A Memorable Journey to Taj Mahal: Love, Adventure, and Lessons Learned

A Dawn Awakening: Setting Out for Taj Mahal

After a wonderful night’s sleep, feeling refreshed following a long drive from New Delhi to Agra, it was time to wake up and visit the Taj Mahal. I must say, the hotel where we stayed was very well-maintained, decorated in a traditional style, yet very clean and with all the necessary amenities.

We woke up at 4:30 in the morning, and just before 5 a.m., the phone rang. It was our guide who had already reserved and arranged our entry to the Taj Mahal. He was already waiting for us outside the hotel, and it was only a 3-minute walk from the hotel to the Taj Mahal. We each grabbed a bottle of water and headed straight to the Taj Mahal with our guide, who was of high quality and very experienced.

Taj Mahal at 5 a.m.

Upon reaching the gate of the Taj Mahal, we entered, and our guide began to tell us the entire history of the place. Around the Taj Mahal is like a fortress, in fact, it was made for the workers who worked at the Taj Mahal during its construction.

This wonderful place, which consists of the famous marble monument, a reflecting pool, and luxurious gardens not found elsewhere in the world, plus other well-structured buildings, spans an area of ​​approximately 20 hectares. This monument was built out of love by Emperor Shah Jahan, being the fifth Mughal emperor who ruled for 30 years.

A Memorable Visit

Our visit was a 3-hour visit during which every corner of the garden, together with the monument and the other annexes, was presented to us. I can tell you that our guide also took memorable photos.

During our time in the luxurious garden of the monument, we were invaded by monkeys who also love to be in the garden of love. It’s a special place where love surrounds you and motivation grows. The monkeys are friendly but also aggressive if you don’t listen to them. A tourist shouted at a monkey and the monkey responded aggressively. These monkeys also have babies and are very responsible.

One monkey managed to steal my girlfriend’s water and drank it, while another monkey sat on a bench next to us, gently placing its hand on my girlfriend. Don’t make sudden movements around them. If they take something from you, just let them. Watch out for phones. They try to survive and feed.

After a walk and a visit that lasted 3 hours, we went with our guide to a stone craftsman where my girlfriend bought some handmade jewelry. At the same time, we saw all kinds of decorations and stone works. When leaving the Taj Mahal, you will encounter many people who want to sell you souvenirs. But with us having a motorcycle and a long journey ahead, we couldn’t afford to buy bulky items as we didn’t have space.

Quotations from the Koran are written around this gate in Arabic

Continuing the Journey: Challenges and Lessons

A Minor Setback

We went back to Lucy at the hotel, packed our things on the motorcycle, and continued on to Jaipur. We left the hotel through the famous city of Agra about 10 minutes away from the hotel, reaching a roundabout around 9 a.m., where there was some oil and we fell off the motorcycle, but we didn’t suffer anything serious because we were going extremely slow, almost standing still, trying to turn right around the roundabout, the front wheel slipped, and we fell off just like a pin.

The motorcycle having an engine guard, when we fell, the motorcycle didn’t fall on us or on our feet. I had a small scratch on my right knee because I fell on the right side, and my girlfriend had a more serious scratch on her elbow. In that intersection there were also 3 policemen in the shade of a tree directing traffic, but because it wasn’t so crowded, they were chatting.

They came straight to us and pulled us out of the intersection because there was a bit of traffic and we were obstructing it. A few motorcyclists also came to us and tried to help. When we reached the shade and talked to the policemen who didn’t say anything as it was normal for them. We asked where a medical cabinet was to put a bandage on my girlfriend’s hand. They guided us in their own way trying to help us.

I didn’t care about my scratched knee now, I was more concerned about whether the motorcycle would still work. But nothing happened to it. We stood it up, it was a bit flooded but it started. Now my girlfriend was upset that I didn’t give her enough attention.

Resilience and Perseverance

I, having had 3 motorcycle accidents before, it wasn’t a scare for me. It was normal to slip or fall. We didn’t have protective equipment because it was hot as hell and nobody uses such things. We had helmets but we didn’t hit our heads. We simply fell on the right side. My girlfriend didn’t say anything, I don’t even know if she got scared. But it happened very quickly and we continued on together on our motorcycle to a medical cabinet in Agra.

When we reached the medical cabinet, they put a bandage on her, cleaned the wound, and gave her some cream and that was it. My girlfriend didn’t say whether it hurt or not, but what I know is that an open wound in heat and sweat is not easy to bear.

I am proud of her that she never gave up and was there all the time with me through thick and thin. This was the only incident and the last of our journey but there were other times when we almost had accidents but we didn’t suffer anything. From the medical cabinet, we continued on 21 Agra – Jaipur Bikaner street.

As we headed towards Jaipur while riding our motorcycle, we heard a noise. The metal support holding the horn on the motorcycle broke and now the horn was held only by the two cables hanging down. We went to the first town where on the side of the road we found a mechanic and he made a new support that held for a while.

It was horribly hot on an empty street where there were only cars and many trucks but there weren’t many motorcycles because it was very hot. I think it was one of the hottest days where we suffered a lot. But that’s how you can learn some lessons.

Quotations from the Koran are written around this gate in Arabic
Sunrise between 5-6 in the morning

Refreshing Moments

We stopped from time to time in the shade or under a bridge or where people were selling sugarcane juice called “ganne ka ras” a cold and very good drink, being very popular in India. I can say that we drank 4 or even 6 juices a day, being very good and having vitamins. The heat burned us and yet we didn’t give up and we went on.

The closer we got to Jaipur, the hotter it got and the shade and trees or vegetation disappeared as we headed towards the famous desert of Rajasthan. We no longer saw trees, it was just dust, our street, and agricultural land or rocks and cacti or shrubs of the desert. When we reached halfway between Agra and Jaipur in the town of Sikandra, we decided to go visit Chand Baori Step Well (Abhaneri) as a tourist attraction.

FAQs about Visiting the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is best visited when?

But if you want to avoid the heat and the throng and see the Taj at sunrise—which is really amazing—I suggest arriving around 5 a.m.

Are guides for the Taj M. required?

Although not necessary, our knowledgeable local guide was well worth the money. He gave us the kind of background and understanding that made the Taj Mahal come to life.

Is there a monkey house at the Taj M.?

Indeed, but you will see monkeys all over the place—they will be idling about the magnificent Taj Mahal gardens. What monkeys they are, too! On the overall pleasant, but if threatened, easily unpleasant. My personal experience and that of my friends told me not to stare them down, yell at them, or spring back in terror at the first hint of hostility.

Are souvenirs available close to the Taj M.?

And many of shops outside the Taj Mahal complex offering mementos, but I wouldn’t suggest buying anything too heavy since we were still traveling (with very limited room on our motorcycle).

When I am hurt on the job or in an accident, what should I do?

From personal experience—my girlfriend scraped up her knees after falling from our motorcycle—go to the neighborhood po-po, which I recommended to you a few blogs back. They may direct you to the closest medical facility. Arrange beforehand.

Are you visiting the Taj Mahal in the height of summer?

We visited on a rather hot day, therefore I can’t emphasize how important it is to drink lots of water. Where you can, seek the shade, and sip something cool, like the sugarcane juice we enjoyed.

A visit to the Taj Mahal usually lasts how long?

Give yourself at least three hours to see the Taj Mahal and its environs, which include nearby palaces, gardens, fountains, and a vast complex. I think our guided tour went about that long.

Do you know of any more local sites that are worth seeing?

We made a picture stop at the Chand Baori Step Well on the way from Agra to Jaipur. It was rather amazing; find out from your guide which other fascinating places, are close by and include them in your schedule.

Tell me if you need any further advice about the Taj Mahal! It gives me great pleasure to provide more knowledge from my amazing visit to this famous landmark.

To be continued.

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