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Original poster

Advice on spending day in Agra, India with kids

11 replies

GeorgeEliot · 28/03/2012 16:01

Hi - i realise this is a long shot, but maybe someone else has also done this and can offer advice.

We are going to Agra on the express train from Delhi - will be there from 8.30 am to 8.30 pm. 2nd day of our holiday in India so we will be exhausted and it will be very hot.

DH and I have been before, 1st time for the dc (10 and 13). Planning to visit Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and "baby Taj". Think that a trip to Fatehpur Sikri as well would be too much for one day.

Anyone done this who can advise about whether we really need a guide, good places to have lunch and dinner, somewhere we might just be able to chill out for a bit between seeing the sights. it's going to be a long day, I want it to be really special and don't want it ruined because it's too stressful. Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks!

OP posts:
DrSeuss · 28/03/2012 21:19

Just go to the Taj and walk and look, you don't need a guide. Check it out in the Rough Guide so that you have something to say to the kids. Maybe just the Taj as it will be HOT HOT HOT! Take a sketch book for each of them and have them draw their favourite thing. The inside is covered in mosaics. Fatepur Sikri is a long trip out of town for which you rent a private car which is surprisingly cheap. However, when you get there, there is a ruin which kids would get very little from, and a huge mosque. The mosque holds a special place in my heart as, seven years ago this Easter, I was invited by our guide to make my charitable offering then tie a thread to a filigree screen while asking God for the thing I wanted. By the following Easter we had DS!

Take lots of repellant, the flies in Agra were just awful, and watch out for the flocks of trained pigeons which circle the skies at dusk.

For the rest of the time, just walk and look, look and walk. Always the best way to see a town, I find. You can meet all sorts of people and see all kinds of stuff that way. When we were there, they had tongas(carriages) which the city had licensed as well as other tongas but only the city ones carried a guarantee that the horse was well kept.
Enjoy!

Selks · 28/03/2012 21:27

Agra is one of the most hardcore places in India for sheer hassle, pressure from touts and scams. I've seen this written countless times, when I was researching India for my planned travels.
I would stick to the Taj and a ride in a legit tonga to take a look at the city then the rest of the day by the hotel pool to recuperate! Presumably you're not just going to Agra when you're in India, so no need to pack too much in to the day. Your children will enjoy the sights but may be grateful for some 'down time' too, particularly with it being only the second day - you will all be jetlagged, overwhelmed by India probably and hot and tired.

Selks · 28/03/2012 21:29

This is an excellent website for info on India - Indiamike

LadyEmmaHamilton · 28/03/2012 21:39

Second the rec for IndiaMike. I would cut down your plans to two sites max. You will be exhausted from travelling still (even the Shatabdi is a bit of a trek) and Agra is a hassle type place. You don't need a guide, just grab taxis or tuktuks between the sites. The kids will love the tuktuks.

Is there any chance you could postpone Agra until later in your trip?

DonInKillerHeels · 28/03/2012 21:45

You do not need a guide. You definitely need to book a car and driver or autorickshaw for the day. Say no to shops. Definitely too much to do Fatehpur Sikri as well.

And eat at Pizza Hut. Seriously. You're in for a very stressful day.

Original poster
GeorgeEliot · 28/03/2012 22:45

This is the only day we can do Agra. Hotel is back in Delhi, so nowhere to hang out during the day and spend down time when we get tired of walking in the heat.
Unless we book a hotel room for the day in Agra, which seems very extravagant as everywhere else we are staying in home stays.

OP posts:
Selks · 28/03/2012 23:01

Some hotels allow day use of the pool, and facilities such as snack bar etc, to non hotel residents.

FriskyBivalves · 28/03/2012 23:20

I did Agra a bit differently. I hired bikes. It may sound mad but it was amazing. There's a river next to the taj mahal and a bridge you can push the bikes over. (we pushed them through the bonkers traffic obv) and once you are on the other side it is the most tranquil haven. Just fields and villages ans peace. We saw a boy herding cows across the river ( it was shallow) riding a bull. You get the most brilliant views of the taj without ten million tourists getting in the way. We came across a school and the kids all came running out with their teacher to talk to us. We bought food and water from villagers. They had camels and let us ride them and wouldnt take money - they were removed from the whole tourist circus and were genuinely intrigued that we had come their side of the river. Just one of the best days of whole India trip. It was hot but on a bike you make a bit of your own breeze IYKWIM. I think it would be a very good introduction to India without being sucked into all the hassle of Touristico Trappo Taj Mahal...think your DCs would love it.

FriskyBivalves · 28/03/2012 23:23

Meant to say, we did the fort in the morning, swerved past taj proper and thought, god the crowds can't face it - and then came across the bike shop and spent rest of day happily pedalling.

Selks · 29/03/2012 22:27

That sounds brilliant, Frisky. It's days like that that make travelling special.

FriskyBivalves · 30/03/2012 23:46

It was brilliant. The bridge is a pedestrian one. It cost about 20p to hire the bikes. Totally stress free...

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