tqdtla

Hi guys, im having the most difficult time finding domestic airlines flying in and out of Agra. Does anyone have any information? thanks!!!

lcuy

I din't think there were any flights into Agra?? Maybe I'm mistaken though.

The Shabadhi (sp?)Express train from Delhi is a very pleasant 3 hour trip, and there are trains from just about anywhere else into Agra as well.

hobbes

From Delhi to Agra a car or train transfer are the most time efficient. Train is actually the best - there is a new super fast train which takes 2 hours. Have a car and driver meet you in Agra at the train station.

rlv3

We recently returned from an Asia trip that included a very short trip to India to see the Taj Mahal. We initially tried to prearrange the express train out and back, but found that the first-class AC tickets were basically sold out the day they opened to reservation (supposedly 60 days out). Also had trouble actually purchasing tickets via the site. I had arranged for Namaste India Tours (www.namasteindiatours.com) to provide transfers from Delhi airport to train station and asked them to help me purchase tickets. In the end I went with hiring a car (new 2006 Ambassador with AC) and driver (Mr. Kamal) from them. This was a great way to get from Delhi to Agra after landing from Beijing at 2:30 in the morning. For 6100 rupees (cash), Mr. Kamal met us at the airport, drove us to Agra and its surrounds as we desired. We only stayed one night in Agra then back to Delhi for a 1 a.m. flight to Bangkok. Hiring the car and driver was extremely convenient and, we felt, economical. This way we did not have to find tranport from the train station to hotel or in and around Agra. Mr. Kamal really looked after us which you would not get with using the train. Using the train (1st class AC) you'd pay about USD 20 per person per leg, so in our case the train would have been USD 80, then add transfers from/to airport and train station (maybe USD 10) and a few dollars to get around Agra and you are around USD 100 (for two people). For USD 50 more, someone meets you at the airport and delivers you exactly where you want to go when you want to go and then deposits back at the airport. The drive between Delhi and Agra is about 4 hours, so it is longer than the express train (but have to factor additional transfer time from airport into train schedule) and you probably miss out on seeing some of "everyday life" that you can't help notice in the car. There was a lot of honking and not so many traffic signals, but it was certainly interesting.

Alan

On the other hand, you don't HAVE to go First Class, do you? The trip between Delhi and Agra is only two to three hours, and some of the other classes are quite nice. To be honest, I can't remember the class we rode in, but it sure as hell wasn't first class, because we consciously avoided this class and the expense involved.

And, in at least one respect, train travel is "one up" on sitting inside your private car: rlv's excellent post mentioned "seeing some of "everyday life" that you can't help notice in the car", which is certainly an advantage over plane travel; but you are still only SEEING it, or NOTICING it; in a train, you are PART of it; there are fellow-passengers to talk to, beggars and salesmen on platforms to deal with, and you are part of the passing parade, not a bystander looking at it from the "safety" of an enclosed car.

BostonHarbor

Nope, there are no flights in or out of Agra. They do have an airport, but it is controled by the government and the government has decided there will be no flights. As usual in India, when you ask you get the answer "maybe soon", but holding your breath is not a wise thing to do in India

The car ride is not bad and actually quite thrilling if you have the right attitude and tighten your seat belt!