Frequently Asked Questions about the Taj Mahal
Below you'll find the answers to the most commonly asked question about visiting the Taj Mahal.
What is the best time of year to visit the Taj Mahal?
The best time to visit the state of Uttar Pradesh, in which the Taj Mahal is located, is typically said to be October to March. This season has the most comfortable temperatures, ranging from 10° - 30°C (50° - 86°F).
October - March: The most comfortable temperature, but also the most crowds.
April - June: Can get incredibly hot, with temperatures peaking at 45°C (113°F).
July - September: Monsoon season, so try your best to avoid visit. If you do, bring an unbrella.
When does the Taj Mahal open and close?
The Taj Mahal is open every day except Fridays, when it is closed for prayer.
Hours: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Special Moonlight Viewings: 2 days before and after each full moon. You must buy tickets for the moonlight viewing in advance, and they do sell out during peak tourist season. This website has more information on Moonlight Viewings.
Night time tickets cost 750 rupees for foreigners and 510 rupees for Indian nationals, for half an hour’s admittance. These tickets must be purchased between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., one day in advance from the Archaeological Survey of India office on Mall Road.
See more details here, including night viewing dates.
When is the best time of day to visit the Taj Mahal?
The best time to visit the Taj Mahal is as soon as the gates open! As we mentioned in Tip #1, sunrise is the time of day where you'll find the fewest crowds. Plus, the lighting is nicer than at midday and you'll avoid the extreme heat.
How much time do I need at the Taj Mahal?
If you're into photography or want to relax a bit and people watch, allow about 3 hours to visit the Taj Mahal. Otherwise, you could probably snap a few shots, walk around the building and inside and feel like you've seen everything in 1.5 hours.
How long did we spend at the Taj Mahal?
We walked through the entrance around 6:40 a.m. and left at 9:30 a.m. By this time, the crowds were thick and we were happy to be leaving.
How much does entry to the Taj Mahal cost?
Foreigners: 1,000 rupees ($15.40 USD) (recently increased from 750 rupees)*
India nationals: 40 rupees
Children 14 and under: Free!
*Included in the price of a foreigner ticket is a bottle of water, shoe covers and a tourist map of Agra. Plus, there are shuttles you can take from the ticket booth to the entrance if you'd like (we skipped this, as waiting for a ride would have taken us longer than walking the 1 km).
Which gate is best to enter the Taj Mahal?
There are 3 entry gates to the Taj Mahal: South, East and West. We found the East Gate to be most convenient for us; but choose the one that sounds best to you based on the descriptions below:
The East Gate: This gate is nearby some of the more popular hotels, so you'll see many foreigners entering here. For us, this gate was the most convenient, and since we arrived early, we didn't wait in line very long.
The West Gate: This is the most crowded gate throughout the day, as it receives roughly 60-70% of visitors. This gate is primarily used by Indian visitors, and while lines are very long throughout the day, you may find shorter lines right away in the morning.
The South Gate: Located by a somewhat dodgy market with pushy touts selling overpriced souvenirs, the South Gate entrance receives the fewest number of visitors. It doesn't open until 8 a.m., so if you want to arrive at sunrise, you can count this gate out.
What to wear at the Taj Mahal?
There is no dress code enforced at the Taj Mahal, but while traveling in India, we would always recommend dressing modestly. Ladies, it's usually a good idea to wear something that covers your shoulders and knees.
Are there guided tours of the Taj Mahal?
If you're traveling solo and want some company, or you simply don't feel like organizing this visit on your own, we'd recommend booking a tour with our partner company Get Your Guide. This top-rated Taj Mahal Tour has a whole day planned out leaving from and returning to Delhi.
Many tour companies offer a "Golden Triangle" tour, which stops in New Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. These cities are all located in northern India and are roughly the same distance apart -- approximately 200-500 kilometers (125-155 miles).
What’s the best way to get to Agra and the Taj Mahal?
The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra, which is easily accessible in a day trip from Delhi. The train system from Delhi to Agra is good and there are about 117 trains weekly. The journey from New Delhi Station (NDLS) to Agra Cantt (AGC) is about 3 to 4 hours depending on the train you take.
From the train station you can take a tuk tuk to the Taj Mahal for about 150 rupees ($2.30 USD).
If you want to drive from Delhi to Agra, the Yamuna Expressway linking links the two cities and takes about 3 hours to drive. There are tolls on the expressway however. A one-way trip costs 415 rupees and a round trip costs 655 rupees.
Again, there are reasonably priced tours that leave from Delhi and take you around to the major spots in Agra for an all-day tour where everything is arranged for you.
What is the nearest international airport to the Taj Mahal?
The closest airport to the Taj Mahal is the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi (DEL). Delhi International is a major hub in the region and you can typically get pretty cheap airline tickets.
How to get around Agra?
Many people hire a rickshaw driver for the day, which is a great way to see all the sights listed above. We went to the Taj Mahal on our own (since we wanted to spend a few hours there and didn't want a driver to be waiting).
Our driver picked us up at our hotel at 10 a.m., and brought us to Agra Fort, the Baby Taj and the Mehtab Bagh Gardens. We paid 900 rupees ($13.90 USD) for all day transportation.
Agra Auto Rickshaw Service
There is one thing you should be aware of when you hire a rickshaw driver in Agra: They will most likely end your day tour by driving you to several shops which they claim have great products and prices (not exactly true!).
If you purchase something, the driver will get commission. We were taken to a gem shop, a carpet factory, a sari store and a marble inlay workshop. With the exception of the marble shop (which was quite interesting to see the process of how the Taj Mahal was built), we found these stops to be a complete waste of time.
We told our driver we were not interested, but he insisted in bringing us. Next time, we would be up front with the driver right away and tell them we will not be buying anything and would like to skip these stops.
How long should I spend in Agra?
We would recommend staying 1 - 2 nights. This will give you one full day to see the Taj Mahal and explore a few other things that this city has to offer.
Itinerary for Visiting Agra and the Taj Mahal
This is the itinerary we followed:
Day 1: Arrive in Agra
3 p.m. Arrive from New Delhi by train
3:30 p.m. Check into hotel and freshen up
5 p.m. Enjoy a beer at a rooftop bar with a view of the Taj Mahal
6:30 p.m. Dinner
8 p.m. Back to hotel for an early night (tomorrow's wake up call is early!). Be sure to pack a bag with any items you'll need.
Day 2: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Baby Taj
4:45 a.m. Wake up, get dressed and head to the ticket booth
5:15 - 5:30 a.m. Arrive at Shilp Gram U.P. Tourism Ticket Booth (East side) and wait in queue
6 a.m. Ticket booth opens up. Don't forget your water bottle and shoe covers.
6:15 a.m. Head to the East Gate of the Taj Mahal. Enter and explore the Taj. Make sure to see all angles of it.
10 a.m. Once you had enough (or you get sick of the crowds), meet your rickshaw driver back at your hotel
10:30 a.m. Have an early lunch at Shero's Hangout Cafe (you'll already be hungry because you woke up so early!)
11:00 a.m. Visit Agra Fort with the free CaptivaTour audio guide.
12:15 p.m. Visit the Baby Taj
1:00 p.m. Visit the Mehtab Bagh Gardens
1:30 p.m. (The day starts getting really hot) Choose either to head back to your hotel to avoid the heat, or have your tuk tuk driver take you to a marble inlay shop (but not any of the other shops, in our opinion)
After 2 p.m. Relax at a pool or take a nap.
5:00 p.m. Get ready for dinner and enjoy your meal on a rooftop as you watch the sun set over the Taj Mahal
Day 3: Relax and Travel Out
8 a.m. Leisurely breakfast
10 a.m. Catch transportation out of Agra to your next destination!
*Note: If you only stay one night, you could leave late in the afternoon of Day 2.
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