No trip to India is complete without a visit to the infamous Taj Mahal. And, I’m here to tell you how to do just that!
I’ve visited the Taj Mahal twice now and can attest that this architectural gem will blow your mind no matter what time of year, what time of day, or how many times you visit.
Read on to learn more about how to visit the Taj Mahal, tips for visiting the Taj Mahal, other things to do in Agra, India, and more.
*P.S. this post contains some affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase.
What is the Taj Mahal?
The Taj Mahal is widely considered one of the most beautiful buildings ever created and is one of the world’s greatest architectural achievements. It’s a timeless symbol of love and a must-see attraction on every trip to Agra and every Golden Triangle tour.
The ivory-white marble mausoleum has a perfectly symmetrical design with inlay work of precious and semi-precious stones unlike any other in the world.
When was the Taj Mahal Made?
Construction for the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and took two decades to complete. Now, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, and one of the most famous landmarks in the world.
Who Made the Taj Mahal?
Agra witnessed the rise and fall of several Mughal rulers. Two in particular, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the small village of Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire.
Shah Jahan, aka the “King of the World” and the fifth Mughal emperor, crowned himself emperor at Agra Fort and reigned from 1628 until 1658.
During his reign, he commissioned the Taj Mahal, and the Mughals reached the peak of their architectural achievements and cultural glory.
Why was the Taj Mahal Built?
Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal to be built to house the tomb of his “favorite” wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and later himself.
The tomb, which symbolizes love and devotion, is the centerpiece of the complex. But the complex also includes a mosque, a guest house, a large square Mughal garden, and a reflecting pool in the middle.
Legend has it that Shah Jahan commanded that the artisans and craftsmen involved in the construction have their hands chopped off. This was so that they would never again build such a wondrous monument. To some, this may seem extreme, but to others, it’s seen as a sign of great love for his wife. That being said, this is just a legend, and there are no facts to back up this popularized claim.
Where is the Taj Mahal?
The Taj Mahal is located in Agra, India on the banks of the Yamuna River in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
The city is approximately 143 miles south of India’s capital, New Delhi, and can be reached in about 2-3 hours by train or car via the Yamuna Expressway.
The City of Agra, India
Once the capital of the Mughal Empire, Agra was a center for education, arts, commerce, and religion. Now, it’s the site of one of the most prized and globally recognized monuments in the world and is sometimes called the “City of Love”.
Agra is also known for its longstanding tradition of craftsmanship, including marble inlay work, embroidery, leather goods, and carpets.
Agra, India Weather
It’s monsoon season in July in Agra, which brings high humidity, warm temperatures, and moderate-to-heavy rainfall.
Daytime high temperatures range between 90–97°F, and nighttime lows range between 77–82°F.
It was hot during our visit, but luckily, we didn’t get any rain. You may want to carry an umbrella or rain jacket just in case though!
Agra Itinerary
After my two action-packed days in Delhi, India, my friend, Candace, and I, along with her coworkers, Tammy and Spencer, made our way to Agra, India to see the Taj Mahal for the very first time.
We booked our visit to the Taj Mahal through India TajMahal Tour Operators. Our itinerary was supposed to be as follows:
- 3:00 – 6:00 am: Drive from Delhi to Agra
- 6:00 – 9:00 am: Taj Mahal visit
- 9:00 -10:00 am: Breakfast in Agra
- 10:00 – 11:30 am: Agra Fort
- 12:00 – 3:00 pm: Drive back to Delhi
However, our day, unfortunately, didn’t go quite as planned, and we almost missed this once in a lifetime experience!
Our Taj Mahal Story
If you’re only interested in learning more about our Taj Mahal tour, feel free to skip this section. This section focuses on our experience leading up to our Taj Mahal visit.
If you read my Delhi post, you know that we had dinner at The Wine Company in the DLF CyberHub. And, apparently, the wine hit us pretty hard because Tammy, Candace, and I all slept through multiple alarms. Somehow, Candace and I only woke up around 6:30 am when we heard Tammy pounding on our door!
Spencer, who arrived around 1:00 am from Hyderabad, had been waiting in the lobby for hours, worried that something happened to us. And, since he wasn’t a guest of the hotel, he wasn’t allowed to come back and try to wake us up himself.
And, at some point, he was forced to send our driver away after three hours of waiting—yes, we’re actually THE WORST. Tammy, Candace, and I were in utter shock and felt so guilty that we’d messed up our plans. But, we felt especially terrible for Spencer, who’d flown in just for the occasion.
We walked into breakfast completely devastated and took a moment to regroup before deciding to attempt to salvage the day. First, we checked with the hotel about getting a new driver, but that was going to be a lot more expensive—like $500 more expensive.
Then, it hit me! Why didn’t we just call our original driver back? He would’ve been spending the day with us anyway, and we could pay him a premium (just not $500!). As luck would have it, he agreed to come back for us, and we were on our way to Agra!
Since Spencer, Candace and I had flights out of Delhi that evening, we had to skip breakfast in Agra (luckily we’d already done that at the hotel), as well as visiting the Agra Fort, which we all felt we could live with. Unfortunately, our late departure also meant that we would miss the sunrise at the Taj Mahal, but beggars can’t be choosers!
A Broad Recommendation: I was lucky enough to visit the Agra Fort on a 4-Day Private Luxury Golden Triangle Tour to Agra and Jaipur From New Delhi with 5 Star Hotels during a future trip to India and highly recommend this tour if you have more time in India than we did.
Our Taj Mahal Tour
When we arrived after the 3.5-hour journey, our guide was waiting to meet us for our Taj Mahal tour. And for this, we were beyond grateful!
Everything worked out perfectly, and everyone was so willing to accommodate our major mess-up. And, because of that, we were able to see one of the New Seven Wonders of the World—how incredible!
As we walked to the main gateway, or the “gate of the mausoleum”, our guide explained that the calligraphy was carved with progressively larger script as they went up the structure. This was so that it would look like the same size throughout to the reader on the ground.
Just on the other side of this gateway, sits the Taj Mahal, which is an absolutely stunning site. We were totally in awe, and of course, we had to take a ton of pictures!
Luckily, Spencer had forgiven us, and as it turns out, he was a great fake Instagram boyfriend for the three of us, holding our purses while taking on the role of photographer, as seen here.
Our guide taught us some other really interesting things throughout our Taj Mahal tour. For example, the marble pillars enclosing the main structure are angled slightly out, so you can clearly see it in pictures. This also ensures that if they were ever to fall, they’d fall away from the domed structure housing the remains of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
He also noted that the artwork on the exterior of the Taj Mahal includes flowers, vegetation, and other abstract forms. This style is distinct from the other Hindu temples in India, which depict insects and other living things. This is because Islamic art isn’t supposed to depict living beings.
Inside the Taj Mahal
Inside the Taj Mahal sits the “false tomb” that houses Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal and is decorated with marble and semi-precious stones. It’s called a “false tomb” because the actual remains are below this one in a more modest tomb.
If you’ve never been to the Taj Mahal, you may be surprised to learn that this small room is the only one you can enter, considering that it looks like a palace!
There’s a fee to go inside, but it’s totally worth it, especially if it’s your first time visiting the Taj Mahal. To go inside, you’ll be given some covers to put over your shoes. You must also cover your shoulders and knees as a sign of respect, so be sure to dress appropriately.
A Broad Recommendation: We visited in July, and it was very hot during our visit. We wore jump suits or tank tops with long pants and tied scarves around our purses until we entered the tomb. Refer to our India travel tips for more information about what to pack, what to wear, etc. for your India trip.
Despite our late arrival, we still had an awesome time at the Taj Mahal. We learned a lot and were able to capture some great photos too!
Tips for Visiting the Taj Mahal
A visit to Taj Mahal takes a minimum of two to three hours. Keep these tips in mind for your visit:
- Don’t go on a Friday! The Taj Mahal is closed for general viewing on Fridays
- Get there early to beat the crowds and to avoid the heat and humidity (unlike us, as seen here!)
- Go for sunrise if the weather is nice
- Have some Indian Rupees (INR/Rs) on hand to pay entrance fees and tips
- Bring a scarf like this Embroidered Oversize Tassel Shawl or this Pashmina Shawl to cover your shoulders inside the Taj Mahal
- Wear a skirt, shorts, or pants that cover your knees; I like these Joob Joob Boho Pants, Urban CoCo Boho Joggers, and Omoone Sleeveless Overalls
- Carry a cross-body purse, money belt, secure, RFID blocking wallet, or fanny pack, as the Taj Mahal gets very crowded and pickpocketing does happen
- Don’t say ‘yes’ to people who want to take pictures of or with you
- Tip around Rs 500 for your Taj Mahal tour guide
Taj Mahal Tickets
Here is some other important info for your visit to the Taj Mahal:
- Hours: Daily from 6:00 am – 7:00 pm (closed on Fridays)
- Time to Visit: 2-3 hours
- Cost: Rs 50 for Indian visitors (Rs 5 discount online) & Rs 1100 for foreign nationals (Rs 50 discount online) + Rs 200 to visit the mausoleum; children under the age of 15 are free
- Bring your passport/ID with you just in case
We visited the Taj Mahal with a guided tour through India TajMahal Tour Operators. If all had gone as planned, we would’ve paid around Rs 9500. Of course, we ended up tipping a lot on top of this due to our mess up—whoops!
The Taj Mahal tour cost included pick-up and drop-off from our hotel in Delhi, a large, air conditioned vehicle, and an English speaking guide. It didn’t include entrance to any of the monuments (see Taj Mahal ticket prices above) or any meals or tips.
Other Things to Do in Agra
Of course, we didn’t get to do much else during our visit to Agra, since we arrived so late in the day. Here are some other things to do in Agra if you have more time here:
- Agra Fort (I was fortunate enough to visit the Agra Fort on another trip to New Delhi, Agra & Jaipur)
- Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah
- Sikandra (Tomb of Akbar)
- Tomb of Mariam-uz-Zamani
- Jama Masjid
- The Taj Nature Walk
- Mehtab Bagh, i.e. the Moonlight Garden
- Yamuna River Boat Ride
- Sheroes Hangout
- Sadar or Kinari Bazaar
- Bulund Darwaza in Fatehpur Sikri
Where to Stay in Agra
Though we only spent a half-day in Agra this time, I stayed at the Jaypee Palace hotel on another visit and had a great experience!
The hotel staff welcomed us with beautiful flower leis and refreshing drinks, before having someone escort us to our room.
The room itself was large and beautiful and had a patio with a garden view. During our stay, we walked around the lovely hotel grounds, used the hotel’s spa services, and enjoyed a yummy dinner at C’est Chine, a 5-star, authentic Chinese restaurant on-site.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it! Is the Taj Mahal on your bucket list? A visit to the Taj Mahal is a must on any trip to India, and we’re all so grateful we were able to see it.
But this wasn’t the end of Candace and my Asian adventure! We hopped on a flight that same evening and made our way to Chiang Mai, Thailand, where we’d be spending the next few days. Read on if you’re interested in learning how to explore Chiang Mai in three days.
XOXO Sara at Travel A-Broads
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