Taj Mahal & Agra Fort Day Trip by Express Train from Delhi

4.94

(2788 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

“You’re sure that’s our train?” I asked, still half-asleep as our driver handed us over at Nizamuddin Station. He just grinned and pointed — honestly, I’d have gotten lost in that crowd alone. The express train was cooler than I expected (AC actually works), and breakfast was this spicy potato thing wrapped in foil — not bad at 7am. Watching Delhi blur past the window felt like cheating time; we were in Agra before my second cup of chai.

Our guide Raj met us right on the platform with my name scribbled on a sign (he joked about my last name being impossible to spell). He whisked us straight to the Taj Mahal — and even though you’ve seen it a million times in photos, standing there with all those early morning voices echoing off marble… it’s different. There’s this faint scent of wet stone and flowers. Raj told us stories about Shah Jahan and Mumtaz that made me forget how many other tourists were around. We wandered for ages — I nearly tripped over someone’s selfie stick near the reflecting pool.

Lunch was somewhere Raj swore locals actually eat (I think he knows everyone in Agra). The naan came out hot enough to burn your fingers if you weren’t careful. Afterward, we hit Agra Fort — red sandstone everywhere, monkeys darting across the ramparts. The view back toward the Taj is kind of surreal through all those arches. Last stop: Itimad-ud-Daulah, which people call “Baby Taj” but honestly it’s got its own quiet charm. By then my brain was fried from all the history but I still remember touching those carved walls — cool under your palm even as the afternoon heated up.

The ride back was quieter; supper on the train tasted better than I expected (maybe because I was so tired?). Our driver found us right away at Delhi station — he waved like he’d known us forever. Still can’t believe we fit all that into one day trip from Delhi to see the Taj Mahal by express train… feels like a weird dream now.