Tags: Castles and Palaces
Taj Mahal Timings: Open 30 minutes before sunrise and close 30 minutes after sunset
Closed on Friday
Only Muslims visit the Taj Mahal every Friday to attend afternoon prayers
Taj Mahal Ticket Price (Entry Fee): Citizens of India and visitors from SAARC countries: INR 50
SAARC and BIMSTEC Nationals: INR 540
Foreign visitors: INR 1100
(Additional 200 INR for each tourist who wants to enter the prison)
Admission is free for all children under 12 years of age.
The Taj Mahal is a mosque built of white sand on the south bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was built in 1632 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (who reigned from 1628 to 1658) to house the tomb of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
The tomb sits at the heart of a 17-hectare (42-acre) complex that includes a mosque and a guest house, set in lush gardens surrounded by a wall on three sides.
The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 as “one of the jewels of Islamic art in India and one of the most important works of world heritage”. Many consider it to be the perfect example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India’s rich history.
7-8 million visitors receive the Taj Mahal Day tour/trip in a year. In 2007, he was named the winner of the New Wonders of the World 7 (2000–2007).
Things to Know Before Visit The Taj Mahal, India
Built by: Shah Jahan
Which shows: 1631-1648
Access: The Taj Mahal can be reached through 3 gates.
Tour groups enter through the east and west gates, independent travelers pass through the south gate
The eastern gate has the shortest distance
All 3 gates have separate queues for men and women.
Advice:
- Don’t forget to bring a water bottle (500ml) and shoes included in the ticket price.
- You can leave your luggage for free near the ticket booth and get an audio Taj Mahal guided tour for 118 INR.
- Visitors can access free Wi-Fi internet for half an hour in hard and pay Rs 30 per hour after half hour increase.
- Battery buses and golf carts are available from the station to the Taj Mahal
- Be aware of travel scams Read More
Restricted ingredients:
- Drones are not allowed in or around the Taj Mahal
- Eating food and smoking
- Cell phones should be on silent or off mode
- You will not be allowed Photography in the main mausoleum
- Cell phones are prohibited from viewing the Taj Mahal at night
Also Read: 9 Hidden Secrets of The Taj Mahal, Agra
In The Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal can be reached from the gates of east, west, and north. Inside, the ornamental garden is arranged on the lines of a classic Mughal charbag (a formal Persian garden).
The statue stands on a marble plinth at the northern end of the garden, with the Yamuna River in the background. His raised leg area is a masterstroke of design as it leaves only the sky. Each corner of the platform is adorned with 40 m high white minarets.
The Taj itself is made of semi-transparent white marble, inlaid with thousands of precious stones, and carved with flowers. Four of the Taj’s mysterious faces are rectangular, including columns with pietra dura lines and quotations from the Qur’an. The whole structure is topped by four small domes.
The Cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal is under the main dome. It is a fake tomb surrounded by many precious stones that make the symmetry of the Taj. The light enters the middle room through thinly cut marble screens.
These tombs are fake tombs like those of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are sleeping in a room below the main hall.
To the west of the complex is the Red Sandstone Mosque, the main Muslim site in Agra. To the east is a similar building, Jawab, which was built for peace.
Inside the Taj is a small museum that has many Mughal miniatures. Of particular interest are the 17th-century portraits of Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. He also had Caledonian plates, which were said to crack or shatter if the food was poisoned.
History of The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal was built as a prison for Shah Jahan’s wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 giving birth to their 14th child. Construction of the Taj began in 1632. The palace took 8 years to complete, But the entire complex was completed in 1653.
All his life he only looked out the window at his magnificent creation. Shah Jahan died in 1666, after which his body was buried here with Mumtaz.
More than 20,000 people from India and Central Asia are working in this special place. Professionals were brought from Europe who made thousands of precious stone and marble vases (pietra dura).
The Taj Mahal was finally declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. An important project of restoration of the monument took place at the beginning of the 20th century.
Hidden Facts About the Taj Mahal
There is a good story that the Taj Mahal was a Shiva temple built in the 12th century and later turned into a memorial to Mumtaz Mahal. This theory was developed by Purushottam Nagesh Oak. He asked to prove his opinion, but in 2000 the Supreme Court rejected it.
Many people believe that Shah Jahan planned to build a monument in black marble on his side, a work that began before the imprisonment of his son Aurangzeb. Excavations have been carried out at Mehtab Bagh but no construction has been found.
The popular legend associated with the Taj Mahal is the collapse of the craftsmen who built it. It is believed that when the construction was completed, Shah Jahan decided to cut off the hands of the engineers of the project so that no other building in the world could be so beautiful.
However, there is no historical evidence to support this kinda theory.
Taj Mahal at Night
The Taj Mahal can be seen at night five days a month, including the night of the full moon and the two nights before and after the full moon. All these, the dates and times for viewing the Taj at night are determined by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Taj Mahal night viewing will take place from 8:30 pm to 12:30 pm in groups of 8 to 50 people for about 30 minutes. Therefore, only 400 people are allowed to visit per night.
While visiting the Taj Mahal at night, visitors should arrive at the Shilpagram Complex half an hour before the scheduled time. They could not go inside the monument at night and could see the Taj Mahal from a little distance.
Place all equipment and luggage in a secure location before the night’s viewing begins. Video cameras are not allowed inside the monument during night viewing.
Taj Mahal Garden
The garden that adorns the Statue of Love, stretching from the entrance to the base of the mausoleum, is an important part of visiting the Taj Mahal. The garden, built in the Timurid Persian style (known as the Paradise Garden), was started by Babur.
A special aspect of the construction of this garden is the use of the number four and its equations. This was done because four is considered the holiest number in Islam. The garden is divided into four sections with two marble paths with a fountain in the middle.
A quarter of the garden has 16 flower beds, some of which are planted with 400 plants. The Taj garden has trees, birds, fruits, flowers, and symmetry that conveys the sense of paradise. This particular setup gives a great effect to these shots.
Best Time to Visit Taj Mahal
The best time to go to Taj Mahal is undoubtedly at sunrise, which looks beautiful. This time is the easiest time because there are less people. Another magical time you can see the Taj is at sunset. You can visit five nights during the full moon.
However, there are limited Taj Mahal entry tickets available at this time and must be purchased a day in advance from the Archaeological Survey of India. Read More
How to Reach:
By Air
It takes almost 12 minutes to travel from the Taj Mahal to Kheria Airport. Taj Mahal is 10 km from Kheriya Airport.
By Rail
Agra has a good rail network that connects it to other parts of the country. Apart from the main railway station at Agra Cantonment, there are two stations, Raja-Ki-Mandi and Agra Fort. These main trains are Palace on Wheels, Shatabdi, Rajdhani, and Taj Express are connect Agra to Delhi.
By Road
There are regular buses from Agran to the major cities. If you are coming from Delhi to Agra from the main bus stations of Idga and ISBT, there are many buses that travel to Delhi, Jaipur, Mathura, Fatehpur-Sikri, etc. You can hire a taxi from Delhi to Agra at a special discount. Read More
FAQs in Agra
What condition is the Taj Mahal in?
One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal is located on the banks of the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.
What is so special about the Taj Mahal?
The Taj Mahal sports different colors at different times of the day. Red in the morning, milky white in the afternoon, yellow in the moonlight.
When will the Taj Mahal close?
The Taj Mahal is closed on all Fridays. On Friday, only Muslims are allowed access to attend evening prayers. If you want to see the impressive exterior of the monument, visit Mehtab Bagh on the opposite bank of the Yamuna River.
What is the best price to enter the Taj Mahal?
The East Gate is the best entrance to the Taj Mahal. It can be accessed through three gates. Tour groups enter through the East and West Gates, while independent travelers enter through the South Gates. The East Gate has short queues. All three gates have separate lines for men and women.
What is the history of the Taj Mahal?
The eternal love story of the Taj Mahal dates back to 1607 AD. Shah Jahan, initially known as Prince Khurram, was the son of Jahangir, the fourth Mughal Emperor of India. Jahangir was the grandson of Emperor Akbar, who is considered one of the greatest Mughal Emperors of the Mughal dynasty. In 1607, Shah Jahan was strolling through the Meena Bazaar when a woman selling silk and glass beads caught his eye. It was love at first sight for Shah Jahan, and the lady ringing the bells was none other than Mumtaz Mahal, then known as Arjumant Banu Begum. Mumtaz was a 15-year-old Persian princess and Shah Jahan was only 14. Emperor Jahangir gave his consent for the tournament in 1612. The Taj Mahal is a representation of Shah Jahan’s love for his wife and was built in her memory after her untimely death.
