Top Tips to know Before You Visit the Taj Mahal
There is so much we wish we would have known before visiting the Taj Mahal. These tips will let you in on our top tips with everything you need to know before your visit. We hope this helps make your experience as memorable as possible.
1. Arrive early to the ticket booth
Our advice is to visit the Taj Mahal first thing in the morning. There will be fewer crowds, nice lighting and you'll avoid the midday heat (that actually starts around 9 a.m.).
Arrive to the ticket booth as early as possible. We arrived at 5:45 a.m. (15 minutes before the ticket booth opened_, and there was already a decently long queue. If we were to do it again, we would try to arrive at 5:15 a.m. The building is called Shilp Gram U.P. Tourism). When we exited just after 6:15 a.m. the line was wrapping outside the door.
Even though the ticket booth is 1 km from entrance of the Taj, it's not a bad walk. But there are plenty of rickshaw drivers you can hire if you don't want to make it on foot.
Keep in mind: Don't expect a colorful sunrise in solitude. The sunrise isn't actually behind the Taj Mahal; plus, the gates don't open until the sun has actually risen. That said, the morning lighting is lovely. And even though you're waking up early and beating the majority of crowds, you certainly won't find yourself alone – there are crowds all throughout the day, even right when the gates open. As long as your expectations are realistic, you won't regret waking up early.
2. Choose your gate wisely
There are 3 entrance gates to the Taj Mahal. Be sure you read up on each so you know which is the smartest option for you.
The East Gate was closest to our hostel, and while it was crowded, we didn't find ourselves waiting too long before we were able to enter. This was most convenient for us.
The West Gate is further from most of the hotels, and this is the most crowded gate during the day. However, we've read that it is a bit less crowded at sunrise than the East Gate. So depending on where you're staying, this might be a good option.
Avoid the South Gate if possible (unless solely to people watch). It's located near a dodgy market and the touts selling souvenirs are pushy. Plus, this gate doesn't open until 8 a.m., so if you want to make it for sunrise, you can cross this gate off your list.
More info on the Taj Mahal entrance gates.
3. Buy your ticket with exact change
Even though we arrived first thing in the morning, the men at the ticket counter were giving people a hassle for not having exact change. Price of Taj Mahal entrance: 1,000 rupees per person (recently increased from 750 rupees). A foreigner ticket should come with a bottle of water, shoe covers and a tourist map of Agra.
4. Wear bug spray
Mosquitos are still out at dawn (when we visited in March) and we were swarmed while waiting in line to enter the Taj Mahal.
Travel Tip: We love traveling with this all-natural bug balm. It is a solid stick, so it won't leak or count toward your TSA liquid limit.
5. Be prepared to separate from your travel partner
At the east gate entrance, there is a line for men and women. As it usually is with bathroom lines, the women's queue takes longer. If you're traveling with the opposite sex, be sure you are prepared to separate and find a meeting place on the other side of the checkpoint because it get crowded fast.
If you're visiting the Taj Mahal with kids, this entrance gets really crowded, so make sure to keep you little ones close so they don't get lost in the chaos.
6. Dress appropriately
The dress code is not enforced at the Taj Mahal. We saw some women wearing strappy dresses and tank tops.
Even though there's no code enforced, we would recommend dressing modestly. The general rule of thumb in India for ladies is to cover your shoulders and everything below your knees. Wear light and loose clothing, as it can get incredibly hot, especially when shade is scarce and the sun is reflecting on the marble and concrete structures around you.
7. Know what you can't bring inside
Bags must be scanned, so after being frisked you must get in yet another queue if you have a backpack or purse.
There is a long list of items you cannot bring inside the Taj Mahal, including food, headphones and tripods. Read up on banned items on the official website. We had a deck of cards, a headlamp and the tripod section of our GoPro extendable arm taken. And we saw a girl's pack of gum get confiscated. Be very selective when packing your bag!
We had to go back out of the gate, directed to a little nearby shop which had "lockers". This shop will hold your belongings, but will pressure you to buy something when you come back to pick it up.
The things in these shops are overpriced knockoffs, so we didn't want any. Cut to the chase, tell them you're not interested, and give them 100 rupees for holding your stuff.
8. Don't get a guide
Typically we would encourage hiring a guide, as it creates a job for a local. However, the Taj Mahal is notorious for people posing as guides. We've read there are only 50-60 official guides at the Taj Mahal, yet more than 3,000 touts offer their services to tourists, posing as guides and photographers.
9. Download this app
Sometime audio guides are hit or miss, but we really liked the Taj Mahal CaptivaTour audio guide. It was easy to listen to and was a good way to learn some history and important information while exploring the Taj Mahal.
You could hire a tour guide (which provides a local with a job), but honestly it is kind of a crowded mess just inside the gates, and you won't know how good of a guide you're hiring (see #8). Plus, if you opt for an audio guide, you can explore at your own pace.
Tip: After the app is downloaded, you must open it and download the audio files. Do this the night before when you're in WiFi so you're prepared!
10. Make friends
One of the highlights of our time visiting the Taj Mahal was meeting very friendly Indian families. If you look like a foreigner, you will likely be asked to be in many family pictures. Sometimes it can get a little overwhelming when you are trying to take photos or get out before it becomes too crowded. However, if you have a good attitude and a smile, you will have a much better experience.
11. Be flexible if you're visiting the Taj Mahal with kids
Traveling with children can be an incredibly special experience for everyone in your family. But it might mean you will need to travel a little differently and make a few adjustments. This article describes what you need to know if you're visiting the Taj Mahal with kids.
12. After the Taj, stop here
If you need a pick-me-up after your visit to the Taj Mahal, you won't have to go far. Right outside the east gate is Cafe Coffee Day (an Indian chain) which is air-conditioned, has a clean-ish bathroom, and serves good coffee (albeit a bit pricy: 110 rupees for an Americano with tax). It's a good place to escape the heat and regain your energy.
Feeling inspired and want more? Here are some of our favorite non-cliche travel quotes to fuel your wanderlust.
Taj Mahal Photography Tips
Whether you're a professional photographer or a novice with an iPhone, you will be mesmerized by the Taj Mahal. From the typical shots everyone seems to take to the more obscure, the Taj Mahal is a photographer's dream. Here are some tips for getting the best photographs of this iconic piece of architecture.
13. Be prepared
Have the correct equipment packed* and have a few angles in mind from which you'd like to take photographs. Once you're inside the premises of the Taj Mahal, you may be overwhelmed by the crowds, so you'll be much more at ease if you have a plan.
*Remember, tripods are banned in the premises of the Taj Mahal, so you can't bring them inside.
Travel Photography Tip: pack your camera essentials the night before so you don't forget anything when you wake up before the sun and are in a rush!
14. Wear bright colors
This tip is just for fun, but if you want to take a cool picture of yourself in front of the Taj Mahal, bright colors look especially pretty against the white marble. You'll see Indian women and foreigners wearing brightly colored saris. While I didn't go that far, I was happy I bought a pretty scarf because it made my photos "pop"!
15. Get creative
If you want to get some awe-inspiring photographs of the Taj Mahal, you're going to have to get creative. Check out this comprehensive article on Creative Travel Photography Tips to give you inspiration!
16. Get out of the crowds ASAP
Immediately when you enter the Taj Mahal, everyone seems to stop and take pictures. We fell into this trap and all our shots had tons of other people in them. (See photo above!)
Tip: If you want to get a photo near the entrance, do it as you're leaving because this area is always crowded.
Instead of stopping at the entrance, keep walking because there is a much better view of the Taj Mahal and you'll get past the huge crowds (especially if you arrive in the morning).
Walk until you see the first pool. This is where you should stop and take the "typical" Taj shot. (see photo below!)
17. Get up close!
Don’t just take photos from the pools… The detail shots are where it’s at!
The thing that makes the Taj Mahal so beautiful is the details of marble carving. Don't forget to take some photographs up close.
18. East side (right side) has nice lighting in the morning
On the east side of the structure, there is almost a glow in the early morning hours.
If you think about it, the sun rises in the east so the light in the morning will be coming from that way. Make sure you're taking that into account when you are trying to figure out shadows and lens flares.
19. West side (left side) can create interesting framing
On the west side of the Taj there is a mosque (to be more specific a mihrab which faces east toward Mecca) with prayer mats tiled in the ground. From within you can get some interesting pictures of the Taj as long as you are patient enough for people to move.
20. View the Taj Mahal from across the river at Moonlight Garden
If you have time, take a tuk tuk across the river to the Mehtab Bagh (which translated is "The Moonlight Garden"). Entrance is 200 rupees and could be worth it if you want a shot of the Taj Mahal without any one in it.
Tip: If you don't want to pay the entrance fee, just next to the Moonlight Garden there is a road with a pretty decent view of the Taj Mahal too. Our rickshaw driver knew where it was and happily took us there so we didn't have to pay an entrance fee.
21. Be patient
Everyone wants the same shots, so take a deep breath and wait for the right moment. Patience will keep you from feeling overwhelmed and is the key to taking great pictures in crowded places.
22. Get a nice photo of yourself
It's easy to take all sorts of pictures and forget to get one of yourself. If you are traveling with a companion, it's easy to exchange photos of each other.
But if you want a shot together or you're traveling solo here's a tip:
If you want a photo of yourself, find someone with a nice camera (they'll most likely take better pictures than someone using a cell phone) and ask if they'd like their picture taken. Take the shot with the same composition as you'd like yours and show them what it looks like. Then ask if they'll take one of you in return.
23. Consider a Full Moon Tour at the Taj Mahal
Since the Taj was constructed with such pristine translucent marble, when you are inside you can actually see the moonlight glow through the marble. It is said to be spectacular. For a few days before and after each full moon, the Taj Mahal is open for night tours but be sure to book ahead because they only let in a certain amount of people each night. It typically cost 750 rupees ($11.50 USD) for the moonlight tour.
Think outside the box: You can get some wonderful shots of the Taj Mahal without even being on the premises. One popular shot is across the river from the Taj at Moonlight Gardens (see #19).
Some hotels have epic views, and one of our favorite viewpoints was while enjoying beer at a rooftop restaurant!
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