Is there a sight emblematic, more beautiful, and more jaw-dropping breathtaking than the Taj Mahal? To be honest, I can’t think of one.
At the very least, there is no monument grander, no declaration of love more credible than this masterpiece for one’s wife, and no better reason to travel than seeing this grandiose.
In October 2018, I finally got a chance to visit the Taj Mahal despite being in Delhi since 2015. Since my childhood, Taj Mahal was always there in my heart, its been on my bucket since long so when I had a day off I picked up my keys to witness the love of a husband for his wife.
You can never compare this with any picture you see on TV or at hand, it is something which will be a great miss if you don't visit.
It is even more magnificent and sumptuous in person and I suggest everyone include it in their India travel itinerary.
So to encourage you to see this epitome of love, I thought I would do a travel guide to the Taj Mahal with everything you need, the prices, and the best time to visit.
Fun facts about Taj Mahal:
1) It was created by Shah Jahan for his 3rd wife Mumtaz (their tomb lie beside each other)
2) Replicas of the Taj are in Bangladesh and Dubai
3) It was also rumored that another black Taj would be built just opposite to it
How to reach the Taj Mahal?
If you are in or around Delhi, you can drive to Agra via highway which is a beautiful straight drive to the city. It is a cultural triangle that includes Agra, Jaipur, and Delhi. I drove, visited the Taj Mahal, had lunch, and returned to Gurgaon by 8 PM the same day.
Agra is a “tourist trap” which means things are quite expensive to western people but I think you should spend a night doing other things in Agra.
How much does it cost to enter the Taj Mahal?
The Taj Mahal ticket price is different from the foreigners and locals.
Foreigners- 1100+200 entrance free
Locals- 250 rupees
You can buy the tickets from the western and eastern entrance gate up to one hour before the sunrise and sunset.
I recommend you to buy the tickets online (you can get it in Google) because it's easier to get a discount and you need not stand in the long-standing queue in the heat.
When is the best time to visit the Taj Mahal?
If you want some pictures for your Instagram then its best to take those when there is no one around you so that’s before sunrise.
You need to get there an hour before sunrise if you want to buy the tickets offline and don’t be disappointed if you see people standing before you as the line is quite long even at that hour. After the entry, head to one of the benches directly in front of the Taj Mahal and take your iconic photo.
In another 10-15 minutes, a lot of people will arrive and it won’t be easy for you to take a good shot until you spend hours photoshopping people out of the picture.
The best time to visit the monument is from November to March (October was quite hot I must say).
Which day of the week should you visit?
The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays. Saturdays and Sundays are the busiest because of the obvious reasons. I asked a few guards there and they informed me that usually, the Mondays are the quietest and good for photography. I had no other choice but to travel on a Saturday as my trip was spontaneous with no backup plan.
How long does it take?
I had to stand in the queue for 3 hours to get a peek into the tomb for just 30 seconds. It is that bad when there is a rush. We usually took another one hour to stroll in the beautiful gardens and other buildings besides the Taj Mahal. If you take a guide which I strongly recommend, you might take longer as they will keep repeating the history of Shah Jahan and the Taj Mahal. I truly regret not taking the guide seriously but I know a lot of people who did and they never repent.
Some information about your travel to the Taj:
You go through strong security, expect bags and body search
1) You cannot wear shoes inside. Leave it with a shoe guy and leave a tip (50 rupees perhaps)
2) You cannot take any pictures inside the Taj Mahal due to security reasons
3) If you are expecting a lot, you will surely be disappointed to see what Taj has in offer
4) If you want your pictures to make a mark, wear bright colors. (I did the greatest mistake and wore grey)
5) You can have a cup of masala tea while waiting in the queue
6) Men and women have to stand in different lines (quite a bad thing for couples traveling together)
7) Don’t buy any souvenirs from there as they charge you heavily
Other things to do in Agra:
If you are staying for the night then you probably might be thinking of what else to do in Agra? Well, this was the only reason I took the same day to return but many of my friends and relatives told me that you can visit the following places henceforth:
1) You can go on a boating ride in the river and watch the sun descend behind Taj. It's quite a scintillating experience.
2) Visit the Agra fort
3) Visit the baby Taj
4) Dolphin water park
5) Keetham lake
This is enough for keeping your trip limited to a day or two. On the second day, you might just want to chill in the swimming pool and watch the sunset.
So there you have my guide and I hope you like this article as much as you like the Taj Mahal.