City: Agra, on the banks of river Yamuna
Divided Into: Four Parts
State: Uttar Pradesh
Distance from Delhi: 204 Km (approx)
It's the city of Agra that has received the honor of having one of Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal: an abode for eternal Love, in its courtyard. Located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, Agra has been one powerful city since the medieval times. The city finds mention in the epic Mahabharata and later gained recognition as the capital of Mughal Empire from 1526 to 1658 under the emperors Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan. At that time, the city of Agra was also known as Akbarabad. Till date, it remains a major tourist destination, courtesy three of the most famous Mughal era buildings like Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, and most notably the terrific Taj Mahal, all three of which stand as the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Taj Mahal in particular, built by Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world and is visited by millions of tourists annually.
The location for Taj Mahal was clearly a well thought out decision by Shah Jahan who chose a peaceful site about one and a half miles away from Agra at the southern edge of the city at the banks of river Yamuna. This location also had a strategic importance for the emperor, as it could be seen from his palace in the Agra Fort. The closeness to the river Yamuna not only gave this location a scenic edge, but also met the need for water during construction purposes and laying out the garden. Moving on to the Taj, the entire complex consists of a number of buildings comprising of a mosque, a guesthouse and the mausoleum, housing both the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. A long and beautiful walkway leads to the main mausoleum, which is built of pure white marble. Four waterways divide the gardens that stand in front of the Taj into four parts and then, meet in a pool at the center. It is believed that half of the beauty of Taj Mahal comes from this strategic location where it stands.
With Taj Mahal being in the premises of the Agra city and the city itself being the 19th most populous city of India, getting to it and the stupendous Taj Mahal isn't much of a problem. The Taj Mahal is located within 6 km of distance from the Agra city centre and is easily accessible by auto rickshaw or a cab. With the city being well connected by national highways, it is easily accessible through road from all major cities in India. The three railway stations: Agra Cantt, Agra Fort Railway station (from where the Taj is at 10-15 minutes of walking distance), and Raja ki Mandi connect almost all cities of the country and make access to the city of Taj an easy affair. For those who are extremely busy but still do not want to miss an opportunity to immerse themselves in the beauty of the Taj Mahal, getting to Agra by flight would be the easiest way out. Agra airport, which is around 6 km from the city centre, has Indian Airways' flights flying in and out on a daily basis
Height: 93 ft high
Period of Construction: 1632-1638
Referred to as Darwaza-i-Rauza or "gate of the mausoleum" by the architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri himself, the main gateway to Taj Mahal is indeed a worthy counterpart to the mausoleum in every sense of the phrase. No doubt that Taj looks splendid when seen from distance, but it's the child-like enthusiasm to adore it from touching distance that takes the anticipations to an all new level. And just when one reaches the open square before the main gateway, the majestic view of Taj disappears completely, only to manifest itself in an altogether glorious way when one stands right in the doorway itself, the doorway to the main mausoleum. The concept of Taj emerging out of the shadows and slowly growing on you seems even more praiseworthy if one dives into the abstract interpretation that suggests a transition from the outer physical world to the inner spiritual world.
The main gateway of the Taj Mahal is one of the five main elements of this magnificent monument. Adorned with Hindu motifs, the Taj gateway is a tall niche doorway in the shape of an ogival arch that rises till the mid-height of the structure. With a vertical symmetry, the main gateway of Taj Mahal stands bordered with Arabic calligraphy of verses from the Quran, made up of black stone. An optical illusion is brilliantly at play here as the size of the letters has been increased in such a way that it all seems consistent all over the arch from top to bottom. It was done by gradually increasing the size of the letters in a pre-calculated manner as their distance from the eye increased. Also, part of this gateway are octagonal towers that stand on the corners and are surmounted with broad and open domed kiosks and a heavy door made up of eight different metals at the base that are adorned with knobs.
Further beautifying the gateway to the Taj is an image of a white teardrop with a red trident, located above the pointed tip of the niche. When the gateway was under construction, this frontal gateway served as the main entrance. All these motifs of the gateway reflect a Hindu touch. Entwined flowers, mainly red lotus ones, leaves and vines ornament the sloping sides of the niche. These motifs were formed by semi-precious stones inlaid in the marble. And within the archway of this main gateway is a huge chamber with an arched roof decoration. The experts haven't been able to unlock the mystery of the countless rooms that lay inside it which have twisting and branching and side branching hallways that were seemingly built to confuse its entrants but have been unused for three centuries. Most of all, it's the stunning view of Taj from inside the main gateway that remains etched in viewers' memories long after the show is over.
Style: Persian
Divided Into: Four Parts
Canals: Two (crossing in the centre)
Flowerbeds: Sixteen
Trees: Cyprus & Fruit Bearing
The garden that starts from the end of the main gateway and ends near the squared base of the mausoleum is an integral part of the Taj Mahal structure and is, undeniably, one of the major highlights of the visit for many. The garden that beautifies Taj comes from the Persian Timurid style of gardens, and is based on the concept of paradise garden' and was brought in by Babur. This garden, filled with flowers, fruits, birds, leaves, symmetry, and delicacy, served many functions along with portraying strong symbolic or abstract meanings about paradise. A paradise which, according to Islamic beliefs, consists of four rivers: one of water, one of milk, one of honey, and one of wine. And it is from this concept that Char Bagh of Taj Mahal originated. Also, the symbolism of the garden and its division are noted in the Islamic texts that describe paradise as a garden filled with abundant trees, flowers, and plants.
Out of the total area of 580 meter by 300 meter of the Taj complex, these gardens alone cover an area of 300 meter by 300 meter distance and are based on geometric arrangements of nature. No attempt was made to give them a "natural" look. Another architectural attribute that has been followed in the case of the entire monument, especially the gardens of the Taj Mahal of Agra, is the usage of number four and its multiples. Since four is considered the holiest number in Islam, all the arrangements of Charbagh Garden of Taj Mahal are based on four or its multiples. The entire garden is divided into four parts, with two marble canals studded with fountains crossing in the center. In each quarter portion, there are 16 flowerbeds that have been divided by stone-paved raised pathways. It is said that even each of the flowerbed was planted with 400 plants.
The trees of the Taj garden are either that of Cyprus (signifying death) or of the fruit bearing type (signifying life) and even they are arranged in a symmetrical pattern. Taj Mahal occupies the north-end corner of the garden, instead of being in the center. In fact, at the center of the garden, between the Taj and its gateway, is a raised marble lotus-tank with a cusped border, which reflects the Taj in its waters. The four walkways that are although identical are differentiated through their context. In fact, the symmetry with which the whole garden has been organized and laid out, can be clearly observed and experienced as one can get an unhindered view of the mausoleum from any spot. These aesthetically maintained gardens not only bring a natural sense to the proceedings, but also make for some great snap taking spots.
The Taj Mahal, an embodiment of love and romance, is located in the city of Agra that lies approximately 204 km to the south of Delhi. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the monument attracts hordes of domestic and international tourists from all over the world, all year round. Such is the magnetic appeal and charismatic essence of the monument that visitors can never have enough of it ever and would want to visit it time and again. In case you have made up your mind to be enthralled by the excellence of this architectural brilliance, and are planning a trip to explore the beauty of this splendid monument, then the very first question that would come to your mind in how to reach the Taj Mahal. We have devoted this section on discussing various ways of traveling to the Taj Mahal in India.
By Air
The fastest way of reaching Taj Mahal, Agra is by air. The city of Taj, Agra, has its own airport that is around 7 km from the city center. Indian Airlines operates flights to Agra on a daily basis.
By Rail
There is a good network of trains connecting Agra with the rest of the country. Apart from the main railway station of Agra Cantonment, there are other two stations also, that of Raja-ki-Mandi and Agra Fort. The main trains connecting Agra with Delhi are Palace on Wheels, Shatabdi, Rajdhani, and Taj Express.
By Road
There are regular bus services from Agra to a number of important cities. The main bus stand of Idgah has a number of buses running for Delhi, Jaipur, Mathura, Fatehpur-Sikri, etc.
Local Transportation
After reaching the city also, you need some sort of local transport to reach Taj Mahal. You can easily get taxi, tempo, auto-rickshaw and cycle rickshaw in the city that will take you to your destination. Prepaid taxis are also available if you want to visit the various places near the city. For the adventurous kind, there are bicycles that can be hired on hourly basis from different parts of the city. Since diesel and petrol vehicle are not permitted in the vicinity of Taj Mahal area, you can find battery-operated buses, horse-driven tongas, rickshaws and other pollution-free vehicles there.
October to March
Just as there's no such thing as "a bad time to live", there's no such thing as "bad time to visit" one of the most scintillating and marvelous wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. Whatever be the time of the year, the Taj Mahal will not stop with its mission to spread its charm and glory and will continue to be as luminescent as ever. But as a visit in the months of summers requires a high threshold to bear the heat, the period between the comparatively cooler months i.e. October to March is generally considered a best time to visit the Taj Mahal. Having said that, know that the radiance of the Taj Mahal is simply dazzling, and changes with every passing hour, reflecting a different aura in different seasons. Also, the visual beauty of the Taj Mahal is at its peak during sunrise, sunset, and under the full moon night.
Taj Mahal at Sunrise
Watching the sun rise up from under the sea of sky is a sight to behold, and what better way to experience it than to watch it take its place up there while you stand on the premises of one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It's a moment of delight when the beauty of the sunrise and the Taj Mahal culminate together to make for some awe-inspiring images of the Taj, being transformed from soft grey and pink to a soft red glow.
Taj Mahal at Sunset
After shining its glory all through the day, when the sun climbs down the stairway of heavens and gets ready to say adios to the world, it plays its final trick in the book by lending Taj Mahal a different appearance with the shades of fiery yellow being transformed into soft exotic orange and finally to pearl white again, until the full moon prepares itself to accompany the Taj all through the night while dazzling the world with its quiet heavenly elegance.
Taj Mahal under Full Moon Night
By the night when the full moon is high up in the sky, the beauty that Taj Mahal breathes out is beyond the scope of words. A silver glow that takes over Taj Mahal is so mesmerizing that most of the things you'll see after that will feel ordinary at best. This fabulous interplay of colors all through the day, and then night, symbolically implies the presence of God, who is never represented in the anthropomorphic form.
Day Time Visiting Hours for Taj Mahal
The timings of visiting the Taj Mahal are set by the Archaeological Survey of India. The timings are from sunrise to sunset. Tickets are available throughout the day from the western and eastern gate, and at the southern gate tickets are available from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Taj Mahal is open six days a week to the public. When planning your visit do remember that the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays for general viewing and is is opened on Friday afternoon only for those who have to attend prayers at the Taj Mosque. Once inside, tourists can spend any number of hours inside the Taj complex from sunrise to sunset.
Photography is permitted so take along your camera.
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Night time visiting hours for Taj Mahal
Night time viewing of the Taj Mahal is an opportunity that many tourists miss out on because of the limited timings and the number of people allowed per night. If you get a chance, don’t miss an opportunity to see the Taj Mahal at night.
Night viewing at the Taj Mahal, from 8:30 PM to 12:30 AM, is allowed only on five nights in a month: one, on the full moon night, two days before it and two days after it, except for Fridays. However, night viewing is limited to maximum 400 people per night, divided into eight batches of 50 each and each batch is allowed to visit for a maximum duration of 30 minutes. The tickets for night viewing have to be booked one day (24 hours) in advance from the booking counter located in the office of the Archaeological Survey of India, Agra Circle, 22 The Mall, Agra, Uttar Pradesh in between 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Night viewing at the Taj Mahal is allowed
- only on five nights in a month. The five days, except for Fridays are:
- Two days before the night of the full moon
- The actual night of the full moon
- Two days after the night of the full moon
- Night viewing of the Taj Mahal per night, is limited to a maximum of 400 people only.
- Visitors are divided into eight batches of 50 people each.
- There is also a time limit of 30 minutes set for each batch to view the Taj Mahal at night.
Where to get tickets for Night Viewing of the Taj Mahal
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Tickets for night viewing must be purchased one day (24 hours) in advance. Night viewing tickets are available from the booking counter located in the office of the Archaeological Survey of India, Agra Circle, 22 The Mall, Agra, Uttar Pradesh in between 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Ticket price for visiting Taj Mahal
Day Time Visit Ticket prices
- Rs 1000 (Foreigners)
- 530 (Citizens of SAARC and BIMSTEC Countries)
- 40 (Indian)
- Entry Free for children below 15 years of age
Night Time Visit Ticket prices
- 750 (Adult, Foreign)
- 510 (Adult, Indian)
- 500 (Child 3-15 Years, Indian & Foreign)
- Entry free for child below 3 years of age
Tips For Visiting Taj Mahal
1. Avoid visiting the Taj Mahal on holidays. Overwhelmingly large number domestic (Indian) tourists take the opportunity to travel to and visit the Taj Mahal on following dates / occasions: Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (August 15), Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi (October 2), Holi (falls in February-March), Durga Puja / Navratri / Dussehra (September-October), Dipawali (October-November).
2. Avoid weekends. Many Indians move for the day and tend to take over the place during the weekend. It is therefore better and more comfortable to come on weekdays.
3. Avoid rush hours. Since majority of visitors arrive in the afternoon, it is post-lunch time (3 PM to sunset) when the Taj Mahal is the most crowded. The sunrise is a moment coveted by photographers with much less crowd.
4. Choose the gate/ door in advance. There are three gates / doors to access the Taj Mahal. It is at the western gate that the queues are the longest. The southern entrance, closer to Taj Ganj (low-priced hotel area) has shorter tails, but the doors open at 8 AM. You will have to choose another entrance if you plan to arrive at sunrise. It’s at the east gate that the queues are the shortest, but the ticket office is far away from the door. So opt for this entry if you already have a ticket.
5. Book your ticket online or buy it in advance. Tickets for the Taj Mahal can be purchased at any other Agra monument, but make sure that the date on your ticket matches the date of your visit or check that it is a ticket without validity date. Otherwise, you will not be able to access the Taj Mahal!
6. You can visit the Taj Mahal at night also. This visit is possible for five nights a month: during the full moon, two days before and two days later, except on Friday and during Ramadan. The Taj Mahal may seem empty at this time, since the visit is limited to 50 people. The disadvantage is that night tour of Taj Mahal lasts only 30 minutes and one can only buy the tickets at the Indian Archeology Service counter in Agra a day before.
7. Taj Mahal is heavily guarded and strict security measures have been employed. There are checkpoints at the entrances. When you come to visit the Taj Mahal, your bag will be scanned and searched. Avoid coming with accessories of camera, writing materials or books. You will have to leave them outside or deposit in a locker. Only small bags containing essential items are allowed. This includes a phone, a camera or a camera and a bottle of water per person. You cannot bring edibles, tobacco, lighters, electrical items (phone chargers, headphones, iPads, lamps), knives or camera tripods inside. Mobile phones are also prohibited during night-time viewing sessions, although cameras are still allowed. Luggage storage is available at the front doors. The lockers are located about 750 meters from the entrance to the Taj Mahal. It results in loss of time that you could have utilized in exploring the monument.
8. Normally it takes from two hours to four hours to visit Taj Mahal complex. On a normal exploration, one goes through the front gates, to visit the mausoleums in the inner courtyard, to discover the South gate, then the gardens. Along the gardens, there are interesting arches and, then, a small museum where one can see site plans, portraits of Mumtaj Mahal and Shah Jahan, etc.
9. Once the garden crossed, the visitor arrives on the marble terrace where he / she will have to remove the shoes. The visit of the main mausoleum, the mosque and, finally, the guest house will take a good time if one is interested in the inlaid stones, the patterns in low relief, cenotaphs, in short to all that is the beauty of the site. The museum remains open from 10 AM to 5 PM every day except Friday when Taj Mahal remains closed for the visitors.
10. Adopt a proper outfit, not too revealing or sexy one. Do keep in mind that in the Taj Mahal complex, you will be visiting a tomb and a mosque.
11. There are several places from where best photographs of Taj Mahal can be taken. One of the most preferred places is located just after the main gate, at the top of the steps. It’s at a reasonable height and the mausoleum is revealed at a distance of 300 meters and also at nice height. Taking the same picture before the door is even better since the mausoleum unveils in the frame. Another classic spot to capture Taj Mahal in camera is the central fountain. It is from here that you can take classic photos with open hands, palms to the sky, with the impression of the Taj Mahal amidst it.
