Everything You Need To Know About The Iconic Taj Mahal!

• The Taj is simply a majestic tribute to an exotic beauty

To learn more about this magical place, here is important travel information you need to learn before planning a trip to Taj Mahal.

History

The Taj Mahal is a breathtaking white-marble mausoleum commissioned by Mughul emperor

Referred to by the great Indian writer Rabindranath Tagore as “a teardrop on the cheek of time”, the Taj Mahal was constructed in 1632 as a tomb for Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan’s favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in 1631. Construction commenced in 1653 after more than two decades of summoning 20,000 workers and the best artists, cutters, and marble cutters from all over India, to make the Taj Mahal one of the world’s architectural splendor.

Emperor Shah Jahan, who commissioned the construction of ‘The Taj’, desired to create it also as a symbol of solemnity, harmony, purity and spirituality as well.

Because of Taj, Agra is popularly called as ‘City of love’. One of the Seven Wonders of the World.

• Opening Hours

Gates opens at 6:00 a.m. and closes at 7:00 p.m. (except on Fridays, when it is closed for prayers). During the full moon of the month and the two nights prior and after the full moon—for a total of five nights—the Taj Mahal opens for night viewing from 8:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m.

• Location & Getting

Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It lies approximately 125 miles or 210 kilometers from Delhi.

Most tourists opt to visit Taj Mahal on a day-trip from Delhi, which connects to Agra by road and railway. Travel time by bus will take around 4 hours, a private car by 3 hours while a train ride reaches Agra in 2 hours.

Tip: Best to take the train if you are only making a day-trip to Agra. Take a train from the New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) to Agra Cantonment (AGC). The train station in Agra is only 20 minutes away from the Taj Mahal. Upon exiting the station, you can take a rickshaw to the Taj Mahal.

• Best Time to Visit the Taj Mahal

when the weather is cool and perfect for morning and even a late afternoon stroll on the Taj Mahal grounds. The best time to visit is from October to March. The summer season—which is scorching in Agra—starts by April and lasts till July. After that, the wet monsoon season follows from August till September.

Important: Taj Mahal is closed every Friday and is only accessible for Muslims attending their prayers in the afternoon.

• What to Wear

Since the Taj Mahal is a revered place, every visitor should dress up respectfully. Make sure to wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees. A headcover for women while isn’t a rule, is a better option to have. Wear light clothing during the warmer months and layered clothing during the winter months (November-February). You also need to take your shoes before entering the Taj Mahal so, better to wear shoes that are easy to remove.

• Best Spots to Take Photographs

The best time of the day to visit the Taj Mahal is in the morning during sunrise when there is a far lesser crowd. 

The spot before the arch of the main doorway

The usual image of the Taj Mahal was captured from the edge of the garden pool lining up towards the Taj Mahal. From here, you can achieve a shot of the Taj reflecting beautifully on the water

A portrait of the Taj Mahal from the riverside showing the reflection of the Taj on the river

Shot from the other side of the river, in a garden called ‘Mehtab Bagh’, where you can capture the Taj Mahal on the background

The interior of the surrounding mosques

of course, any close-up shot of the Taj Mahal will produce a wonderful image

when the weather is cool and perfect for morning and even a late afternoon stroll on the Taj Mahal grounds. The best time to visit is from October to March. The summer season—which is scorching in Agra—starts by April and lasts till July. After that, the wet monsoon season follows from August till September.

Important: Taj Mahal is closed every Friday and is only accessible for Muslims attending their prayers in the afternoon.

• Entrance Fees

The entrance ticket to Taj Mahal costs 1,050 Rupees for foreigners + 200 Rupees to see the main mausoleum. 

50 Rupees (+200 Rupees to see the mausoleum) for Indian nationals

The entrance ticket to Taj Mahal costs 1,050 Rupees for foreigners + 200 Rupees to see the main mausoleum.
50 Rupees (+200 Rupees to see the mausoleum) for Indian nationals