"Agra is a slum" Agra by NYTim

If it were not for the two monuments Fort and Taj, etc there would nothing else to bring me to this place. I thought Delhi was bad for touts beggars and cheats but Agra was much worse. We could not leave our hotel without being surrounded by the above mentioned people.
That said, the Taj Mahal cannot be described in mere words. I thought I was prepared for it 's splendor but i was so wrong. You have to see it to believe it. I will not attempt to place a picture in your mind. Just go see it. I visited Agra again in 2008 although I enjoyed the trip I wish it were not so dirty. The Red fort is well worth the visit if a tad adventurous as the touts and beggars were worse that at the Taj.

Rickshaw passengers

I thought, wrongly, that the road to the Taj would be majestic, wide and stately -- oops. It was the most congested 10miles of road in India that we drove on. However, seeing all the different cars, trucks, people and animals certainly made it a colorful experience. I tried to make the boy on the back of the rickshaw smile. I waved at him made faces etc and all I got was this surly look -- oh well.

Street Cattle

Lions and tigers and bears were about the only animals we did not see on the road to Agra. Camels, cows, bullocks, elephants, monkeys. water buffalo and hordes of emaciated dogs wandered the streets.
This picture was taken about 2 miles from the Taj

• Pros:Monuments
• Cons:The road that leaves the town
• In a nutshell:The Taj is it's saving grace