They say that a journey is always more beautiful than a destination. Maybe that is why my friends and I are always on the lookout for getaways with road trips. The best way to unwind is being on the road, with friends, some food, and good music.
On one blessed weekend when the schedules of all my friends matched, we finally decided to take a long-awaited trip to Agra from Delhi via the famous Yamuna Expressway. Visiting the Taj Mahal is always overwhelming but we were also looking forward to the drive.
Yamuna expressway is a six-way expressway that is 165km long and takes about 90 minutes to cover which sounded perfect to us as it is neither too long nor too short. It is the second-longest expressway in the country and it passes through a thousand villages and also through the holy cities of Mathura and Vrindavan. It is also called Taj Expressway after the famous Taj Mahal of Agra.
We booked a Delhi to Agra taxi because none of us was in a mood to drive and we wanted to sit back and enjoy the ride. We were looking forward to the drive because the expressway wouldn’t have the city traffic, innumerable red lights, and halts except for the three toll booths of course.
We started our drive early in the morning as we do most of the time. Early morning means less traffic, sunrise, and the beauty of dawn on the drive. It was just perfect as we entered the expressway just around sunrise. The traffic was minimal and the road was pretty smooth.
It was after crossing the first toll that we reached the public convenience area where we had planned to stop for a break and breakfast. The area had spacious parking, greenery, clean restrooms and a food court to get breakfast from.
The food court on the Yamuna expressway has eating outlets like Costa Coffee, Pizza Hut, and Subway which offers options for everyone. The convenience area also has a pharmacy and swings for kids for those who might need them.
After having a good cup of coffee and breakfast we started for the rest of the journey. The vast and empty roads seemed so peaceful after the crowded and cramped roads of Delhi. We always compete with each other over who has better taste in music and so we took turns to play our favourite songs.
Our driver told us how a four-hour-long journey has been reduced to just a one and a half hour journey because of the Yamuna Expressway and we found that fascinating. My friend asked the driver to drive faster just to enjoy the thrill of speeding on an expressway.
The driver was quick to point out that the expressway has a speed limit of 100km/hr and that CCTV cameras have been installed on the expressway after every 5 km along with a video incidence detection system, speed radars, and vehicle recognition system.
We did manage to reach Agra in two hours, including the half-hour stop at the convenience area. The bookings for the commute were managed very smoothly with the help of this affordable taxi booking app. The visit to the Taj Mahal and the weekend spent in Agra was very memorable but the drive on the Yamuna expressway was also a journey to remember.
