My sunrise visit to the TAJ MAHAL, India - Brutally honest review

Hi everyone! This is episode five of my India series. In this video, I visit the iconic Taj Mahal based in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and arguably the highlight for most tourists undertaking a Golden Triangle trips in India.
I woke up at around 5am to get to the Taj Mahal at sunrise, so it was an early start. However, there were many people at the iconic site looking for that Instagram shot or taking in the beauty of the mausoleum built by Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
Throughout the video, I give my impressions of the Taj Mahal and my visit. It is a shorter video than some of my usual content, partly due to the fact that filming is discouraged at the Taj Mahal for whatever reason. It is also for this reason why I had to speak a little softer or less enthusiastically per occasion.
I hope you enjoy this video! Let me know your views and thoughts by leaving a COMMENT in the comments section and please give this video a LIKE. Also, if you haven't done it yet, I would greatly appreciate it if you could SUBSCRIBE to my channel - it is free to do so and it really helps me out.
Happy exploring!
Willie

[@willieexplore]

What did you think of the Taj Mahal? Let me know!

[@Darknight0p]

Taj was built by a womanizer for one of his dozen wives .

[@errol-zs1aci]

What lovely views of this great structure. Well presented. Thanks Willie. I loved both views!

[@willieexplore]

Dankie Errol. Glad you enjoyed it. It was difficult to film so I had to contain my excitement on camera in some ways. Groete!

[@mayousimon1]

Awesome video willie nice view from a distant and better for photo and videos than on main sites because of restrictions. Anyway thank you again for showing this opportunity to capture this iconic momentum!

[@willieexplore]

The view from a distance capture more of the surroundings, which is probably why I like it more! Always appreciate your support mon ami!

[@AZqyc]

Hey there, Mr Willie ... another really great walk-around!! That was really interesting, excellent views! I suspect, as you, that early, early morning is the time to get there! Could see the crowd starting to grow. Really beautiful place ... thanks for sharing. Greetings from Tucson. [PS ... got the Marie biscuits ... made in India! Great with Darjeeling.]

[@willieexplore]

Hi Jim! Wow that was fast regarding the biscuits, glad you got them! Hope you enjoyed them? I had an opportunity to go to Angkor Wat in Cambodia at sunrise but passed on it for a little more sleep. So I'm glad I could see another wonderful monument at sunrise! It gave a mystical look to the building that you won't get during midday for example, although I guess the gardens and nature might pop more in the sunlight later in the day. I've heard the sunset view from the viewing point is also spectacular. Cheers as always for supporting!

[@fleuromeara4924]

I'm happy that the people of the country pay less to see the monuments of their country ,especially if there are so many poor people who would not otherwise do so. I enjoy your videos. Thanks.

[@willieexplore]

I appreciate that side of the argument. Student and senior citizen discounts are also commonplace in many parts of the world. Part of my argument is that tourists already contribute a lot to the wider economy through accommodation and transport for example, so to ask them to pay more is just a bit cheeky. Cheers for watching!

[@ElladineWatson]

The Taj Mahal is a spectacular building with a tragic history. I was hoping you'll visit the mini Taj Mahal too. I loved the beautiful gardens as well and the songs of the birds in the background. Thanks for taking us with you as you explore India. Looking forward to the next vlog in anticipation. Take care and safe travels further 🙏😘

[@willieexplore]

Hi Elladine, glad you enjoyed it! India has a lot of great sights to see but this one is arguably on top of the list of most. I'm very pleased to hear you're looking forward to my videos, there are certainly a few coming soon! All the best

[@turquoiseblue228]

Hi Willie thanks for the beautiful sights. I prefer the cheap option from a distance, with the river in front and no tourists to spoil the view. Looking forward to the next video.

[@willieexplore]

Cheers my friend, appreciate you sharing your thoughts! Glad you're enjoying the India content. New videos in due course!

[@jeanscholefield2173]

I did enjoy that video. I've been to India but not the Taj Mahal. Your photos were amazing and I think it was good you went earlier to avoid the crowds. My Indian friends told me to stay out of the way when they bought anything as if I was seen we would be charged more. To be honest I didn't mind paying more as everything still seemed so cheap to me whereas my friends thought it was extortionate due to their much lower earnings.

[@willieexplore]

Hi Jean, I'm very pleased to hear you enjoyed it! It was very challenging to film. For some reason, they don't like people talking into cameras but you can take as many photos as you like without security telling you to keep things quiet. So I had to be very discreet. The price discrimination debate is interesting. Cheers for the engagement and thanks for supporting my channel!

[@theGreatkafir72]

Go to Ellora caves, Sambhaji Nagar in Maharashtra

[@willieexplore]

I will look into those, cheers for the recommendations!

[@sheilam4525]

Loved this vlog, Willie😊. Arguably one of the most beautiful structures in the world but what a tragic story behind it. Imagine the outcry if we charged Indians more to enter our museums! Terrible!😂

[@willieexplore]

Certainly a tragic story Sheila, which is perhaps why this structure captures the imagination of many. I spotted the odd romantic couple and loads of Instagrammers of course. Yes there would certainly be an outcry and political chaos if we did that!

[@HappyTravelTrip]

Looking good and perfect😂🎉

[@willieexplore]

Glad you enjoyed the video, I desperately needed a coffee :)

[@cvanzylguntervanzylgunter6806]

Hi Willie, enjoyed your video and effort!! Uitstekende materiaal.

[@willieexplore]

Baie dankie! Ek waardeer die saamkyk!

[@marygird7715]

Hi Willie I like the cheape optio of 50 rupees view from across the river, it show the symmetry of the other two buildings very nicely . I wonder how old his Wife was at the time of her passing. Taj Mahal is so stunningly beautiful. What is keeping you from sleep as you mentioned in your vlog?😊

[@willieexplore]

Hi Mary, you can certainly appreciate that symmetry from the lookout point. Mumtaz Mahal died when she was 38. On the sleeping / tired front, I had to wake up at 5 or 5:30 am for two consecutive days to travel to Agra and the Taj Mahal respectively. This in itself is fine, but of course I do a lot of walking during the day and then I spend many hours at night editing videos. So when I travel I often get to bed after midnight. But not to bore you with those details :) Thanks again for all your support!

[@marygird7715]

@@willieexplore Hi Willie yes there is certainly a lot of work that goes into your vlogs. Thanks for taking time to share those details about the history of all the places you see. I hope that you get to see everything else on your itinerary. Did you take history at High school? Greetings from Muizenberg

[@willieexplore]

@@marygird7715 nice to hear you enjoy the information I provide! I only had history until standard 7 but at university I studied a lot of economic history. Hope all is well in the Cape!

[@marygird7715]

@@willieexplore Thanks Willie, Spring has sprung in the Cape, the flowers are in abundance after the rainy Winter we had. I studied history higher grade in matric as it was one of my favourite subjects. Looking forward to seeing your other vlogs in India. Stay safe 😘

[@willieexplore]

@@marygird7715 my parents told me the winter was particularly tough this year. Let's hope for a great spring and summer!

[@nitinbhat]

Are you South African by any chance? Your voice and accent sounds very similar to the South African cricket legend AB de Villiers. And just as I was typing this, you also happened to mention his marriage proposal story, so I am guessing you might also be from South Africa. Anyway, awesome video. Cheers!

[@willieexplore]

Namaste my friend, yes I am South African just like our hero AB. Hope you get a chance to see my other India videos too if you haven't already! Dhanyavaad :)

[@nitinbhat]

​@@willieexplore Sure! I’ve already subscribed to your channel after watching the Taj Mahal video. I’m from Bangalore, the city that ABD represented for a decade in the IPL, and I’ve had the privilege of watching his genius live from the stadium many times. We all love him as our own, and many of us support South Africa as our second team because your players are so humble and down to earth. Jonty is another favorite of ours, and we have a soft spot for many of your 90s cricketers. Looking forward to more of your awesome travel videos. Take care!

[@willieexplore]

@@nitinbhat that is great my friend, thank you so much! I would love to visit Bangalore in due course. AB certainly entertained us all over his career. Of all our World Cup semi final losses, that one against New Zealand in 2015 where AB was the captain hurts the most. In South Africa, we have huge respect for the India cricket team. I mentioned in my first vlog of India that we will always remember India for inviting us to play our first ODI series after isolation, in 1991. I also brought the book of India's historic tour to SA in 1992 with all my South Africa and India cricket cards. So many memories. Not many people know this but Jonty ran Sachin out in that first test, and Sachin became the first player ever to be dismissed with involvement by the third umpire. I also remember Pravin Amre scoring a century on debut. Cheers for watching and supporting my channel!

[@nitinbhat]

@@willieexplore Yes, the 2015 World Cup semi-final loss was heartbreaking, especially seeing AB de Villiers and Morne Morkel in tears. But for me, the 1999 World Cup semi-final tie against Australia was even more unbearable. When Lehmann missed the run-out on the third ball, I thought, Finally, luck is with South Africa, and deservedly so, and I was sure Klusener would win it with three balls remaining. But what happened on the fourth ball was truly tragic. I was still in school, and even though I supported India, I started crying that day. That run-out still hurts, even today. And after that, the unfortunate Hansie Cronje incident, followed by his tragic death in 2002, was incredibly sad, as I was a big fan of his as well. Anyway, the historic 438 run chase in Johannesburg in March 2006 helped me somewhat get over the heartbreaking events of 1999 and 2002. By the way, I hope you visit Bangalore someday and upload a video vlog of your experience on your channel!

[@kudaisiaduntola2523]

Price discrimination or different prices for locals and foreigners are commonplace in countries such as Turkey as well. Can you imagine the furore if the shoe was on the other foot? For example, if the UK charged foreigners, immigrants and visitors more to visit museums than the UK residents or passport holders.

[@willieexplore]

That will certainly ruffle a few feathers.

[@cartic.t]

You're sure it's that rare though? I also don't know what you mean by 'the shoe on the other foot'; which are the two counterparts here that you're 'switching around' in your head - who are you nominating yourself spokesperson for and whose furore are you imagining in return? I consistently paid significantly above the rates for EU nationals at monuments and museums alike in the five different cities in the south of Spain I visited over this summer, for example. Most places of historic interest have a heavy discount for EU nationals in Italy too. The difference can be as much as free/3 euros versus 15 euros.

[@peterlyon7595]

Not worth. It is no different than anything else in India.

[@willieexplore]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Cheers for watching!