Ultimate guide to the Taj Mahal

Are you India-bound and wondering if the Taj Mahala UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Agrais worth the timeeffort and crowds? In all honestyskipping one of the most beautiful buildings in the world for any reason would be a travesty. Despite the infinite number of images scattered across the internetnothing beats an in-person experience of the spellbinding all-marble wonder.

A heartbroken ruler’s fitting tribute to his dead queenit remains an unsurpassed monument to eternal love. The Tajas it is locally calledis a bucket-list favorite with good reasonso brace yourself for the droves queuing up alongside you to see this grand gesture from the 17th century.

The Taj Mahal memorializes Mumtaz Mahalthe third wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahanwho died of childbirth-related complications in 1631. He commissioned the iconic edifice in 1632. It took eight years and the labor of more than 20,000 people to complete the dazzling marble mausoleum. The rest of the complex took another 14 years and was finally finished in 1653. Five years laterfollowing a power struggle and bloody fratricidehis son Aurangzeb dethroned Shah Jahan and confined him to the Agra Fort for the rest of his life. He died in 1666 and was interred next to his beloved.

How do I get to Agra?

Agra is well connected by rail and road with Delhi. The easiest way is to take the 6:55am Taj Expresswhich reaches Agra in three hours. You can also pre-book a cab or hop into an Uber from Delhi (upwards of ₹2900 Indian Rupee/US$34). The airport receives domestic flights only from MumbaiHyderabad and Bengaluru. 

Buy tickets in advance to avoid crowds

One of the ways to avoid the packed queues of people is to buy your tickets online. International visitors pay ₹1100 (US$12.70) for entrySAARC and BIMSTEC visitors pay ₹540 (US$6.25)while Indian visitors pay just ₹50 (US$0.58). All visitors are charged an optional ₹200 (US$2.30) should they wish to enter the mausoleum. If you’ve made it this farwe recommend you do. Your ticket also includes a water bottle and shoe covers for the mausoleum. 

The online purchase includes a nominal entry-fee reduction for a same-day visit at Agra FortSikandra (Akbar’s Tomb) and Itimad-ud-Daulah. Ticket counters at the Taj Mahal open an hour before sunrise and close 45 minutes before sunset. It is closed on Fridays.

When is the best time to visit the Taj Mahal?

While you’ll never have the Taj completely to yourselfyou will find a thinner crowd if you arrive when the monument opensa half hour before sunrise. Consider a visit between February and April or September and November to avoid extreme temperaturesthe notorious North Indian fogsmogmonsoon rains and the holiday rush.

Taj Mahal by moonlight

Night viewing of the Taj is possible on five days every month; on full moon nightand the two nights before and after. Only a limited number of people are allowed up to the main gateway for 30 minutes between 8pm and midnight. Book your slot well in advance for a stunning moonlight-bathed vista of the mausoleum.

Arriving at the Taj Mahal

Owing to extreme air pollution in Uttar Pradesh (which is discoloring the Taj Mahal)polluting vehicles are not permitted within a 500-meter (1640ft) radius of the monument. Parking facilities are found near Shilpgram (1km/0.6 miles) for the East Gate (where the queues are the longest)and at Amrood Ka Teela for the West Gate.

You can simply walk the distance along a paved road lined with hotelssouvenir shops and refreshment stalls on the eastern sideor hop into a battery-powered vehicle (also included in your ticket) for the short ride to and from both gates. The South Gatenearest to the buzzing Taj Ganj neighborhood popular with backpackers and travelers on a tight budgetis exit-only at present.

Keep your passports handy as visitors must go through ticket and security checks at both gates. There are separate queues for men and women although foreign visitors can skip ahead due to their high-value tickets. 

What not to carry

Large bags are not permitted. Free luggage check is available but it's best to carry essentials only (camera/phonepassportwater bottlemoney) if you wish to breeze through. Tripods aren’t allowed either and almost everything else (including foodtobaccolipstickpensbooks) will be confiscated. 

What should I expect once I get there?

The main complex has two distinct sections. In the foreground is the charbagha walled garden layout typical of Central Asiaalso known as a Mughal garden. Replete with fruit-bearing treesand divided into neat fours by watercoursesit is said to represent paradise as referenced in the Quran. The mausoleumat the far endbacks onto the Yamuna River beyond. An impressive main gate ushers you in from the forecourt.

This is where you’ll first set eyes on the luminous structureframed dramatically against the skyits watery likeness mirrored in a reflecting pool. The vision is every bit as stunning as the hype suggestsand you’ll need a minute to take in the iconic sight. Along with a sea of other awestruck shutterbugs and selfie-takers! Foggy daysa common occurrence from mid-December to mid-Januarymay sometimes mar this experience in the early hours. While heretake time to admire the imposing gateway’s splendid spandrelsinlay work and calligraphy. You may not get a chance on your return as the exit is through a side door. 

Expect to be approached by eager guidesmany of them imposters. Make sure to check their credentials (government-approved licenses) before you hire them. Alternativelybook ahead with a travel company or sign up for expert-led guided tours beforehand. Most of them are proficient in English. FrenchGermanItalianSpanishJapanese and Korean-speaking guides can be arranged through your travel agency with prior notice. Audio guides are presently unavailable at the Taj. 

Keep an eye out for design details

If you decide to visit the cenotaphs firstyou can go straight along the row of tree-flanked fountains. Be prepared to find animated posers waiting their turn at a raised platform midway. This is a popular photo-opmade famous by sagely smiling world leaders and celebrities. You can join them or head on towards the mausoleum up ahead.

Your optional tickets will be checked before the stairs leading up to the plinth (inaccessible by wheelchair). Look out for the High-Value Ticket Holder sign to the right. Once you make your way up the narrow flight of stepslinger a bit to admire the vaulted facades. Take a close look at the gemstone-embellished pietra dura scrollworkand the jasper inlaid calligraphy around the arched recesses. Note how the font size increases with height to create a uniform look.

Insidean elaborate false tombsurrounded by a latticed marble screen and inlaid with semiprecious stonesmarks the cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal. It lies directly below the central dome. Beside itoffsetting the symmetry of the Tajis the larger albeit less adorned cenotaph of Shah Jahan. The real graves are in a locked crypt below the main chamber and cannot be viewed. Afterwardmake your way to the sandstone structure called jawab (answer) to the east of the Taj. It was built as a symmetrical response to the mosque on the opposite side and is also known as the mehman khana (guesthouse). 

Learn more about the Mughals 

Should you wish to roam the grounds firstmake your way along the western edge to the small but excellent Taj Museum (free10am-5pmSat-Thurs). Look out for ivory portraits of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahaland the display featuring architectural drawings and Mughal-era coins. The celadon plates in the gallery to the right of the entrance were said to change color or shatter when in contact with poisoned food. Outsideat the corner to your leftis an often overlooked photo-op that provides a fine view of the Taj Mahal rising above a canopy of green trees. Carry on along this periphery for the mosque (entry restricted) and the cenotaphs.

Where to eat near the Taj Mahal

Food options around the Taj Mahal are limitedbut there are a few tried-and-true spots to hit up.

Yash Cafe: An oldieoft-visited for desserts and coffeethis eatery is very affordable and within walking distance from Shilpgram parking (East Gate). Especially great for an early breakfast as it opens at 7am. 

Shankara Vegis: Also a wallet-friendly optionthis vegetarian spot in Chowk Kagziyan offers great thalis along with a rooftop view (and super friendly owners).

Mukeem Biryani: A local favorite for your biryani cravings; expect spicy and fragrant food. 

The best views of the Taj Mahal 

There’s every chance you'll want more of the Taj Mahal before you leave Agra and there are some excellent vantage points to view the stunning monument. This is also another chance for those (unbelievable as it sounds) wholly unimpressed with their first visit. A different perspectivemostly away from the crowdsmight bring on a change of heart!  

• Mehtab Bagha Mughal garden on the north bankprovides the closest view from across the Yamuna. Visit at sunset to watch the play of fiery colors on its gleaming marble.

• The rooftop cafés at Joey’s and the Saniya Palace Inn in Taj Ganj offer great views of the Taj.

• Experience Shah Jahan's later-in-life view of his monument to love from Agra Fort. The imprisoned emperor spent his remaining years here gazing out at his masterpiece (2km/1.2 miles away). Plan for sunrise views from Khas Mahal and Musamman Burj.

• Take a cycling tour or auto rickshaw ride through Agra’s rural surroundings to see the Taj silhouetted against lush farmlands.

• Book a high-tea experience with Ekaa Agra and enjoy views of the Taj as you sip and savor.

What are accommodation options in and around Agra?

Agra offers a range of accommodations across the price spectrum. The luxurious Oberoi Amarvilas and the economical Joey’s Hostel are both located in bustling Taj Ganj and offer stunning views of the mausoleum. The colorful Coral Housea comfortable homestay in the same neighborhoodis another affordable option.

If you’re looking for some peace and quietEkaa Villa and A Dog’s Story on Fatehabad Rd are good choices. Quieter still is the Mela Kothi-Chambal Safari Lodgea family-run rewilded eco-lodge an hour’s drive from Agra.