Taj Mahal Handicraft Walk: Explore True India with Artisans
4.9
15 Ratings
Agra
Discover the hidden world of Agra's handicraft workshops on a unique Taj Mahal Handicraft Walk. Meet artisans, buy authentic crafts, and experience the real heart of India.
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- The Retreat - - Visit one of the oldest workshops of zardozi (Gold embroidery) around Tajmahal. Learn briefly about the history of this craft, details & intricacies of craftsmanship.
- Visit a workshop of Marble Inlay work (Pietra Dura) and learn how this craft started with the history of Tajmahal and flourished till the time. The artisans here are descendants of artisans who made Taj Mahal.
- Walking down the 17th-century lanes around Tajmahal we’ll visit some households where people are engaged in making garlands and other body jewelry of fresh flowers. Learn briefly about how the use of fresh flowers has changed with time and affected the industry.
- Visit three-generation old workshop of Marble Prachinkari work and learn briefly about the connection of this art with Pietra Dura.
- Exploring the household art of carpetmaking and learn briefly how present-day designs have evolved with cross-community acculturation.
What's Included
- Entry to Artisans homes
- Tour Guide
What's Not Included
- Private transportation
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Take a trip back in time to Agra, the most beautiful city in the 17th century, even outshining London and Paris. People from all over the globe settled here, bringing their skills to life in small handicraft workshops that are like mini-factories. Today, these places are buzzing with artisans creating beautiful crafts by hand.
Our special walk lets you peek into this world, see the magic happening, and buy directly from these craftspeople. If you enjoy picking up souvenirs, this is your golden ticket
We’ll stroll around the Taj Mahal area yet away from the tourist crowds. It’s a glimpse into the real India, not the typical touristy scene. You’ll meet locals, snap some great photos, and get a taste of everyday life. Join us for a laid-back adventure, uncovering the true heart of Agra through its art, culture, and authentic charm.
Location
The Orchid Retreat
Shilpgram Road
We will meet opposite to to the Retreat Hotel and start the walk from there.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(15 Ratings)
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Ankit
Nov 14, 2023
Fascinating journey to artisans homes - This was an amazing experience for me and my friends as we learnt in depth about the processes of how the handicrafts are manufactured here in Agra and the artisans that make them. My walk leader Kaleem made the walk fun and enjoyable and filled with a lot of relevant facts. Over all I highly recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Voyage44685676108
Nov 12, 2023
A heart touching walk to artisans home - I absolutely loved this tour as it gave me a real feel of how Indians lived away from the places that we call tourist traps. The people there were very friendly and our walk leader made us feel safe. We were welcomed to the humble houses of various artisans where they showed us their crafts. The best was that we could buy directly from there artisans and it just made me happy to support these hard working people.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Escape25046253253
Jun 11, 2023
Witnessing the beauty of Taj through different lenses - The walk was full of insightful learnings. Different perspectives were shared through the lense of which we were made to observe the magnificent beauty of Taj Mahal. References about how it used to be in the past were also made. Overall, it was an experience one of its kind.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kittufun2511
Feb 20, 2023
Aagrah hai ki Agra jaaiye :) - It's inspiring to hear the unknown stories behind one of the oldest cities of India. Agra Heritage Walks ignited curiosity within me to go and find out more about the history of my own city.
They have a knack to connect both with adults and children.
They helped me explore the city through architecture, food, music and poetry.
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Blevigneron
Feb 20, 2023
The perfect guide - We had a great tour with Tahir Today, we saw the Taj Mahal with him and he taylored his explanations to us, what we knew about already and what we did not, our specific interests etc. He has in-depth knowledge of the monument and every aspect of the city, that made the experience memorable. He stroke the right balance of guiding us through the site and giving us space for photo breaks and time for ourselves.
And mostly, he’s a great person and it was a pleasure to spend a few hours with him. Thankh’gs again Tahir !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
406perryb
Nov 19, 2022
Above and beyond - These guys went above 5 stars. They helped me with transport to and from Agra. They put together 2 walks for me at short notice. And they use their tours as a way to spread wealth across the community away from the Taj Mahal. Very knowledgeable and expert guides. Thanks!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Benedettacw6565ff
Nov 15, 2022
Best walking tours in Agra - I participated to the Agra 101 tour the other day and I simply loved it!! Kaleem was extremely nice and knowledgeable, he showed me around his city telling me the history of it and some anecdotes, stopping to try tasty Indian food. I especially like the concept of this project: two brothers showing their city and their heritage from a less touristy point of view. Thank you so much!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fundraiser2014
Oct 15, 2022
Great tour of Agra and all the sights - Absolutely enjoyed my day in Agra with Taj Mahal, Red Fort and a lunch at the house of the two brothers. Tahir and his brother are lovely people and show you a very personal side of Agra, with lots of information around history and art. They also leave you enough personal space and provide a lot of empathy.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Laurap1802
Oct 15, 2022
Fabulous Tour! - This was our 2nd trip to Agra but definitely our favourite thanks to Tahir and his wonderful handicraft tour of Agra. Completely off the beaten path and not where other guides would take you, we visited the homes & workshops of the artisans with no pressure at all to buy but we did because it was all wonderful!
We also opted to do lunch at the end at a local hotel - food was amazing and the hosts so welcoming. 🇮🇳🇮🇳
Review provided by Tripadvisor
378chiaran
Mar 31, 2023
Chiara + Anjali in Agra - Kaleem made our morning at Taj Mahal come alive with his simple but effective storytelling.He contextualised and made modern references in a way that was relateable to the younger members of our retinue. His pace was perfect as was his overall welcoming warm energy. The same evening he took us on a walk through the local village and exposed us to some of the laborious handicrafts so painstakingly done even today by craftspersons who sadly live marginalised lives. For our western-oriented kin, it was an eye opener and although only a superficial sort of exposure, there was enough to plant seeds for conversations and reflections with them for months to come.
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