Part 5: Agra and the Magnificent Taj Mahal
My travels have taken me around the world, and I’ve seen many amazing places, but the Taj Mahal was magnificent. Before I went my expectations were low and I thought, oh…so…it’s a big building—big deal…but then you arrive and that initial glance blows mind. There’s little doubt why its considered one of the 7 wonders of the world. To enter the complex it costs foreigners a whopping 750 INR (for locals its 10 INR)–double pricing in India sucks but even worse they didn’t accept my Employment Visa as proof of residence in India (they did in Delhi) which in most countries qualifies you for resident pricing on the basis a big chunk of taxes is paid to the government via your employment. The Taj Mahal is best seen in the morning hours to avoid crowds and because the color of the marbles changes throughout the day.
Matt’s wonderful tip: Go to the Taj Mahal for sunrise and then check out the Taj Mahal from the other side of the river (free) during sunset.