The Taj Mahal. A roadtrip.

nickatnite · 22nd January 2010, 00:42

After spending a day and a half at the Auto Show, we decided to visit Agra on Sunday. The day started off like any other winter day in Delhi, foggy and glum, but what surprised me was the traffic intensity even on a Sunday morning. By the time we reached Faridabad from where this travelog commences i felt faint. Following are traffic scenes in the Faridabad area enroute to Agra, outside of Delhi.

nickatnite · 22nd January 2010, 00:50

My ride for this trip was a friend's 2009 Safari VTT/DICOR and i must say i'm mighty impressed. Hopefully, the new design will look better!. The first rest stop served up the best chai i have tasted in a long time. The less i say about the red glue like substance that came along with the bread omelet , the better!.

nickatnite · 22nd January 2010, 01:11

Once you drive on the highway one forgets about the horrific traffic in the Delhi area and vicinity. I would rate the highway a B- because there were splotchy surfaces at frequent intervals.

nickatnite · 22nd January 2010, 01:30

Another chai break and some cigarettes later we're nearing Agra.

nickatnite · 22nd January 2010, 01:48

Agra is not a bad looking place except for the entrance into the city from the highway. Enroute to the Taj Mahal we passed a beautiful palace dating back to the Mughal era. One can also get a rear three quarter view of the Taj from across this palace which is quite mesmerizing!. Sadly, i must have deleted the pic by mistake as i couldn't find it when uploading.

anekho · 22nd January 2010, 01:54

Great stuff Nick - very nice photos!

The black beast looks great aswell!

PS: that red thing near your toast looks lethal

nickatnite · 22nd January 2010, 02:01

Incredible. Not the monument, but the amount of camel dung one has to tiptoe around to get to see one of the wonders of the world!. Visitors have the option of taking a camel driven cart to the main entrance from the parking lot and liberal droppings of dung are all over the place!. We decided to take a 'short cut' path instead. Admission is RS20 which is reasonable and the security forces are doing a great job of crowd control. I never felt that i was waiting in line forever unlike some other places around the world.

nickatnite · 22nd January 2010, 02:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by anekho

Great stuff Nick - very nice photos!

The black beast looks great aswell!

PS: that red thing near your toast looks lethal

Thanks!. I didn't dare touch the red stuff!

nickatnite · 22nd January 2010, 02:14

After passing security check a quick walk through the passageway to the main entrance and through the arch to a mind boggling sight , the Taj Mahal. This was my first trip here and there was not a person there who wasn't amazed by the beauty of this mausoleum. I wasn't alone.

Pics of the Taj Mahal coming up.

n.devdath · 22nd January 2010, 10:36

Very Good pictures and flow of the incidents en-route. Waiting for the Taj pics now.

Majic · 22nd January 2010, 11:47

Nicknite, nice narrations and pictures to go with it, please continue..looking forward to the pictures of the Taj!

gd1418 · 22nd January 2010, 12:55

@Nickatnite: waiting for more. This reminded me of my own trip in Jan, '09

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...a-gurgaon.html

NRKUMAR · 22nd January 2010, 18:35

Good one Nick. I like the nuances you have captured.
Love to see more of your travels

akshay4587 · 22nd January 2010, 18:47

Nice pics
especially the highway part,i have burnt quite a few tyres on this highway from 06 to 08

nickatnite · 22nd January 2010, 23:48

@All

Thanks for commenting, especially gd1418 for the link.Fabulous pics.I wish i had the same camera!.

Walking through the arch and seeing the Taj for the first time was an experience i will never forget. Nothing prepares one for this!. The symmetry and style is striking but there is something magical about being there that has the world enchanted and no film or photo can replicate this feeling. Queasy as i felt about being mushy in public, a quick look around me and i saw that i wasn't alone!. It's like that over there.

22nd January 2010, 00:42	#1
nickatnite Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NYC/MAA Posts: 1,430 Thanked: 603 Times	The Taj Mahal. A roadtrip. After spending a day and a half at the Auto Show, we decided to visit Agra on Sunday. The day started off like any other winter day in Delhi, foggy and glum, but what surprised me was the traffic intensity even on a Sunday morning. By the time we reached Faridabad from where this travelog commences i felt faint. Following are traffic scenes in the Faridabad area enroute to Agra, outside of Delhi. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by nickatnite : 22nd January 2010 at 00:51.
	() Thanks

22nd January 2010, 00:50	#2
nickatnite Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NYC/MAA Posts: 1,430 Thanked: 603 Times	The Choudhary Hotel My ride for this trip was a friend's 2009 Safari VTT/DICOR and i must say i'm mighty impressed. Hopefully, the new design will look better!. The first rest stop served up the best chai i have tasted in a long time. The less i say about the red glue like substance that came along with the bread omelet , the better!. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by nickatnite : 22nd January 2010 at 00:53.
	() Thanks

22nd January 2010, 01:11	#3
nickatnite Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NYC/MAA Posts: 1,430 Thanked: 603 Times	Driving to Agra Once you drive on the highway one forgets about the horrific traffic in the Delhi area and vicinity. I would rate the highway a B- because there were splotchy surfaces at frequent intervals. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

22nd January 2010, 01:30	#4
nickatnite Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NYC/MAA Posts: 1,430 Thanked: 603 Times	Driving to Agra-scenes along the highway Another chai break and some cigarettes later we're nearing Agra. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by nickatnite : 22nd January 2010 at 01:37.
	() Thanks

22nd January 2010, 01:48	#5
nickatnite Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NYC/MAA Posts: 1,430 Thanked: 603 Times	Agra. Driving to the Taj. Agra is not a bad looking place except for the entrance into the city from the highway. Enroute to the Taj Mahal we passed a beautiful palace dating back to the Mughal era. One can also get a rear three quarter view of the Taj from across this palace which is quite mesmerizing!. Sadly, i must have deleted the pic by mistake as i couldn't find it when uploading. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by nickatnite : 22nd January 2010 at 01:55.
	() Thanks

22nd January 2010, 01:54	#6
anekho Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: . Posts: 1,995 Thanked: 684 Times	Great stuff Nick - very nice photos! The black beast looks great aswell! PS: that red thing near your toast looks lethal
	() Thanks

22nd January 2010, 02:01	#7
nickatnite Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NYC/MAA Posts: 1,430 Thanked: 603 Times	Entrance to the Taj Mahal Incredible. Not the monument, but the amount of camel dung one has to tiptoe around to get to see one of the wonders of the world!. Visitors have the option of taking a camel driven cart to the main entrance from the parking lot and liberal droppings of dung are all over the place!. We decided to take a 'short cut' path instead. Admission is RS20 which is reasonable and the security forces are doing a great job of crowd control. I never felt that i was waiting in line forever unlike some other places around the world. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by nickatnite : 22nd January 2010 at 02:05.
	() Thanks

22nd January 2010, 02:14	#9
nickatnite Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NYC/MAA Posts: 1,430 Thanked: 603 Times	Walking through the main gate After passing security check a quick walk through the passageway to the main entrance and through the arch to a mind boggling sight , the Taj Mahal. This was my first trip here and there was not a person there who wasn't amazed by the beauty of this mausoleum. I wasn't alone. Pics of the Taj Mahal coming up. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by nickatnite : 22nd January 2010 at 02:16.
	() Thanks

22nd January 2010, 10:36	#10
n.devdath BANNED Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 4,287 Thanked: 2,811 Times	Very Good pictures and flow of the incidents en-route. Waiting for the Taj pics now.
	() Thanks

22nd January 2010, 11:47	#11
Majic BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Kottayam Posts: 588 Thanked: 8 Times	Nicknite, nice narrations and pictures to go with it, please continue..looking forward to the pictures of the Taj!
	() Thanks

22nd January 2010, 12:55	#12
gd1418 Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,578 Thanked: 728 Times View My Garage	@Nickatnite: waiting for more. This reminded me of my own trip in Jan, '09 http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...a-gurgaon.html
	() Thanks

22nd January 2010, 18:35	#13
NRKUMAR BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 77 Thanked: 0 Times	Good one Nick. I like the nuances you have captured. Love to see more of your travels
	() Thanks

22nd January 2010, 18:47	#14
akshay4587 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chandigarh/Mohali/Ambala Cantt Posts: 4,151 Thanked: 4,525 Times View My Garage	Nice pics especially the highway part,i have burnt quite a few tyres on this highway from 06 to 08
	() Thanks

22nd January 2010, 23:48	#15
nickatnite Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NYC/MAA Posts: 1,430 Thanked: 603 Times	@All Thanks for commenting, especially gd1418 for the link.Fabulous pics.I wish i had the same camera!. Walking through the arch and seeing the Taj for the first time was an experience i will never forget. Nothing prepares one for this!. The symmetry and style is striking but there is something magical about being there that has the world enchanted and no film or photo can replicate this feeling. Queasy as i felt about being mushy in public, a quick look around me and i saw that i wasn't alone!. It's like that over there. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks