Agra, INDIA
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The City of Taj Mahal, sitting on the banks of River Yamuna, is a shadow of its former glory from the time that it was the seat of the Mughal Empire. But magic still floats in the air surrounding its grand monuments, landscaped gardens and cobbled lanes. Get star-struck after paying homage to the ivory-white marble mausoleum, then gear up for a behind-the-scenes tour at Taj Ganj. The neighbourhood was built in the 17th-century for the artisans who devoted their lives and poured their hearts and souls into creating a flawless monument of love, the iconic Taj Mahal.
An address now associated with luxury hotels in the city, Taj Ganj has its origins in a 17th-century locality built to house the army of artisans and labourers who toiled as a community to piece together the exquisite and elegant structure of the Taj Mahal. During this tour, you will explore a 2.5 km heritage trail in Taj Ganj (formerly called Mumtazabad) from the South Gate of the Taj Mahal. It is fascinating to learn that the neighbourhood is still home to direct descendants of the creators of the Taj Mahal and continue to engage in crafts inherited as precious legacy over several generations.
The 400-year old market district of Taj Ganj is a maze of shops, serais (guesthouses) and mansions, upholding the city’s ancient cultural heritage in the form of traditional crafts, cuisine, fairs, and festivals. The area has five listed heritage monuments, excluding the Taj and its grounds. One of these is the Dargah (tomb) of Saint Syed Jalal Bukhari Rehmatullah, who is said to have protected the Taj Mahal from evil spirits. Another interesting stop is Sandali Mosque, wherein it is beleieved that wandering spirits converted into cats were locked up by the saint!
At the end of the walk, settle on the banks of the Yamuna at Dusshera Ghat, a quiet spot to enjoy an uninterrupted image of the marble monument without the throngs. A rendition of Qawwali (Sufi musical performance in honour of the almighty), is a perfect accompaniment to the ethereal ambience.
Transport: Walking Tour 
Activity level: Easy
Accessible to wheel chair: Yes 
Kid friendly: Yes 
Languages: English and Local Language 
Inclusions: Battery Rickshaw, English Speaking Guide & Mineral Water 
Exclusions: Monument Entrance Fee & small tips wherever applicable on the basis of actuals Personal Expenses and Souvenir. 
Gratuities: Not included in tour cost;payable at guest's discretion 
Meet up location: Purani Mandi Crossing 
End of tour location: Hotel Drop Off Duration: 2 Hours Price: upto 2 adults ₹1200 | Price upto 2 adults | : ₹1,200 |
| Children | : Complimentary for children below 10 years |
25% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 15 to 10 days prior to the tour date.
50% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 9 to 5 days prior to the tour date.
No refund if cancelled less than 5 days prior to the tour date.
For group size more than 4 adults, write to us at info@footprintholidays.com
We can arrange other language speaking guides based on your request and availability
The tour can be customised to suit your needs like change of time, change of pick-up point, etc. You can write to us to info@footprintholidays.com customise your tour as per your preferences.
I will begin by saying that I had a FANTASTIC time in India. It was one of the best trips I've ever taken and I'm truly looking forward to hopefully having you book other trips for me in India.
I must say everything was planned to perfection. Each guide in every city was knowledgeable; especially the guide you arranged for us in Udaipur. We really enjoyed getting to know our guides Musheer and Kishore. We experienced the real India and appreciated the detailed itinerary your team created for us. The hotels were fantastic! In every hotel, the chef paid us a visit to make sure that we had meals suitable for us. We also enjoyed all the extra shopping excursions that were suggested.
The trip was a mega success and your team did a great job. Thanks to Footprint for everything. The entire family had a great time! The exclusive kalaripayattu demonstration was absolutely engaging and we loved every bit of the special private stand-up by Alex Babu (of Alex in Wonderland fame).
Thank you for a great trip! We especially enjoyed driving through the desertland into Jaisalmer; we also thoroughly enjoyed Bikaner, its Havelis and the Fort. Catching the daily life in Mumbai was a unique and eye-opening experience! All the hotels chosen are excellent with wonderful staff. Thank you!
Thank you for a wonderful trip to Kerala. We loved the village life walk and Fort Cochin walk. The backwater cruise in a traditional country boat was an incredible experience. A meal with the local family, living on an island in the backwaters, offered us an excellent opportunity to interact, learn and share. We loved every minute of our holiday! Thanks!
As a solo traveller, I felt safe and was exceptionally well taken care of. The cooking class in Jaipur was extremely enjoyable. The food, chef, and his wife were all exceptional and made for a lovely evening. Also, our expectations were definitely exceeded at a private residence, spending time with the elephants and lunching. Thanks!!
I loved India and thank you very much for arranging everything. It was a fabulous trip. Big kudos to you and your team. The tour guides and drivers were excellent. I loved the artisan walk, discovering the artistic treasures of Udaipur, meeting local potters and painters.
Thanks for arranging everything to precision – it was super smooth and we had a very good darshan!
Thanks for organising a great trip to Lucknow and Varanasi. The hotels at both the places were excellent; we had a great guide in Varanasi who went beyond the designated tour route and showed us around. The food tour in Lucknow was amazing and re-discovering the Awadhi Cuisine was a great experience – the kebabs were out of the world!
It was a terrific experience to spot the King of the jungle in all their glory at Gir. We had a very good experience overall.
It was a perfect leisure getaway – thanks for organising this! We loved the French Connection Trail; the guide took us through the French quarter sharing some incredible stories from the colonisation. We enjoyed the hotel and the service!