lcuy

We'll be spending our first night in Delhi before taking the early train to Agra. Compass Tours sugessted we stay near the station.

As we arrive at 11:30 pm, we'll be there less than 6 hours, so I want somewhere clean and cool, but moderately priced.

Anyone have a favorite? I'm waiting for a reccomendation from Compass, but would like to do some research in the meantime.

Thanks!

Lucy

Alan

Lucky you, Icuy! Why haven't you invited me along with you?

You're smart going EARLY to Agra.... if I were you I'd take the very first train of the day. What a pity there's not one leaving at 2 in the morning, as in that case you'd be getting there just in time to see the Taj at its best, i.e. without the 5843754632978674 locals and tourists who clamber all over it from around 8:30 onwards!

Now, I don't have a single hotel to recommend to you (when in Delhi, we stayed out in Karol Bagh, which is quite pleasant and cheap, but not particularly near a station); my purpose in writing is just to make sure that you know, before you commit yourself, WHICH station the train to Agra is leaving from. When we went there we took a 9 p.m. train which arrived in Agra shortly after midnight, but this train left from Nizamuddin Station. Maybe the very early or very late trains leave from that area, which is nowhere near New Delhi Station. It would be a pity if you found that you were in a hotel near a station where you had to wait for a mid-morning train!

I'm sure none of this is news to you, and I apologise for wasting your time. Now that I've read back over it I am inclined to scrub the whole message, but I will post it, anyway.... maybe there's someone who will read it (if not you) who doesn't know that at least some of the trains from Delhi to Agra leave from Nizamuddin!

hobbes

Alan is quite right that there are 2 stations - Nizamuddin and New Delhi. The morning fast train whihc many people take is from New Delhi. Pl advise budget. Also, have u considered having a car and driver pick u up from the airport and driving directly at night to Agra?

Alan

The train the Hobbes is referring to will be the 2002, which is about the fastest you can get: out from new Delhi Station at 6:00, at Agra Cannt at 8:15. There is one that leaves Nizamuddin about fifteen minutes earlier, but actually arrives at Agra later. Both will get you there a little too late for my liking.... don't forget that as you step off the train with the other sixteen carriages full of tourists and see them swarming towards the taxi stand, THAT's how many people you will encounter at the queue at the ticket office (which, for the east gate anyway, is at least another 20 minutes drive by autorickshaw). You'll be at the ticket office by 9, but it will be well after that before you get to see the building.

I think there's much to recommend Hobbes' advice about going to Agra at night so that you're there first thing in the morning -- fact is, it's a LONG trip just to see a building, but that building is good enough to justify the journey (and the exoerbitant admission fee -- 750 rupees, if I remember, far more than we paid for accommodation the night before!) IF you see it under the best conditions. Driving down, however, after 11:30 means that all your sleeping is going to be done in the car, and that won't make for the "best" conditions. Is it not possible to spend a night and day in Delhi after your 11:30 p.m. arrival, and then take the train the following evening to Agra, so that you are in Agra for your second night, poised to see the Taj on the morning of your second full day? Or does that throw your schedule out of whack?

lcuy

Well, the original plan was to be met by a car at the airport in the middle of the night and drive to Agra direct. I realized that we would be way too tired and also didn't like the idea of travelling on the roads at night; not to mention my daughter gets car sick when tired.

So, the current plan is to have the driver meet us at the airport, then take us to a hotel near New Delhi station for the rest of the night.

I'd prefer to spend about $100 or less since we will be there less than 6 hours.

In the morning, he'll take us to the station and give us our tickets. We get into Agra early, and a driver and guide will take us to he fort before we check in to Amarvilas. We'll view the Taj from outside at sunset and then again from inside in the early morn.

I appreciate any and all suggestions!

Lucy

KimJapan

Not a clue about India...but a thank you for mentioning that your daughter gets carsick when she is tired. This has happened to us the past few trips we've taken...and I've been trying to figure out what she's eaten...now I think it is just simple carsickness. It never occurred to me that it could happen just when tired...but I guess so.

hobbes

Mentioning some hotels - do not know current charges but are all convenient for railway station and August is off season so you may get them in your $100 budget. Le Meridien - billed as 4 star deluxe. Ashok Yatri Niwas - billed as 3 star. Park Hotel - billed as 5 star but boutique. If you can figure out a reciprocal arrangement to book the Delhi Gymkhana club that is a gem for about US$50.

lcuy

Thanks hobbes and Alan! And Kim, yes it took a while (we don't do that many ling trips in Honolulu) but we finally figured it out.

I don't get carsick, just terrified with wild drivers. Thats why I rarely take long range buses- No matter what country, those drivers always seem either drunk or suicidal.

Anyway, hitting google on the above hotels. Can't find specifics on the gymkhana club yet, but it sounds interesting!

subra

If your destination is a place near the Railway station, you could also consider the YMCA tourist home. It is a lot less expensive- about $50 a night- please check- and adequate. Room availability can be tight, please check early. One adv is that it is open 24 hours, even if you fly into Delhi at an unearthly hour.

zoomoozophone

Try Nirula's hotel. We stayed there on a similar itinerary and it worked out great. The hotel is very clean, comfortable and they have a great Chinese restaurant there (I'm not sure how late they stay open, so may not fit your schedule) Short (maybe 10 minutes) rickshaw ride to the train station. Have a great time!

jacketwatch

Nirulas is a good suggestion. I also must caution that if you become fearful with wild drivers, well what is wild in the US is normal elsewhere, like India! It will be different.

lcuy

Thanks for the suggestions! Nirulas looks good...are they a food company or something? THeir web site is more about snacks than rooms!

And I can control my fears about driving to a certain extent-I take taxis in Bangkok- but a long drive at night would take more valium than they'd let me import into India!!

Waiting to hear from compass tours to confirm everything. I'm getting pretty excited. I even was asking a tech support person for Dell (in Bangalore)about the weather yesterday!

zoomoozophone

Yes, their website makes it seem as if you might be staying at a snack bar They do have an ice-cream shop on the ground floor. But no worries, the rooms are wonderful. Hope you have a great trip!

hobbes

Nirula's was India's first fast food chain and still does much better than McDonalds - largely coz they do Indian fast food as well as Western. Do try and have a meal there during your Delhi stint - clean, hygenic food and restaurants. The hotel is a good choice and VERY convenient for the train station - did not occur to me, Zoomozophone.