Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

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No doubt, Taj is beautiful itself. But there is something to mention about:

Overcharging foreigners

Indian government charges foreigners more than Indian people, and it happens in many tourist places. The entrance price for Taj Mahal was 1000 rupees for me (40 for locals). That can be understandable, but where did you spend this difference of 960 rupees? There is even no toilet paper in the Taj Mahal bathroom, which is dirty itself. Toilet paper is a basic need for foreign white tourists, who are most paying guests visiting Taj Mahal. All Indian airports I travelled through had it in their lavatories. That’s not too hospitably if you charge us 25 times higher than you citizens. Price for the item is 5–30 rupees for 1 roll. Even cheap guest houses in Mumbai, Delhi, where foreign tourists use to come, have bath tissue in the lavatory.

Poor infrastructure around

After checking in a hotel in Agra, we drove to Taj Mahal. But we stuck in traffic for 2 hours. Same on the way back, and the next day also. We gave away the idea of seeing 2 destinations in our schedule in Agra because of that. It was sensible to me because I paid 22 000 for this Agra and Mathura tour, which had been my highest bet in all 1- month tour through India.

Traffic here is a mess, as in any other Indian city. But this is N1 place in India? Why government makes nothing about it, like building new roads, proper traffic regulating, etc.? They don’t care, I felt they just want my money, forget me and skip to the next customer.

People behaviour

After seeing Taj, we drove away about 10 minutes and I started spotting men pissing on the walls along our route. I saw dirty streets, few people lying on the ground as in some places in Delhi. Does this happen near the country best building? Looks like in India some people don’t give a damn that they live near the most beautiful building in the whole country.

Nothing bad about Taj itself. But the trip here is overrated. For Indian №1 tourist destination, it is expected to have the way better infrastructure around. Hope it will improve.

21.03 P.S. Please, if you disagree with any of these statements, bring down the proof of your opinion. Answers like “You’re wrong. It happens everywhere” doesn’t prove anything except someones personal beliefs. It is Quora, not Facebook or Instagram. I may be wrong on many points, but if you want to discuss, bring down numbers and specific examples.