The Taj Mahal
Scratch the surface of Shah Jahan’s love life and you’ll find enough political polygamy and silk-clad concubines to create a Persian Game of Thrones, with his fourth wife, Mumtaz Mahal, lasting long enough to deliver their fourteenth child and immortalise the pair in the echelons of romantic history. Romance may not have initially stemmed from Mumtaz’s almost permanent pregnancy from 1613 to 1631 but zip forward a couple of decades to 1643 and you’ll find the completion of a marble mausoleum which would set the standard for romantic symbolism from here to eternity.
Estimated to have cost a total of 32 million rupees, about £640 million in modern money, the Taj Mahal represents the might of the Mughal Empire as well as one of the grandest, or guiltiest, gestures to a spouse ever. Millions of tourists are now drawn to this UNESCO World Heritage Site every year.
After entering on foot from any one of three gates: East, West and South, it’s the onion-shaped dome on top of the tomb that forms the central focus for visitors, with the interior perhaps a little less meditative than the views from the landscaped gardens outside. That said, there are always a fair few touts and ‘professional photographers’ hanging around the paths and water channels surrounding the Taj Mahal and if you want to have your photo taken then consider offering your own camera as you’re likely to get a better result.
Understandably, security is tight, so think airport check-in and avoid edible, sharp and electrical items, although one phone per person is usually allowed. Once inside the mausoleum you’ll be asked to take off or cover your shoes.
Our India Holidays
Golden Triangle with Ranthambore tour, India
Brilliant experiences including Tigers and Temples
From
£1199 to £1299
11 days
ex flights
Golden Triangle small group holiday, India
India's 3 most popular destinations, Delhi, Agra & Jaipur
From
£565 to £705
8 days
ex flights
North India cultural tour
An adventure to one of the planet's exotic destinations
From
£845 to £995
22 days
ex flights
Rajasthan and Taj Mahal tour
Authentic experience of live like Royals of history.
From
£900 to £1650
12 days
ex flights
The Golden Triangle cycling holiday in India
A fascinating introduction to Northern India
From
£1868 to £2022
11 days
inc UK flights
Golden Triangle 7 day tour in India
Classic iconic trip for the India First timer..in style
From
£589 to £2899
7 days
ex flights
Golden Triangle 9 day tour in India
Top Quality Golden triangle Trip at an excellent price.
From
£1099 to £1299
9 days
ex flights
Rajasthan 15 day tour
A well crafted northern Indian and Rajasthani experience
From
£1749
15 days
ex flights
India tour, Taj, tigers and Ganges holiday
Experience the essence of northern India
From
£2865
13 days
ex flights
Golden Triangle & tigers holiday in India
Rajathan's palaces, the Taj Mahal & tigers
From
£800 to £950
9 days
ex flights
Rajasthan small group tour, India
Discover Rajasthan in depth
From
£1855 to £1975
16 days
ex flights
Golden Triangle express tour, India
A 4-day Express tour of the Taj Mahal, Delhi, and Jaipur.
From
Rupee50000
4 days
ex flights
India holidays to the Golden Triangle, tailormade
An ideal trip for the first-time visitor to India
From
£970
7 days
ex flights
Luxury Rajasthan holiday, 14 days
Experience life as a Maharaja in wonderful Rajasthan
From
£4836
14 days
ex flights
Family holiday to India, sightseeing and safari
Taj Mahal in Agra to the Palace of the Winds in Jaipur
From
£730 to £860
10 days
ex flights
Luxury Golden Triangle holiday in India
The Golden triangle Staying at the very best hotels in India
From
£1349 to £3399
7 days
inc UK flights
Golden Triangle & Kerala holiday, India
Best of Golden Triangle & Kerala, a perfect intro to India
From
£1985
17 days
ex flights
Rajasthan tailormade holiday
From palace hotels to luxury tents
From
£1777 to £1900
15 days
ex flights
India highlight tour, North and South
Explore India's cultural diversity
From
£1649
13 days
ex flights
Rajasthan tours, India
Discover the evocative northern province of Rajasthan
From
£1030 to £1235
15 days
ex flights
Northern India luxury tour
Famed luxury ,outstanding service of the Oberoi hotel group
From
£3900 to £4550
10 days
ex flights
Rajasthan tailor made holiday, India
See the temples & palaces of Rajasthan
From
£755 to £900
12 days
ex flights
India Golden Triangle 10 day tour
Introduction to the major sites of India
From
£1172 to £1970
10 days
ex flights
India holiday for solo travellers
Discover Delhi, Agra and Jaipur
From
£565 to £645
8 days
ex flights
Accessible Golden Triangle tour in India
Experience the famous Golden Triangle of India barrier free
From
€2500 to €6000
10 days
ex flights
Adventure holiday in Rajasthan
Explore Rajasthan and cycle the country roads to Agra
From
£1760 to £1820
12 days
ex flights
Vegan holiday in India
Intricately carved temples, splendid palaces, delicious food
From
US $2440
12 days
ex flights
North India highlights tour
Journey around north India to experience the former Raj
From
£3038 to £4880
19 days
ex flights
India 23 day luxury tour
Take in the very best of what India has to offer in style.
From
£4154
23 days
ex flights
The Golden Triangle holiday in India
Old Delhi, the city of Agra and Jaipur
From
£1149 to £1570
9 days
inc UK flights
How to get to the Taj Mahal
How to get to the Taj Mahal
In order to reduce traffic pollution, getting to the Taj Mahal requires visitors to embark on the local ‘park and walk’ scheme or electric bus service. Cycle rickshaws from the car park to any of the gates don’t cost the earth and give something back to local workers as well as saving your legs from a 15 minute walk.
Going on an organised tour means that you can travel from Agra before sunlight and bypass the ticket desk queues at the East Gate as you follow your guide to watch one of the world’s most iconic scenes before taking a tour of the grounds, tomb and surrounding buildings.
Best time to visit the Taj Mahal
Best time to visit the Taj Mahal
As a working mosque, the Taj Mahal isn’t open to tourists on a Friday but the grounds are open for the rest of the week with East and West gates open from sunrise (6am) to sunset (7pm) whilst the South Gate is open from 8am until 5pm. March and April are often the best months to see the Taj at sunrise as early morning fog isn’t as prevalent as it can be from October to February. Seeing the Taj Mahal at night is also an amazing experience with a limited number of visitors allowed for five nights a month either side of the full moon (except for Fridays).
The key to avoiding the crowds is to go as early as possible, especially inside the mausoleum itself; best advice is to head for either the West or East gates about 30 minutes before they open.
Alternatively, you can chance your luck and head over about an hour and a half after the gates open – timing your visit after the initial early morning rush but before the 10am arrival of Indian tour groups. Your tour leader or local guide will know the local routines, and will plan the best time to visit depending on the time of year and day of the week.
A great way to capture the sun setting over the Taj Mahal is to move over to the opposite bank of the River Yamuna just before dusk where you’ll find the Mehtab Bagh Gardens, situated to the north of the main mausoleum complex, and blissfully tranquil.
Our top India Holiday
Golden Triangle small group holiday, India
India's 3 most popular destinations, Delhi, Agra & Jaipur
From
£565 to £705
8 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2020: 1 Jun, 15 Jun, 6 Jul, 13 Jul, 23 Jul, 3 Aug, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 31 Aug, 3 Sep, 7 Sep, 10 Sep, 17 Sep, 21 Sep, 24 Sep, 28 Sep, 1 Oct, 3 Oct, 5 Oct, 10 Oct, 12 Oct, 13 Oct, 15 Oct, 19 Oct, 22 Oct, 26 Oct, 31 Oct, 2 Nov, 3 Nov, 7 Nov, 9 Nov, 10 Nov, 12 Nov, 16 Nov, 17 Nov, 19 Nov, 23 Nov, 26 Nov, 30 Nov, 1 Dec, 7 Dec, 10 Dec, 14 Dec, 15 Dec, 17 Dec, 19 Dec, 21 Dec, 22 Dec, 24 Dec, 26 Dec, 28 Dec, 29 Dec
2021: 1 Jan ...
2020: 1 Jun, 15 Jun, 6 Jul, 13 Jul, 23 Jul, 3 Aug, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 31 Aug, 3 Sep, 7 Sep, 10 Sep, 17 Sep, 21 Sep, 24 Sep, 28 Sep, 1 Oct, 3 Oct, 5 Oct, 10 Oct, 12 Oct, 13 Oct, 15 Oct, 19 Oct, 22 Oct, 26 Oct, 31 Oct, 2 Nov, 3 Nov, 7 Nov, 9 Nov, 10 Nov, 12 Nov, 16 Nov, 17 Nov, 19 Nov, 23 Nov, 26 Nov, 30 Nov, 1 Dec, 7 Dec, 10 Dec, 14 Dec, 15 Dec, 17 Dec, 19 Dec, 21 Dec, 22 Dec, 24 Dec, 26 Dec, 28 Dec, 29 Dec
2021: 1 Jan ...
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about India or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Places to see near the Taj Mahal
Red Fort, Agra
Just 2.5km down the road, the Red Fort of Agra is thought to have been Shah Jahan’s final resting place after he was imprisoned by his son, the sixth Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb. Featuring large lawns, impressive Mughal architecture and some great views over the River Yamuna towards the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort is an experience in its own right and another fine example of the strength and the finances of the ever-impressive Mughal Dynasty.
Fatehpur Sikri
This former capital city of the Mughal Empire was built by the third Mughal Emperor, Akbar, and can be found around 40km west of Agra. Featuring several water features, including a vast artificial lake, Fatehpur Sikri was only occupied by Akbar for a decade before he upped sticks and left for Lahore in 1585. The red sandstone public buildings, courtyards, Hindu and Islamic artwork, and places of worship, including one of India’s largest mosques, Jama Masjid, provide one of India’s most important collections of preserved Mughal architecture.
Sikandra Fort
This intricately carved sandstone and white marble tomb provides the resting place for Akbar the Great as well as insight into his love of deep thought, science and the arts. Designed as a five-storey pyramid with the tomb below the cenotaph on the ground floor, this is another amazing example of Mughal architecture with marble panelled inlays, patterned ceilings and Islamic calligraphy providing a fascinating glimpse into the skills of 17th century Indians as well as the wealth and excesses of the Empire for which they worked.
Recommended reading material includes The Age of Kali by William Dalrymple and No full stops in India by Mark Tully
More about India
In general, India succumbs to a summer season, winter season and monsoon season so read more to find out the best time to go, wherever you're headed...
India is an explosion of colour. The Golden Triangle glistens with culture, Rajasthan has pink and blue cities, and Kerala has lush green Ghat Mountains...
It is vast and, therefore, can be overwhelming, so take some time to look at our map and highlights to help you work where to go in India...
From Ladakh's Buddhist influences, Rajasthan's palaces, and tigers in the national parks, India has no shortage of cultural and natural treats...
India has 103 national parks. They pack in a host of endangered species, exotic birdlife, dramatic landscapes, and - most famously - tigers...
Crammed with temples, palaces and Mughal architecture, the Golden Triangle delivers a perfect week in India, with plenty of Indian spice and flavour...
It’s underrated when it comes to avian experiences, but India should be on every twitcher’s wishlist.
India is a veritable feast, and exploring it through food will give you the best insight into its culture, history, geography and stuff your faceology...
Experiencing an internationally celebrated event in its country of origin is one of those travelling adventures to tell the grandkids about.
Travelling in India with children is like opening a storybook and sinking into a different page every day, because it is so full of stories for kids...
Here are some of our top India travel tips on what to pack, what not to miss and how to get the most out of this varied and wonderful cultural adventure...
Same sex sexual activity was only briefly decriminalised in India before being made illegal again, but LGBT travellers should not face discrimination...
This is untouched northern India, home to a fascinating living culture, spectacular wild scenery and the last remaining Asiatic lions on the planet.
In a country that is constantly changing, poverty, conservation and animal welfare are areas that are worth reading up on before your India holiday...
Find all of our India guides in one place, for particular places in India such as Rajasthan, Kerala or the Himalayas...
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Rawpixel.com] [Top box: Roderick Eime]
[Taj Mahal doorway: Rajarshi MITRA]
[How to get to the Taj Mahal: Y'amal]
[Best time to visit: Chubby Chandru]
[Mehtab Bagh: Narender9]
[Red Fort: bjoern]
[Fatehpur Sikri: Pedro]
Back to the top
- Recently viewed
