After a long day of exploring Agra and visiting the iconic Taj Mahal, we had a satisfying dinner at the Salt Cafe before returning to our hotel to pick up our luggage for the journey back to New Delhi. Little did we know that this return trip would be an adventure in itself. I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised at how smoothly our entire trip had gone so far – from the seamless flights to and from the Andaman Islands, the pleasant ferry rides between the islands, and the comfortable train journey from Jaipur to Agra. Everything fell perfectly into place with no disruptions or delays – a travel experience that surpassed all our expectations.
This time, though, we were genuinely worried. The train station we needed to depart from to reach New Delhi was not the Agra Fort station (where we arrived from Jaipur), but the other train station in Agra, which happened to be much further away from the touristy sites.
Upon arriving at our hotel, I decided to book an Uber to take us to the train station. However, we were surprised when the Uber never showed up. One after another, two or three Uber drivers canceled on us, disappearing from the map. The last one didn’t even make any movement on the map. I’m not sure if this is a common issue with Uber in India, but thankfully, the hotel receptionist came to our rescue and booked an Ola for us, which is similar to Uber. It took about 10 minutes before the Ola driver arrived, but at least it proved reliable!
As the Ola driver finally arrived, we were already running late, and our hope of reaching New Delhi on time was fading fast. If my memory serves me right, it was the last train departing for New Delhi that day, and with our flight scheduled for 9 am the next morning, panic started to set in. This trip had been so smooth and trouble-free until now, and we couldn’t believe we were facing this unexpected challenge. We even contemplated alternative options like taking a bus or renting a car with a driver, but we were concerned that finding suitable transport at this late hour might be a challenge.
Finally, after some hustle, we managed to reach the train station, and there were only 5 minutes left until departure. However, what caught us off guard was the security control, similar to what you experience at airports. Once we cleared it, we immediately began running, desperately trying to locate our platform. The screens displaying train numbers and platforms seemed to change at a snail’s pace, leaving us with no time to spare. We asked around, but no one seemed to have any information. In a last-ditch effort, we rushed to the other side of the train track, hoping against hope that the train was there, but it wasn’t. We felt defeated, thinking we had missed the train, as it was already past the departure time.
We felt discouraged, thinking we had missed the train, as it was already past the departure time. Slowly, we made our way back to the other side of the track when suddenly, to our immense relief, we saw our train approaching. To our surprise, it had a 10-minute delay! This was the first delay we encountered throughout the entire journey, and we couldn’t have been luckier. I must confess, I’ve never felt such a sense of relief and joy about catching a train!
The train ride from Agra to New Delhi was even shorter than the one from Jaipur, lasting about 2 hours. As expected, food and drinks were included in the price, similar to our experience on the ferries. Being a food enthusiast, I couldn’t resist trying it out. Admittedly, it may not have looked too appetizing, but I was pleasantly surprised by its taste. Despite being “train food,” it turned out to be quite enjoyable, and to address any concerns, I can happily confirm that I didn’t experience any sickness.
Upon arriving at a train station in New Delhi, we realized it was quite far away from the airport. Apparently, there are multiple train stations in the city, and we seemed to have chosen the one farthest from the airport. Opting for a cab, we embarked on a one-hour ride to our hotel. Along the way, we couldn’t help but notice how much the city had changed since our initial impression. In my earlier post about New Delhi, I openly shared my negative surprise, as it looked nothing like my previous experiences in India and seemed rather unattractive. However, on this journey, I had a completely different perception. Perhaps the smog had cleared, or the route we took was more picturesque, or maybe we had become accustomed to the less visually appealing sights of India. Whatever the reason, we were pleasantly surprised to find New Delhi looking much better than we remembered on our first day of arrival.
When planning our stay in New Delhi, we were determined not to book the same hotel or choose a hotel in the same neighborhood as our first night. Instead, we settled on the jusTa Atrio, which was a 15-minute drive from the airport, just 5 minutes more than our previous hotel. With modest expectations due to the affordable price, we still hoped for a better experience than our previous accommodations in New Delhi and Port Blair.
As we arrived at the hotel in a taxi, we were taken aback by what we saw. The hotel, which cost us around 50 USD per night, exceeded our expectations. It boasted a spacious garden and a swimming pool, and its ambience could easily rival that of a 5-star hotel in many other countries, including Norway. The joy we felt at discovering this serene and elegant retreat made us forget about the chaotic and unappealing area of Mahipalpur.
We were sad to leave the jusTa Atrio hotel, as we would have loved to stay an extra day to relax after the busy days in Agra and Jaipur. The peaceful surroundings had provided us with a much-needed break from our journey, and we cherished the time spent there. However, our travel plans called for us to move on, and we cherished the memories of the peaceful oasis it provided.
Sadly, our India trip came to an end. The following day, we departed for the airport in the early hours and flew back to Norway via Finland. Looking back, it was an incredible and unforgettable journey through India and the Andaman Islands. We already long to return and explore more of this fascinating country in the future!
Anyah Mroz 