The Taj Mahal
Some sights survive their own fame. The Taj Mahal is one of them. However many photographs you’ve seen, nothing quite prepares you for standing before it at dawn — the perfect symmetry, the way the white marble shifts from pearl to gold as the sun rises, the sheer impossible grace of it. Built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal and completed around 1653, it took some 20,000 artisans more than two decades to raise, and it remains, by common consent, the most beautiful building on earth.
For most visitors the Taj is the centrepiece of a Golden Triangle trip and reason enough to come to India. This guide covers how to see it at its best — the right time of day, the current tickets and timings, and the practicalities that make the difference between a rushed visit and a magical one.
In Agra:
Uttar Pradesh, ~220 km from Delhi
Closed:
Friday
Foreign ticket (2026):
₹1,100 (+₹200 for the mausoleum)
opening hours:
~30 min before sunrise to ~30 min before sunset
best time to see it:
Sunrise, on a weekday, Oct–March
When to go — and why dawn matters
If you do one thing, see the Taj at sunrise. The light is at its loveliest, the marble glows, the air is cool, and — crucially — the crowds are at their thinnest before the tour buses arrive from Delhi mid-morning. Get to the gate as it opens. Weekdays (Tuesday to Thursday) are quieter than weekends, and the cool season of October to March is by far the most comfortable; December and January mornings can be foggy, which is either magical or frustrating depending on the day.
A key planning point: the Taj is closed every Friday for general visitors. Build your itinerary around that — there’s nothing worse than arriving in Agra on the one day it’s shut.
Tickets and timings (2026)
Last reviewed: June 2026. Prices and timings are set by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and change periodically — confirm current details before you visit.
Foreign visitors: ₹1,100 for the main complex, plus an optional ₹200 to enter the central mausoleum chamber — so ₹1,300 for the full experience.
Children under 15: free.
Opening hours: about 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes before sunset — roughly 6am to 6pm, shifting with the seasons. Last entry is earlier than closing.
Closed: every Friday.
Book online through the official ASI portals (asi.payumoney.com or asiagracircle.in) — it’s faster than the gate queues and gives foreign visitors a small (₹50) discount. Enter via the West or East Gate (the South Gate is now exit-only), and note the East Gate queue is often quicker at busy times. Allow 2.5 to 3 hours for an unhurried visit, taking in the gardens, the mausoleum and the Taj Museum
Night viewing
On five nights each month — the full moon and the two nights either side — the Taj opens for night viewing (8:30pm–12:30am, in timed batches), for around ₹750 for foreign visitors. Tickets are limited, must be booked about 24 hours ahead, and aren’t available on Fridays. It’s a special, if very different, way to see the monument.
What to know before you go
What’s not allowed: drones, tripods, large bags, food and tobacco. Bring only the essentials — phone, camera, wallet and a small water bottle.
Photography: allowed in the gardens and around the exterior, but not inside the main mausoleum.
Shoes: you’ll cover your shoes (covers are provided) or remove them to step onto the marble plinth.
Guides a licensed ASI guide (around ₹700–₹1,200) brings the history and the design’s clever optical tricks to life — worth it for many first-timers. Hire only official guides from the booking counter.
Getting there
The Taj is in Agra, about 220 km from Delhi — roughly 3.5–4 hours by road on the Yamuna Expressway, or around 100 minutes on the fast Gatimaan Express train. Most visitors come as part of a Golden Triangle trip, often pairing the Taj with Agra Fort (a magnificent Mughal fort 2.5 km away — a combined ticket is available) and a sunset view from Mehtab Bagh across the river. It’s possible to visit Agra as a long day trip from Delhi, but an overnight lets you catch that all-important sunrise.
A final word
The Taj Mahal is one of the very few sights that lives up to a lifetime of expectation. See it at dawn, on a weekday, in the cool season; book ahead, avoid Fridays, and give yourself time to simply sit and look. Pair it with Agra Fort and a riverside sunset, and you’ll understand why, four centuries on, it remains the image the whole world holds of India.
You may also like
The Golden Triangle: a first-timer’s itinerary
Delhi — gateway to Agra
Visiting India and the Entering India guide
Part of the series of guides on Visiting India.
The Taj Mahal: People Also Ask
How much does it cost to visit the Taj Mahal?
For foreign visitors in 2026, the entry fee is ₹1,100 for the main complex, plus an optional ₹200 to enter the central mausoleum — ₹1,300 in total. Children under 15 go free. Booking online via the official ASI portal is cheaper and faster than the gate.
What are the Taj Mahal's opening hours, and is it open every day?
It opens about 30 minutes before sunrise and closes about 30 minutes before sunset — roughly 6am to 6pm, varying by season — every day except Friday, when it’s closed to general visitors. There’s also limited night viewing on five nights a month around the full moon.
What's the best time of day to visit the Taj Mahal?
Sunrise — the light is most beautiful, the air coolest and the crowds thinnest before the day-trip buses arrive from Delhi. Weekdays in the cool season (October to March) are best of all.
How do I get to the Taj Mahal from Delhi?
The Taj is in Agra, about 220 km away — around 3.5–4 hours by road on the Yamuna Expressway, or roughly 100 minutes on the fast Gatimaan Express train. Many visitors come as part of a Golden Triangle trip and stay overnight to catch sunrise.
How long do you need at the Taj Mahal?
Allow about 2.5 to 3 hours for an unhurried visit, taking in the gardens, the mausoleum and the Taj Museum. Add time if you’re hiring a guide or also visiting nearby Agra Fort.