The best time to visit the Taj Mahal is from November to February, otherwise it can be unbearably hot or rainy. You will be able to get great off-season discounts. The Taj Mahal seems to gradually change its color in the changing light of the day. It is worth getting up early and seeing the sunrise there, which reveals itself majestically.
Getting to the taj mahal
High-speed Shatabdi Express services operate from Delhi, Varanasi and cities in Rajasthan.
Check out the best trains from Delhi to Agra
The new Yamuna Expressway (inaugurated in August 2012) has reduced travel time from Delhi Day Trip to Agra to less than three hours. It starts from Noida and there is a toll of 415 rupees (5€20) per car one way (665 rupees return / 8€40).
Taj mahal tours
Viator (in conjunction with Tripadvisor) offers a Private Day Trip to Agra and Taj Mahal from Delhi , as well as a Day Trip to Agra and Fatehpur Sikri and a Day Trip to Agra with cultural walk . It is also possible to see the Taj Mahal at night during the full moon on this magnificent private 2-day tour of Agra from Delhi.
Sunrise or Sunset on the Yamuna River by boat
If you are looking for an inexpensive excursion option, UP Tourism runs daily sightseeing bus tours to the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. The cost per person is 3,000 rupees (37€70) and the price includes transport, entrance tickets to monuments and guide fees.
The Taj Mahal site is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day except Friday (when it is closed for prayers). The Taj Mahal is also open on full moons from 8:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m., two days before and after each full moon.
Indian nationals only pay 40 rupees (0€50). Children under 15 enter for free. Tickets can be purchased at the counters near the entrance gates or online at this website . (Note that Taj Mahal tickets can no longer be purchased at Agra Fort or other monuments, and only offer a minimal discount if you wish to visit other monuments on the same day).
The entrance ticket to the Taj Mahal includes shoe covers, a bottle of water, a tourist map of Agra and a bus or golf cart service to the front door of the palace. It also allows ticket holders to enter the Taj Mahal before Indian ticket holders who may already be waiting in line.
Night tickets cost 750 rupees (9€40) for foreigners and 510 rupees (6€40) for Indian nationals, for half an hour of admission. . and 6 p.m., one day in advance, at the Archaeological Survey of India office located on Mall Road.
Vehicles are not allowed within 500 meters of the Taj Mahal due to pollution. There are three entrance gates:
South, East and West.
The West Gate is the main gate through which the majority of local Indian visitors enter, and it usually has the longest queues throughout the day. But it’s the preferred option at sunrise to avoid the crowds at the East Gate.
It usually has shorter queues, except at sunrise when larger groups tend to get there. If you buy your ticket in advance the day before, this is still the best entry point. Note that the ticket office (at Shilpgram) is inadvertently located about a 10 minute walk from the door. Buses, golf carts and pedicabs are available for those unable or unwilling to walk.
The South Gate is the least used gate. It is close to a crowded market area where many cheap hotels are located, which favors it by budget and independent travelers. However, it does not open until 8 am. A huge sandstone walkway provides access to the inner enclosure.