be a cut for Surajkund Road - take that road and you will be on the Agra - Delhi road within 20 minutes. The above mentioned route - Gurgaon - Faridabad will take you just 40 minutes if you leave in the morning. NH2 Delhi - Agra is one of the best roads in India - not broken at all - all wide laned roads - though traffic is heavy but once you exit faridabad - the rest of the 170 kms is a breeze - Take your own car - 2 tolls on the way ( 35 rs each ). Agra - you can visit the Taj - Red fort is good but visit only if you haven't seen the fort in delhi. Fatehpur Sikri is great but you cannot manage in a day. ( you can in a way ). Any other advise - PM me !! CHEERS !! Last edited by vkochar : 30th September 2007 at 08:00.
	() Thanks

30th September 2007, 07:49	#6
vkochar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Delhi / Agra / London Posts: 2,146 Thanked: 819 Times View My Garage	Oh yes - TAJ IS CLOSED ON FRIDAYS !!
	() Thanks

30th September 2007, 15:48	#8
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,823 Times View My Garage	AFAIK, it has always been so.
	() Thanks

30th September 2007, 16:46	#10
vkochar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Delhi / Agra / London Posts: 2,146 Thanked: 819 Times View My Garage	Yeah been like more than 6 - 7 years - Mainly because Friday is a Religious day and also as Eddy mentioned - Mantainance.
	() Thanks

1st October 2007, 15:53	#15
DCEite Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: NCR Posts: 3,413 Thanked: 2,517 Times	Is the TAJ-mahal open tomorrow (Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday)? If not, then i will have to wait till Saturday. :(
	() Thanks