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For your information, all these pictures were taken in January 2024.
Seeing the Taj Mahal is a bucket list item for many people, including myself as it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in the world. The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra on the southern bank of the Yamuna River. It became UNESCO World Heritage in 1983 as it was recognized for its cultural significance. It attracts millions of visitors from all around the world each year and is the most visited site in India.
The construction of the Taj Mahal was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal as she died during the birth of their 14th child. It often symbolises love and devotion as it appeared that Shah Jahan was deeply grief-stricken. That’s why it’s considered one of the most romantic gestures in history.
What’s really so special about the Taj Mahal, is that the Mughal architecture used a symmetrical design and intricate marble inlay work. Other than that, the building is adorned with intricate carvings, geometric patterns and verses from the Quran that you can see on the exterior wall. The central dome reaches a height of 73 meters (240 feet) and is surrounded by four smaller domes. Last but not least, the Taj Mahal is surrounded by a large complex of gardens, reflecting pools and other structures.
As India has been known for its pollution, there have been a lot of efforts to preserve and protect the Taj Mahal from environmental degradation and pollution. This includes cleaning, restoration of the marble and restrictions on vehicular traffic around the monument.
The Taj Mahal lies in Agra and this is remotely close to New Delhi, the capital of India, so it’s quite easy to reach this city. We reached Agra with a private driver from New Delhi, but another option is the train. Once you arrive in Agra, the easiest way is to stop a Tuk Tuk and get a lift! Always agree on a price beforehand!
To get to Agra, you typically have several options depending on your starting location:
The nearest airport to Agra is the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Airport in Agra itself, also known as Agra Airport. However, it has limited flight connectivity. Alternatively, travelers can fly to the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, which is approximately 200 kilometers away from Agra, and then proceed to Agra by road or train.
Agra is well-connected by train to major cities across India, like New Delhi. The Agra Cantonment Railway Station and Agra Fort Railway Station are the primary railway stations in the city. Several trains connect Agra with cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Kolkata, and more.
Another way can be by car. and then I mean not driving yourself as it’s very dangerous to drive in Indian traffic. But you can hire a private driver to drive you around the different cities.
So, if you prefer to travel by car, you can reach Agra via national highways and expressways. Agra is well-connected by road to nearby cities and states, making it accessible by private or hired vehicles.
The best time to visit the Taj Mahal is between October and March, as it’s dry and not that hot. But in the peak winter season (December and January), it can be quite cold in the north of India. Another important thing to know it that the smog is quite bad in the winter months, where you can’t see further that 100 meters in front of you.
December to April is typically the winter season, whereas it can bring cooler temperatures, but also pleasant weather as it’s not that hot. Only, the northern region is way more chilly. In the northern part of the city, like in Agra, this will be the period where you have the most problems with the smog and pollution. I sometimes saw nothing 100 meters in front of me.
The summer months, or also known as pre-monsoon season, is between April and June. This concludes very hot months. Think about temperatures around 32 – 40 °C (90 – 104 °F)
The monsoon or rain season starts in June and runs all the way to September. In these months, there is a lot of rainfall, that starts in June and is less frequent in September.
Post wet season is actually autumn in India, and lasts between October and December. This season brings less rain and cooler temperatures.
I stayed at Joey’s Hostel for my 1-night stay in Agra and it was the perfect hostel for this short trip! The hotel is so close to the Taj Mahal, which makes it easier to wake up for sunrise. And as a bonus, it has the best view when you go to the rooftop cafe
Opening hours: The Taj Mahal is open 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset. It’s closed on Friday.
Entrance fee for Indian residents: The online ticket costs Rs 50 for the Taj Mahal alone. If you buy the ticket with the Mausoleum, it costs Rs 250.
Entrance fee for foreigners: The online ticket costs Rs 1100 for the Taj Mahal alone. If you buy the ticket with the Mausoleum, it costs Rs 1300.
Important to know: You can only book your tickets online beforehand or at the gate itself, so make sure you have enough data or good WiFi to get them.
Drone cameras and tripods are strictly prohibited inside the Taj Mahal, so best to leave them at your hotel if you brought it.
Bring your ticket and your passport with you to enter the gate.
You will need to buy (or bring) a shoe cover when you want to enter the Mausoleum (which I highly recommend!).
Don’t bring a big backpack with you as you will need to leave it in a locker. It’s best to just bring your phone, wallet, camera and a water bottle with you.
The Taj Mahal has different kind of viewpoints spread across the city of Agra. And the Taj Mahal looks beautiful from up close as far away, so that’s why it’s so much fun to tick of all these different viewpoints.
The Taj Mahal has 2 main entrances: the east and the west gate. We entered through the east gate and I assume most people do this. At sunrise, it can get quite busy so if you want to take a picture without people, it’s best to be there very early and rush to one of the gates. Afterwards, you can wander around at your own pace.
The Mughal Garden is right in front of the Taj Mahal and is probably the most famous place to take pictures! And rightfully so as it’s so beautiful, but you will need a lot of patience. As we didn’t see anything at sunrise because of the smog, we went back in the afternoon and it was quite impossible to take pictures here.
This will be the last place inside the Taj Mahal, so make sure you’re ready to leave the Taj Mahal behind. Once you leave the property, it’s not allowed to enter again and you will have to buy a new ticket.
After your visit at the Taj Mahal, exit through the East Gate and walk all the way to the Yamuna River. This is a great location to see the Taj Mahal from a different point of view.
I also saw online that there is a fishermen that takes you onto their boat, but it’s not official and not even allowed to do this. If the fishermen would’ve came up to me, I definitely would have joined them on the boat, but I couldn’t find the man. It’s not for free, but as I didn’t do the boat tour, I can’t say how much it actually costs.
This has to be the best sunset spot for the Taj Mahal! Methab Bagh, also known as the Moonlight Garden, is across the Yamuna River and it’s the location where the black Taj Mahal would’ve been constructed, which is believed to be a myth. The entrance price is Rs 250 per person and is open until sunset.
From the Agra Fort, the Taj Mahal is also visible (if the smog isn’t that bad). This is a historic fort that is located in the city of Agra and it served as the main residence of the Mughal dynasty until 1638. Mughal emperor Humayun was crowned at this fort, and was later renovated by Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565. This fort is the peak combination of the Mughal architecture. Hence the importance of this structure. That’s why it became a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Opening hours: The Agra Fort is open from sunrise to sunset.
Entrance fee for Indian residents: The online ticket costs Rs 35 for the Agra Fort. If you buy the ticket at the counter, it costs Rs 50 for Agra Fort.
Entrance fee for foreigners: The online ticket costs Rs 550 for the Agra Fort. If you buy the ticket at the counter, it costs Rs 600 for Agra Fort.
Important to know: It’s a really enourmous fort, so calculate a lot of time to see everything.
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Hello, I’m Ellen and welcome to this blog! I’m in love with exploring the world and hopefully I get to inspire you with these blog posts and pictures to feel the same. You will find detailed itineraries, hidden gems, tips and so much more!
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