Sunday, September 2, 2012

Day trip to the Taj Mahal (by the new Yamuna expressway)

Article Updated: 20-Sep-2015

A lot of folks are asking me about the new Yamuna expressway to Agra. Here's a post with a map and timings for how to organise your visit:

Yamuna Expressway Map - Delhi to Agra marked

In the map you can see the expressway marked in blue. The yellow line with the number 2 is the National Highway 2, which used to be used earlier for this trip, running via Faridabad.

If your hotel is in Gurgaon, you can go by the old highway, but the new expressway makes for an easier trip these days.

Assuming you are staying in Delhi, then the road trip is best done like this:

If you want to see only Taj Mahal and Agra Fort:
Depart Delhi 7:30 a.m. after breakfast (By expressway)
Taj Mahal tour 11:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Lunch 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
2:30 to 3:30 Agra Fort
Return to Delhi by 7:00 p.m. approximately (by expressway)

The Taj Mahal (look at the tiny people!)

Hall of Audience - Agra Fort

If you want to see Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri
Depart Delhi 5:30 a.m. by new expressway
Arrive Agra in 4hrs, can have breakfast in Agra or bring packed breakfast
Taj Mahal and Agra Fort tour 10:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Quick Lunch 2:00 to 2:30 p.m.
2:30 to 3:30 drive to Fatehpur Sikri
3:30 to 4:30 tour of Fatehpur Sikri
Return to Delhi by 10:00 p.m. approximately (you can return by the Old highway because of how Sikri is located, but the expressway is better)
Fatehpur Sikri

If you want to go to Agra by train rather than road
This tour depends on train tickets availability. See erail.in for train tickets status.
Leave the hotel Delhi at 5:00 a.m. (or earlier, depending on the location of the hotel) and transfer to the railway station
Express train to Agra departing at 6:00 a.m.
Pick up at Agra station at 8:06 a.m. and tour of Taj, Agra Fort (8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
Relaxed Lunch from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
2:30 to 3:30 p.m. drive to Fatehpur Sikri, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. tour of Fatehpur Sikri, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. drive back to Agra
The express train back to Delhi departs at 9:15 p.m., so you have a 3-4 hour wait time in Agra. You can visit shops or go to a café / restaurant until 7:00 p.m., then be dropped at Agra railway station by 7:30 p.m. Or you can go to see the sunset view of the Taj from Mehtab Bagh before returning to the train station.
Arrive Delhi railway station at 11:30 hr and transfer to the hotel by 12:15 or 12:30 p.m.
2016 Update - there is also now another express train, the Gatiman Express. Departs Delhi 8:10 am arrives Agra 9:50 am. Departs from Agra at 5:50 pm and reaches Delhi by 7:30 pm. Please write to deepa@delhimagic.com if you want to make a trip by this train. 

If you want to stay overnight in Agra, then:
Day 1 - Leave Delhi after a relaxed breakfast, drive 4hrs to Agra, check in and have lunch. Around 4 p.m. visit Agra Fort and drive to the other side of the river for sunset views of the Taj Mahal from across the river. Overnight Agra
Day 2 - Visit Taj Mahal at sunrise, return to hotel for breakfast. Check out and drive 1hr to Fatehpur Sikri. Return to Delhi via the old expressway.

It is pointless to go by train if you want to stay overnight in Agra.

Here is the sunset view of the Taj Mahal from the other side of the river:
The Taj Mahal as seen from Mehtab Bagh across the Yamuna River

To book a tour to Agra with us: Please see http://www.delhimagic.com.

Article Updated: 20-Sep-2015

33 comments:

  1. Hi just wanted to say that I like your article very much. Please keep up the good posts Thanks a ton! and Have a good day

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  2. Beautiful blog! :)
    Also,I have been to Taj Mahal,ample times enough to recall everything by these pictures!

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  3. I am planning a trip purely based upon your itinerary, from Delhi.
    Thanks a lot for this info.

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  4. really helpfull thanks a lot

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  5. Hi, I was glad to stumble upon your blog. I'm planning to visit India soon and ill be travelling from New Delhi airport to my hometown Kanpur with two little kids. I'm exploring the option of travelling via the Yamuna Expressway instead of taking a train.Can you please let me know if there are sufficient public amenities like restrooms,food joints etc. on the way ? Thanks for the post.

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  6. Yes there are toilets as well as some food stops.

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  7. HI Just wanted to thank you for such a good article. I am planning my trip based on your experience shared….thank you.

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  8. Thanks for sharing this blog with us.best restaurants in kota
    for tasty food.

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  9. Some technical points of Yamunna Expressway. The entire stretch of the highway is serrated. This is to give good traction to vehicle tyres. But it also heats up the tyre in the process. So please check tyre temperature at least twice. Food joint is just one as of now, it is located just after you pay the toll tax. Toll tax is Rs. 300 per way for a private passenger car and more for minis and coaches.

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  10. Thanks for the sharing of such information. I'm glad to have visited your blog and good to know you! I find it interesting and informative.
    Delhi Hotels

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  12. Amazingly beautiful Taj mahal such a wonderful place to visit, love this monument every time when i see this.

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  13. We booked Taj Express. It starts at 7 Am in Delhi and reaches Agra Cantt station by 11AM.

    Is it possible to cover TAJ MAHAL, AGRA FORT and Fatheput Sikri in 6 hrs?

    Our train is at 6:55PM in Agra Cantt station?

    Please suggest the mode of transport we need to use in AGRA

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  14. 11:30 to 1:00 Taj Mahal
    1:00 to 1:30 Quick Lunch
    1:30 to 2:30 Drive to Sikri
    2:30 to 3:30 Sikri
    3:30 to 4:30 Drive to Agra Fort
    4:30 to 5:30 Agra Fort
    Reach train station by 6:00
    Can do if you have your own transport, do not attempt with public transport. Better to skip Sikri and visit instead of that Sikandra and Itmaduddaulah Tomb which are in Agra itself.

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  15. Hi Deepa..Nice blog :)
    Recently i had a one day trip to Agra from Delhi and it went awesome.

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  16. such a nice blog and really an awesome place to visit

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  17. This is a great post...But sadly there aren't any good places to stop for breakfast if one leaves before breakfast in order to reach early. Unless anything new has come up recently.

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  18. This is a great post...But sadly there aren't any good places to stop for breakfast if one leaves before breakfast in order to reach early. Unless anything new has come up recently.

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  19. That seems to be the perfect location for one day trip from Delhi. Hope you enjoyed. I would like to suggest you to visit Neemrana Fort Palace as well to enjoy the traditional architecture with thrilling experience of aerial zip lining.

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  20. Group of 8, Planning to visit Taj (day trip) at end of May by road (private vehicle). Any info on current toll tax & other expenses? Is it worth visiting Fatepur Sikri ?

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  21. Really informative blog on weekend getaways from Delhi. I have been to many such places like Murthal, Neemrana Fort Palace. I had a very fresh memories of zip lining at Neemrana Fort which I can't ever forget.

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  22. I like this blog and this is very helpful for travellers who are planning to visit Agra.

    The distance from Delhi to Agra by road is 210 KM and can be reach in 3 hour.

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  23. Taj Mahal Day Tour is good experience, Agra fort, baby taj are other attraction in agra.

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  24. Travel within a few minutes sounds pretty good. Pictures and descriptions of all places are very astonishing. Delhi is in my upcoming travel list. I am very curious to explore the Delhi culture and as I am foodie so love to walk around the local street for authenticate Delhi food. Help me to plan Delhi same day tour?

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  25. Thank you for sharing this wonderful and informative blog with us.I am so glad to see your blog.Keep posting like this.

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  26. Agra is the city where the famous Taj Mahal is located which is popularly known as the symbol of love. we are also provide a same day taj mahal tourthe best time to visit the Taj.

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  27. Good post you shared about taj mahal visit. Yamuna expressway is one of the best highway to reach agra. same day taj mahal tour by car is best option for it.

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  28. same day taj mahal tour by train is another best option to visit taj mahal and it is budget tour to visit all monuments of agra.

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  29. SAME DAY TAJ MAHAL TOUR BY TRAIN is budget tour to taj mahal with luxury facilities. If you visiting all monuments of agra which are the best to visit. Then click this.

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  30. very nice blog
    loved reading it
    thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete