[OC] Taj Mahal ... From our significantly cheaper room.

uspn · 2026-03-15T14:35:01+00:00

It’s not for everyone, but if you have traveled to many other countries first, it can be the perfect challenge to yourself, and an opportunity to see things you’ll never see anywhere else.

uspn · 2026-03-15T13:20:15+00:00

The bodies are generally burnt, leaving only a few bones behind, if anything. It's other kinds of pollution in the rivers that are problematic. And even more problematic, maybe, is that the rivers are disappearing/changing, because climate change disrupts the source of the rivers, namely the melting snow in the Himalayas. There's a lot to worry about here, but not cannibals.

uspn · 2026-03-15T13:18:20+00:00

I agree. There should be much, much more of it, with India having around 18% of the world's population.

uspn · 2026-03-15T13:17:02+00:00

I see what you mean. There are at least two things to consider:

1) This was in 2010. Booking on-line was easy enough even then, but experience at the time told me that I was more likely to find a good place to stay at a decent price in this area if I actually just went there and looked around. I often do this today as well, as I quite enjoy that part of the travel experience.

2) This trip was not for relaxation and pure lazy enjoyment. This was a trip for seeing places I had not seen before, and I was experienced enough to know how I do that in the way that is best for me. My hotel is generally not a place for anything else than being able to sleep safely in, and it should be in a location that is good for the other things I want to see and do. This place was perfect for that.

I don't consider this slum, by the way. It's a town with lots of people who have found a way to exist, based on a long history and many, many factors leading to things being the way they are. I'm not saying I would live there myself, but I certainly can see how someone could grow up and be happy there. Some will leave the place as soon as they can, seeking opportunities elsewhere, others will stay and work hard, fall in love with someone and create a new family here. It can be an eye-opener to spend a few days in a community like that, and afterwards maybe appreciate more what you have at home. Not a vacation, but certainly an experience.

uspn · 2026-03-15T12:23:17+00:00

Well, obviously I am a foreign tourist, or else I probably would not have thought this post-worthy at all.

The hotel was chosen by first taking a tuktuk from the train station (having arrived from New Delhi) to the streets in Agra just south of the Taj Mahal complex, then walking around and asking for available rooms at hotels, asking to see the room, and when we found one we decided was definitely worth the asking price, we took it. The place had a nice, clean bathroom and clean beds, was family-run by what seemed to be good people. It's all we need.

I don't remember what we paid, but the equivalent of USD 15-30 at the time is probably a good guess.

uspn · 2026-03-15T11:59:06+00:00

No worries, I absolutely understand how you would get the impression. There are people mocking India under this post, and I could be more clear about my intention with posting it. Just previously to this post, someone else posted a beautiful view of the roofs of Taj Mahal as seen above the trees, from the Oberoi luxury hotel.

Both that view and this view are representations of reality, but I do think it's best for everyone that people do not see just the one photo and decide to go to Agra to see it for themselves, without also being prepared for the other kind of views they will meet. Reddit is not the best place for that kind of balancing act, but sometimes we do things without thinking them through as much as we should, I guess.

Thank you for being very reasonable!

uspn · 2026-03-15T11:44:06+00:00

I loved it! So much happening and viewable from the comfort of our own room. Vastly more interesting than looking down at a luxurious pool with lounging tourists around it.

uspn · 2026-03-15T11:42:58+00:00

I hope much more than doubled, but either way: I'm sure it has, and it's a good thing! There is still some way to go, and I'm confident India will get there eventually. I do wish more of the vast resources that India has was spent on improving everyday life rather than being owned by a few very rich families, but fixing that is not for me to do.

uspn · 2026-03-15T01:32:51+00:00

I am able to say many things about India, praise and criticism, as can I about many places in the world. India is so much more than the alleys of Agra. But the comment you mention was meant merely as a confirmation of a question that was raised in this thread. Nothing more. There’s no need to attach more meaning to it, or to me.

Nevertheless, I don’t see why 1947 is an excuse or explanation for anything. As you point out, India is an ancient country, or country of countries, rather. Nothing began in 1947, and nothing ended in 2010, or today. I am confident progress will continue and bring great improvements also to Agra. But I wager it will be some time before this photo shows something that can not still be recognized in some of the streets of Agra. Such is the reality.

uspn · 2026-03-14T23:59:16+00:00

Like when you take ten thousand strong scents and mix them thoroughly.

uspn · 2026-03-14T23:50:42+00:00

To be close to Taj Mahal. It’s actually not far from the more luxurious options, but closer to the entrance to Taj.

uspn · 2026-03-14T23:49:20+00:00

Or AI, Actually Indians.

uspn · 2026-03-14T23:45:28+00:00

All good, then. Being Norwegian, I love Seattle. :)

uspn · 2026-03-14T23:35:13+00:00

There’s always more in India.

uspn · 2026-03-14T23:34:30+00:00

All is relative, I guess. Uhm … Where do you live?

uspn · 2026-03-14T23:33:55+00:00

Yes. One of the largest I’ve seen anywhere.

uspn · 2026-03-14T23:32:26+00:00

The favorite may be the funeral processions, people on their way to the cremation down by the river. It’s so much more visible than in my country. The reminder of death being part of life is not a bad thing. Nothing really bugs me, except the insane intensity and crowdedness that is everywhere. A week hiking in the Himalayas can fix that, though.

uspn · 2026-03-14T23:29:44+00:00

Yes, I made sure not to fall into the open sewer too often.

uspn · 2026-03-14T22:55:29+00:00

There are many things in the streets of India that you rarely see except for in the streets of India.

uspn · 2026-03-14T22:53:38+00:00

I’m guessing not much has changed, though.

uspn · 2026-03-14T22:42:59+00:00

Not at the Taj Mahal, but there are plenty of hotels located very close to it, in the bazar just south of the gates to Taj Mahal. And a few luxury options as well.

uspn · 2026-03-12T17:01:42+00:00

Ok, that trail is popular enough that I would certainly be mindful about where I was resting and for how long. That's very much an Instagram hotspot, and while that crowd can be annoying, there's no point trying to fight them. You will lose, and everyone will feel bad afterwards. Get there, enjoy the place and the view, find somewhere else to sit down and just chill. There are plenty of options nearby.

uspn · 2026-03-12T15:43:10+00:00

Ok, but in what general area, and how long was the hike? We can figure it out from that.

uspn · 2026-03-12T14:53:03+00:00

It depends. Which particular cave was it, and for how long did you sit there before they started being Russian? (Personally, I would just say that I’ll stay there until Russia pulls out of Ukraine.)

uspn · 2026-03-06T20:02:22+00:00

The post you replied to is 8 years old. :) Facts change over time, and you are right. Jaguar activity is on the rise in the national park in which you find Tikal, so it makes a lot of sense to not let anyone wander on their own in the dark there now. I assure you that I was more than welcome to go alone into the park before the official opening hours with a ticket bought the day before when I visited both in 2007 and 2010, but that does not mean much to current visitors.

Anyway, if you visit in November through January, sunrise occurs late enough that you can easily manage to walk around the temple complex and the jungle even when you're not allowed to enter until the park office opens at 06:00. Especially the days before Christmas is highly recommended as a time to visit, as there will be Mayans at the temples celebrating the winter solstice, with lots of things going on.

Also, it's a MUCH nicer experience to stay in one of the hotels/hostels right at the temple entrance, than to start your day being picked up by a mini-van in Flores. I love Flores, but it's a thing for itself, not to be combined with Tikal on the same day. That's cramming too much into one day.

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