This article discusses local travel tips regarding the last leg of getting to the Taj Mahal, including visiting hours, parking, tickets and what not to carry. For tips on avoiding tourist guides, protecting your wallet and preserving your sanity, please read this article.
Background
The Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is situated in Agra, a small town in north India. The architectural wonder was created by the 17th-century Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as an mausoleum for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Although the marble used to build the Taj is white, it changes color throughout the day: from softly pink at dawn, to yellow, then pure white. At sunset, the fiery tints of the setting Sun are reflected on the Taj, and at nights when the moon is full, the pure white marble shimmers silver.
Hours
The Taj Mahal is open from sunrise to sunset (approximately 6 a.m. to 7 p.m). It is also open for moonlight viewing 8.30 p.m. until 12.30 a.m., two days before and after each full moon, except for the month of Ramadan and Fridays. The Taj Mahal is closed to the public on Fridays. Fog, especially in the colder months best suited to traveling to India, can drastically limit viewing, so check the weather reports before heading out pre-dawn.
What to bring and what not to
Videocameras are not permitted inside the complex. Shoes are not permitted on the marble structure and must be removed or covered with footmuffs. There is a security check, similar to TSA checks in U.S. Airports, outside the complex with separate lines for men and women. Matches, cigarette lighters, pocket knives and other items typically considered unsafe as carry on items on board airplanes cannot be carried inside the Taj complex. Cell phone usage is prohibited and subject to fines. Temperatures in winter vary from 40-70 degrees fahrenheit, so dress in layers.
Parking
Because of pollution, the last one kilometer of the road to the Taj Mahal is closed to vehicular traffic. All cars and taxis enter a parking lot, which charges a nominal parking fee (INR 40, less than a dollar). After that, tourists must travel on foot or take a eco-friendly, auto-rickshaw (“Tuk-Tuk”) to the Taj. The cab travels no faster than 10 miles an hour. Based on your negotiating skills, you can expect to pay INR 50-1000.
Tickets
$1 roughly equals 50 INR (Indian Rupee). Indian nationals pay INR 20 with a government ID. Discounted tickets are also available for Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives. Myanmar and Afghanistan. All other tourists pay INR 750 Children younger than 15 years are free. Night time tickets cost INR 750 for foreigners and INR 500 for Indian nationals (including children) for half an hour’s admittance, which is restricted to 200 people at a time. These tickets must be purchased 24 hours in advance from the Archaeological Survey of India office on Mall Road.