Delhi Taj Mahal Sunrise & Agra Fort Trip: An Honest Review

So, you are thinking of seeing the Taj Mahal at sunrise, that sounds quite epic, right? I thought so too, you know, before I experienced the ‘From Delhi Taj Mahal Sunrise Agra Fort Day Tour’. Like, the early start might seem intense, it really does promise something special, but does the whole experience measure up? Let’s find out, that’s very exciting, right?

Early Bird Gets the Worm, or Does It?: The Start

The tour picked me up at 3:00 AM. You might be asking your self if that sounds awful? It felt a bit like being pulled out of a very, very comfortable dream, that. Anyway, that’s what they had suggested to me for my itinerary so that I can actually arrive to the Taj Mahal early. So, you know, I stumbled into the car more asleep than awake. I was looking forward to seeing that sunrise though. As a matter of fact, the drive to Agra, it’s almost three hours long, gave me plenty of time to actually doze off again, which I greatly appreciated.

My driver, their name was Ravi, drove really well, actually he drove amazingly well, I can’t really complain, so, the roads were, actually pretty empty that early, and Ravi actually kept things pretty quiet, you know, allowing me to try and sleep. To be honest, that’s more than I could ask for. But if I had to say something negative I’d probably focus on that I’m not really sure that all tour operators are going to be quite so thoughtful. As a matter of fact, depending on where you are in Delhi, be ready for that pickup time to change, maybe by a lot, just a little bit. So, because Delhi traffic, can you believe it, exists even that early.

The Taj Mahal at Sunrise: Was it Worth It?

So, finally, you know, we actually made it to Agra. Standing there, just a little bit bleary-eyed, it’s almost in front of the Taj Mahal as the sun began to peak over the horizon… Wow. That building. Pictures really don’t do justice, very very awesome building. That marble, in a way, it really glowed with soft colors, right as the sun came up. That was really special. To be honest, crowds began to gather kind of quickly, which kind of killed that serene vibe I was chasing. As a matter of fact, arriving super early is definitely a must to kind of soak in some peace before, you know, the tourist wave washes over you, literally everyone.

A guide that I worked with, their name was Farhan, then joined me. That was super useful to have because, frankly, he really knew a ton regarding the Taj Mahal’s background, like, he told stories regarding Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, which seriously made the building feel much more alive. We didn’t have to just stand there and go, woah, it’s really big and grand, someone explained to us what it meant. In fact, you should hire a guide so they can bring all of that extra context.

He, Farhan I mean, was also an amazing photographer, actually! And knew almost all of the prime spots to snap the best pics. Like, very essential when, you know, you want to flex on all of your social media following with vacation photos, obviously, everyone cares and pays attention to those pics that aren’t staged. So, all things said, I spent roughly, let me check, about two hours there, which gave me enough time to seriously appreciate its beauty, right before that heat truly kicked, very bad.

Agra Fort: More Than Just a Fort

Next up, after my visit at the Taj Mahal, we, it’s almost, headed over to Agra Fort. So, just a little bit of information. To be honest, Agra Fort actually came as quite a surprise, which really made me excited to tour it! That massive structure, in a way, tells the history regarding the Mughal empire, right? Its red sandstone walls really had presence to them.

So, Farhan actually walked me through the different sections. We stopped, actually, in places like the Diwan-i-Aam (Hall of Public Audience) and the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience). I will have to be honest, I never knew such places existed! With that new found knowledge I looked closer and the super intricate artwork and architecture suddenly made more sense. By the way, one pretty cool thing is that you are able to actually spot the Taj Mahal in the distance from that fort. It has a very very specific viewing spot. To be honest, that definitely provided a great perspective and a better context on how the monuments kind of linked with one another, basically their proximity. It gives you an idea of how people back then saw things and thought about monuments and placement of everything. It isn’t only the building but the things around the building.

What About The Food? Lunch Stop and Local Flavors

You know, around lunchtime, Farhan brought me to, like your, local restaurant, where, apparently, I got to experience some authentic Mughlai cuisine. I’m just going to admit that I went on a crazy eating frenzy. Obviously, the biryani, you know, with those flavorful curries, it actually made my taste buds dance! As a matter of fact, the tour included that lunch. Like, it definitely provided that very welcomed break to chill and really recharge, more or less after all that walking and sightseeing I experienced that day.

The Drive Back to Delhi: Reflecting on the Day

Anyway, the drive back to Delhi, I can tell you that I was, I was, very tired. The day, I swear it went by so quick, I can say that the heat and early start started to set in, really badly. I basically passed out the second I sat inside of Ravi’s vehicle. This is something that is very helpful, to get some peace and quiet. In conclusion I would say, after spending the better part of my day outside, you are very grateful that Ravi isn’t all that chatty and actually let’s you, in some respects, sleep, while in transit.

Final Verdict: Is This Tour Worth Your Time and Money?

Okay, I’ll give my opinions! That ‘From Delhi Taj Mahal Sunrise Agra Fort Day Tour’, frankly, it really is worth experiencing, particularly if you are on a pretty tight schedule. Very important if you only have like, 1 day and 12 hours like I did in the city! Yeah I really needed this to be quick! But more importantly that experience getting to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise, that moment is really unforgettable, you know. But very important and something to remember is that you are willing to tough it out from waking up in the early AM’s.

So, the tour felt rushed, more or less. It truly covered all of the top spots. Having, more or less, a good guide, I used Farhan, and he truly upped that whole experience quite a bit. So, he did an amazing job explaining all that history and even showing all those photography spots! To be honest, this day trip is the way to go, if you actually value, just a little, comfort and ease, actually. Like, somebody will do the hard work for you by setting up the transportations and itinerary. Just the thought of coordinating it is a pain, more or less when thinking about it.