When you are in India, the Taj Mahal, the famous mausoleum located in Agra, is probably a must in your wish list.

The famous monument can easily be considered as the most well-known Indian landmark. The history of the building, why it was made and the beauty, given by the amazing marble details and the decoration of the monument has attracted and it still attracts many visitors around the world.

This majestic architectural craft is a recognized World Wonder, and if you manage to visit it, you’ll understand why. Today, it is an iconic symbol of love and most probably one of the first pictures that come to your mind when thinking about India.

As an attraction, the Taj Mahal can get rather crowded, but this essential guide will help you making the most out of your visit and organizing it at best

What is the Taj Mahal?

The Taj Mahal was built at the beginning of the 17th century by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz.

Situated in Agra, a city located in the Uttar Pradesh state and about 200 kilometers from Delhi, the mausoleum is a popular destination in India.

The monument took 22 years to complete and has one side giving to the River Yamuna. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, called the four-way gardens and a central canal passing through them, even getting there might be an experience by itself.

The whole building is made of white marble whose color has changed a bit with the years due to pollution, becoming more cream-like, but still stunningly beautiful. Once inside, you’ll see the complexity and the intricacies of the wonderful craft and design and the semi-precious stones carved in some of the beautiful decorations.

Several stories and rumors are circulating about the mausoleum. One of them is that the hands of the architects and those that worked to build the Taj Mahal were cut off to avoid them replicating a similar fine structure elsewhere.

It is highly recommended to take a Taj Mahal’s tour to be able to learn more about the history and the many mysteries surrounding it while getting a more complete experience out of your visit to the mausoleum.

Why Should You Visit the Taj Mahal?

All in all, paying a visit to the Taj Mahal means being able to see one of the World’s Seven Wonders, getting a view of a marvelous building that has become the icon of long-lasting love. This architectural masterpiece, full of intricated designs and decoration, is a landmark you don’t want to miss during your trip to India.

When To Visit the Taj Mahal?

Before getting to the Taj Mahal, you should be prepared to see it crowded. There will probably be a lot of visitors, disregarding the period you chose to go to.

The best time to visit is between March and June. This period is the best as you probably won’t have to deal with unbearable high temperatures or fog, also you’ll find the monument a bit less crowded. The high season runs from October to March, which you might want to avoid.

One of the biggest advice, if you don’t want to visit the monument while is too crowded, is to go there early in the morning. Going at sunrise and before 9:00 will allow you to explore the mausoleum with a bit more quietness. The monument is open from 6 AM to 7 PM, and 8:30 PM to midnight for night visits, which are scheduled in the five days around every full moon.

When you’re organizing your visit, keep in mind that on Fridays the mausoleum closed for prayers. Try to go during the week: Monday and Thursday are probably the best days. If you don’t want to have it too crowded, avoid the weekends.

How To Get to the Taj Mahal?

You can easily visit the popular mausoleum in a day trip from Delhi being Agra only a couple of hours away. Because of the popularity of the destinations, there are several options and at different times of the day. You can also decide to hire a driver or a tour guide taking you there. It is up to you!

The Entrance

You can choose out of three entrance gates to the monument and cars are not cannot get closer than 500 meters of the building due to the pollution’s effect on the color od the building. Pick one in advance!

• The West Gate usually has the longest waiting times during the day and it is most popular among the local visitors.
• The East Gate is commonly used by tourists, being close to many of the main hotels. Generally, fewer people are queuing up at this gate, unless when large groups arrive. It typically is most crowded at sunrise. However, the ticket office is 10 minutes away from the gate. In case you bought your tickets online, this might be your best choice.
• The South Gate is regarded as the least used gate. It doesn’t open before 8 AM and it is located close to a rather big market and the area of many budget hotels.

Some Tips to Keep in Mind when planning your visit

The mausoleum is a beautiful building, both from the inside and from the outside. That is should not come as a surprise. However, you should be prepared to having to deal with many more people trying to get closer to the wonderful decorations, especially inside the mausoleum. It can get quite stressful, but if you know what to expect, you’ll get mentally prepared and you’ll be able to have a better experience.

Also, mind you that Agra is very expensive compared to other Indian destinations, because of the hight amount of visitors it gets daily. If you’re on a budget, do not go shopping in Agra.

In terms of the time needed to visit the mausoleum, usually between 1 to 2 hours will be enough to see everything and walk around as well as having the time to take beautiful shots.