If you want to explore the Taj Mahalon the same day, starting from New Delhi and make the most of it amidst a tight schedule with a single day to spare in Agra city; touring the Taj Mahal by Gatimaan Express is a fabulous choice.
Launched in April 2016 by Indian Railways, the connectivity between Delhi and Agra has been made convenient and more luxurious by Gatimaan Express that runs between the two cities from Hazrat Nizamuddin terminal in New Delhi to Agra cantonment railway station in Agra. Thus, making it possible for foreign tourists to explore the attractions in Agra and return to New Delhi in a single day.
Taj Mahal tour by Gatimaan Express train starts at 8:10 AM from New Delhi and thereafter exploration of the Agra city’s monuments starts once the train reaches the cantonment at 09:50 AM.
Taj Mahal is the first monument to be explored in the series, as later in the day huge crowd gathers over for exploring this attraction that pulls tourists from all across the country and beyond.
Entering the monument complex from the east gate, the entrance to the main Taj Mahal complex is decorated with a massive gate that is beautifully decorated with arches, shapes and designs in Red sandstone that symbolise many a milestone this historic Mughal construction has attained.
There is no parallel to a construction of this size, grandeur, design and beauty that has combined all aspects of Indian and saracenic styles of architecture in its construction.
This jewel of a monument that we cover in the Taj Mahal tour by Gatimaan train was promised by a Mughal emperor to his dying wife.
What came up was not just a promise fulfilled for the sake of a construction but a monument that has now become symbolic with India on an international stage and represents epitome of love through generations, geographies, cultures and traditions.
The pitch-perfect symmetry in construction, aesthetics, wall carvings, inlay marble work, gardens and the overall organization of the available elements, is a breath taking experience.
Agra fort being the next on the list of monument is a place hosting many important structures such as Diwan-e-Aam which was used for public meetings, Diwan-e-Khaas for private royal meetings, Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque- India’s first mosque build in white marble), Jahangir Hauz, Navratndarbar, Queens’ summer and winter palaces, Angoori Bagh, Sheesh Mahal, Shah Jahan Palace, Mussaman Burj (that sports a fantastic view of the Taj Mahal from across a distance) are all worth visiting and capturing through the lens. Visit to the Agra fort happens to be our midway through the Same Day Agra Tour by Gatimaan Express as it would have been probably 1:30 PM by the afternoon and a traveller would probably drop for lunch.
Making reservations for your travel through a Taj Mahal Tour Guide is probably a safe way to go about your travel for the Same Day Agra tour; taking care of all your priorities and necessities of the tour from stay to transportation and sight-seeing to visit to a local market. Visits to the Agra Old city markets such as Kinari Bazar, Subhash bazar, Sadar Bazar and Shahganj Bazar allow options to a traveller from jewellery to leather work, glass pieces to ethnic Indian wear, Zardozi designer rugs to beautiful inlay marble piece works.
The last leg of the same day Agra tour by Gatimaan Express train will lead us to a monument that acted as an inspiration to the construction of the Taj Mahal and preceded it in the chronological sequence of India’s monumental history, hence earning it the name – “Baby Taj”.
Itmad-ud-Daula, translates to the “pillar of the state” is the tomb of Mirza Ghiyas Beg &7 his wife, the Prime Minister to the Mughal ruler and father of Noor Jahan, wife of Mughal emperor Jahangir.
Taj Mahal borrows many concepts from this structure like proximity to the river Yamuna, symmetry with respect to gardens, fountains, pathways, arches, tombs and entrances.
A Taj Mahal Tour Guide well conversed in English will have stories to tell of about this monument and how motivations were drawn from this monument to build a greater tomb along these lines, only more majestic and magnificent.
Heading back to the Agra Cantt. Railway station will mark the defining moments of a travellers’ Taj Mahal Tour by Gatimaan Express as the train leaves the station by 17:50 hours in the evening for Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station in New Delhi.
