I Woke Up at 3 AM for a Taj Mahal Sunrise Tour… and Questioned Everything
The hotel phone screamed at 3:00 AM. I slapped the nightstand twice before answering. “Sir, your driver is here.” Outside, Delhi was still drunk on darkness. I brushed my teeth in a daze. Why did I book this? A Taj Mahal sunrise tour sounded romantic on Pinterest. At 3 AM, it felt like punishment. My brain listed reasons to cancel. Too tired. Too cold. Too far. But I pulled on jeans anyway. That decision changed how I see travel forever. The Highway of Ghosts The car smelled of pine air freshener and regret. My driver, Raj, just smiled. “Sleep. Three hours to Agra .” But I couldn’t sleep. The Yamuna Expressway felt like a video game. Empty toll booths. Glowing road signs. Occasional trucks breathing diesel smoke. I kept checking my phone. 4:15 AM. 4:40 AM. Every minute stretched like chewing gum. A strange thing happened near Mathura . The fog lifted slightly. Stars appeared. I suddenly felt ...