 Don't feed, don't touch, don't take a picture... by TeamAWAC | Tips and photos of Agra tourist attractions and tourist traps, posted by real travelers and Agra locals. Agra Map |
 | Agra Tourist Traps | Tips 1 - 10 of 18 |  |
DO NOT make eye contact- that may help. These fellows, and there seemed to be at least 3 for every tourist at the Taj Mahal, catch the visitor at the entrance gates. The gates are about a 5 minute walk from the actual entrance to the Taj. There are cycle-rickshaws available, but we decided to walk. Bad choice. Not only were they offering services as "guides"-they were selling postcards, the usual touristy rubbish (like snow-domes of the Taj Mahal) and Agra Tourist Booklets. This happens throughout India- but these guys DO NOT GIVE UP!!
In the end- all that worked was a good few words that I cannot mention here.
Take ANY means of transport- avoid that walk. We took the Cycle Rickshaw on exit.
Avoid eye contact. Don't smile at them. Be rude if you really HAVE to- they are persistant beyond belief. OR JUST RUN.
Take the cycle-rickshaw. Leave a Comment
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 by keeweechicLeave a Comment
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 King and Queen of Mughal by Crift
Just cross your fingers you are not getting rat poison with your meal since Agra has a history in food poisoning. Restaurant owners are getting really high commissions from private clinics!!
Like I said at the Agra intro, do your reading beforehand and avoid tourist guides, touts and hawkers like the plague.... they are soooo distracting!
As for the food, I ate at Pizza Hut... mwhahaha!!
Also, keep in mind that entrance to Taj Mahal for foreigners is very expensive compared to Indian natives. Like 1500 IRP or something... And after you paid that, they want 25 more rupies for allowing you to carry your video camera through the gate and up to there!! Talk about a money hungry government!! Leave a Comment
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Another very common thing that will definitely happend to you during your stay in India is this: You will take somewhen a rickshaw or whatever to reach a site, and they will definitely bring you in some shop (a shop of a friend or a brother or whatever). Keep in mind that the owner of the shop will pay the driver a commision cuz he brought there some tourist and clearly the prices of the goods will increase...
So, be strong and tell to the driver that you will not leave the rickshaw! This is the only thing that works out... Leave a Comment
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 spaming friends at home
with postcards - LOVE it! by tremendopunto
But travelling through Asia gave me the experience that became one of my "travel principles", ALWAYS stay with your letters/stamps until they get stamped in front of your eyes.
Having said that, I betrayed my own principles in Kathmandu/Nepal this time and NONE of my postcards have arrived......
You ask where is the difference? Well, taking off 10 to 20 stamps and selling them for your own profit IS some money over there.
ALWAYS stay with your letters/stamps until they get stamped in front of your eyes. Leave a Comment
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Once you would need the service of an agency, for example to book a train ticket or whatever, before to agree for somehting, ask them which is the % or value of their services.
So, before to confirm something, bergain also about the provvision!!!! Leave a Comment
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On the way to/from Agra, if you stop by the roadside, there may be roadside animal performance consisting of bears and monkeys. These poor animals are poorly treated and made to perform for tourist tips.
Please do not watch or give any money as these will encourage more of such animals being abused.
Please take photos of this animals and report to international animal societies. Unfortunately, when I was there, I did not have film in my camera.
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 by gretsLeave a Comment
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You've just had a great morning sight seeing at the Taj etc, your guide turns round to you.. 'Would you like to see a marble workshop where they make marble decorations in the original method like that of the Taj Mahal?' - Interested you say, yes great! ... Wrong move!! this happened on all guided city tours in India.
We were dropped off at the 'workshop'... true it was interesting to see them make the marble patterns, so skilled and delicate, but this was just a cover for a vastly over priced bazarr that tried to flog us marble tables for 1000 dollars!!! After making it clear we weren't interested they tried to flog us cheaper marble ornaments at around 50 dollars, then before we could leave ushered us into the 'last chance bazaar' with loads of cheap nick nack etc! Thing was they were not cheap by Indian standards!!
If you want to do good shopping, go local! Don't go to these tourist rip offs! Leave a Comment
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Agra is known for it's hassle. I'm just gonna tell you a story of what happened to us in the Agra streets.
I was walking with Rob through an Agra street. Rob has one big fear and it is snakes. A kid with a basket walks next to rob and keeps on saying sir. We keep walking and say 'no' from time to time.(By that time we allready skipped thanx). Then another kid shows up in front of us with another basket. Opens it and a cobra rises out of the basket. The next thing I see is Rob running across the street (quite dangerous in India). The other kid had a cobra as well. I yelled at the kids that they had to f*** o** with them snakes; They ran off for 10 meters. An indian Guy told them something and then they started chasing us with the snakes all the way to our hostel. They stayed another 15 minutes at the door of our hostel.
It took a few hours before we got out of our room. Leave a Comment
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MG Road, Sanjay Place Hariparwat Chowk, Agra - Hotel Yamuna View
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Fatehabad Rd., 282003, Uttar Pradesh,, Agra - Hotel Amar
Fatehabad Road, Agra
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