The incredible ivory-white marble grand mausoleum Taj Mahal, which seems like a folk tradition, is located on the right banks of the Yamuna River in Agra. This scarcely credible Mughal architecture was constructed in 1631 by the fifth Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, and was completed in 1658 in memory of his loving wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The UNESCO World Heritage site is crafted and jeweled with semi-precious stones from around the globe. Walking with your loving partner to experience the calmness of paradise where heaven’s Queen rests in peace with her King. The manifested serenity architecture shows different shades as it twirls pink in the morning, clouded during the sunset, and dreamy golden twinkling when it is under the moonlight.
The Grace of Perfect and one of the seven wonders was completed in 1648, but the construction of other parts continued for another five years. Consequently, the massive tomb of the 17-hectare 42-acre mausoleum is home to a mosque, a guest house, and formal gardens, which are covered from three sides. Shah Jahan organized the first observance ceremony on 6 February 1943, on the 12th anniversary of the death of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is believed that the entire construction of this marvelous monument was completed in 1653; it took almost 22 years and 20,000 workers to complete it at an estimated cost of approximately INR 35 million. The grace of perfection and the jewel of Indian Islamic art were recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
The Taj Mahal is a mesmerizing, breathtaking tourist attraction that opens 30 minutes before Sunrise and closes 30 minutes before sunset on ordinary days except Fridays, as it remains closed for people but remains open for Prayer meetings. Admirers can also appreciate the immense beautiful night view of the Taj Mahal after the sunny day view. Still, the night tour is restricted to a few specific days only, though the night tour of the Taj Mahal is available only for five days, especially on the whole moon night, two days before/after moon night.
Incredible Mughal Architecture opens on weekdays/ weekends at 6 am and closes at 7 pm.
The Taj Mahal Night tour timings are 20:00 to 23:59 hrs; the tour is limited to 8 batches of people, 50 for each batch.
Note: To admire the awe-inspiring night view of the twinkling golden, most romantic architecture Taj Mahal, one should consider booking the tour between 10:00 pm and 11:30 pm. Though the time duration of each batch is half an hour, tourists must report for the night tour at least 30 minutes before their slot time.
The entry fee to explore the undefined marvelous beauty of the jewel of Mughal Architecture, the Taj Mahal, may vary as it depends on multiple aspects, including the visitor’s resident status, such as whether the tourist is an Indian, a foreign tourist, or a Citizen of SAARC and BIMSTEC countries. Here, you will discover the entry fees charged to different tourists. However, there are no entry charges for children below the age of 15.
The entry fee for Indian residents to visit the Taj Mahal on weekdays is INR 50, except Friday.
Foreign/ NRI tourists should pay INR 1100 as an entry fee for the Taj Mahal.
For SAARC and BIMSTEC the Taj Mahal entry fee is INR 540.
Visitors are required to pay an additional INR 200 per person to visit the mosque where the serene Queen rests in peace with her King.
To appreciate the personified beauty of the ivory-white marble Mausoleum, wonderers have a chance to see the architecture under the sky of stars by booking the Taj Mahal Night tour, which is available only for five days, especially on Full moon night and two days before/after full moon. However, the night tour times are 8 pm till 11:59 pm in 8 batches only, with a maximum of 50 people in each group; the tour duration is half an hour, and you need to bring valid ID cards.
For Indian residents, the night tour fee for adults at the Taj Mahal is INR 510.
Foreigners/NRI tourists should have to pay INR 750 per person for adults.
Both Indian and foreign children (for 3 to 15 years) night tours Taj Mahal are INR 500
What is the best time to visit the Taj Mahal?
Tourists can explore the magnificent architecture in daylight, as the museum remains open 30 minutes before Sunrise and closes 30 minutes before Sunset. Also, enthusiasts can appreciate the spectacular night view of the Taj Mahal, which is no less than a bizarre moment. However, the best time to visit the Taj Mahal depends on the visitors' choice about what weather they wish to experience. Although November to February is considered the ideal season to enjoy the view of the Mughal architecture, sometimes it becomes bloomy because of peak winters. In the following information, we have mentioned some key facts that you must consider to see the best view of the Taj Mahal, especially when planning to visit here for the first time.
Best weather: The best time to visit the Taj Mahal in terms of weather is either October or March. You can also consider visiting during the early summer season to avoid foggy views.
Perfect time of day: To capture the mesmerizing view of the crown of Mughal architecture, it is better to visit the Taj Mahal early to see the Sunrise or half an hour before to view the serene Sunset. Otherwise, you can consider visiting between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Night view: Visitors can undoubtedly dive into the saga of the full moon night view of the beautiful twinkling shining Taj to enjoy a breathtaking experience. Significantly, the night viewing of the Taj Mahal is available only for five days in the month, and the timings are 8 pm to 11:59 pm in eight batches. However, the single batch time duration is 30 minutes.
Weekdays or Weekends: Weekdays are usually the ideal time to visit the Taj Mahal, as the weekends are super crowded. It is wise to plan to visit the incredible monument on weekdays, as it will be less crowded than on weekends. Otherwise, you can plan to visit early in the morning and late in the afternoon; you will experience fewer crowds on weekends.
Special Holidays: It is wise to avoid visiting the Taj Mahal, especially during the Indian festival se,ason and even on public holidays, as it remains super crowded and you won’t be able to enjoy the calmness of the place. You can plan a trip on ordinary days to avoid the peak crowd and enjoy a more relaxed visit.
It is worth visiting the iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is a masterpiece of Mughal architecture constructed by the Fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. To experience the serene paradise, you should consider visiting the monument during the early morning hours on weekdays to avoid crowds. You will be able to capture some mesmerizing moments of personified beauty.
To take the entire tour of spectacular architecture, it is recommended that you allocate approximately 2-3 hours so that you can easily explore the gardens and mosque, take pictures, and familiarise yourself with every engraved precious stone behind the story.
Yes, it is safe to visit the Taj Mahal during the night. The night tour is available for limited people only under strict security surveillance checks, and even night cops are available at the entry gate. Only 50 visitors are allowed in 8 batches to experience the best view.
Although there are plenty of ways to visit Agra, the closest Airport to one of the seven wonders of the world is Agra Airport, which is nearly 8.2km away from the main city. However, the other nearby Airports are Gwalior Airport (99.7km) and Indira Gandhi International Airport (180km). You can visit the monument via taxi when you reach Agra Airport.