The beautiful Taj Mahal has become the most iconic landmark in India. It was built as a symbol of eternal love and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as India’s most visited tourist destination.
The Taj Mahal, a spectacular example of 17th-century architecture and a site where peace and beauty combine, is a must-see if you’re in India.
How much do Taj Mahal tickets cost?
The cost of Taj Mahal tickets vary based on a number of criteria, including the choice selected. Guided tours will, of course, cost somewhat extra, but they will also allow you to learn more about the Taj Mahal’s history and significance. Don’t worry, regardless of the option you choose, a visit to the Taj Mahal is fairly reasonable.
Standard Ticket
The normal Taj Mahal admission ticket costs less than $1 for Indian nationals and roughly $14 for visitors. Children under the age of 15 are admitted free of charge to the Taj Mahal. If you wish to access the Taj Mahal tomb, you must purchase an additional ticket (approximately $2.50).
All tickets include with a pair of shoe coverings (required for entry to the mausoleum) and a bottle of water.You may purchase a ticket outside the Taj Mahal as well as online via their official website.
You may also purchase special skip-the-line tickets in advance from tour operators. Although you may wind up spending somewhat more, there are additional perks. For example, for roughly ten US dollars extra, you may receive a Taj Mahal ticket, admittance to the Mausoleum, and an English/Hindi speaking tour guide. If purchased individually, this may wind up costing you more, plus you’d have to stand in line and wait until a guide became available. TourScanner allows you to compare costs.
Guided Tours
A tour is a terrific method to see the Taj Mahal without having to worry about anything. Not only will you avoid having to wait in line for your ticket, but you’ll also have someone with you to impart intriguing facts about the Taj Mahal.
There are other trip choices available, some of which include visits at other renowned locations like as the stately Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri’s ghost town, or Mehtab Bagh, from where you may shoot spectacular Taj Mahal sunset shots. There are both group and private trips available, and many may be tailored to include extra locations, lunch, or even round-trip transportation from New Delhi.
Where can I buy Taj Mahal tickets?
During COVID, tickets could only be purchased online. Tickets for the Taj Mahal may now be purchased at two distinct entrance gates: the Western Gate and the Eastern Gate. A third gate in the complex’s south is now locked and may only be used to depart (but not enter) the Taj Mahal.
Foreign travelers have their own ticket queues, so make sure you get to the proper one. Because the Western Gate is the primary entry, it is usually crowded, but the Eastern Gate is less popular but has four ticket lines: two for ladies (foreign and local) and two for men, resulting in lower wait times to obtain a ticket.
It’s usually advisable to acquire your Taj Mahal tickets online ahead of time to save time. The Taj Mahal is India’s most popular tourist site, therefore queues to enter are usually lengthy, no matter when you arrive.
Tickets may be purchased online at the Taj Mahal’s official website or through a tour operator. Depending on the sort of experience you want, you may use Tourscanner to compare rates for basic ordinary tickets or unique excursions. Guided tours normally include the admission ticket, so booking this method frequently saves money.
While the price of tickets at the gate is the same all year, you may discover exceptional bargains when ordering online, so always check before making a final decision.
Does the Taj Mahal offer free entry?
If you schedule your trip carefully, you may be able to view the Taj Mahal for free; however, free days bring even larger crowds than normal, so your chances of getting people-free images are reduced. Arrive extremely early, preferably shortly after dawn, to make the most of your free days.
The Taj Mahal is free to enter on the following days:
- Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan’s death anniversary is observed on February 27th, February 28th, and March 1st.
- World Tourism Day (September 27th)
- The first day of World Heritage Week (November, although dates vary, so check ahead of time)
- Entry is free till 11 a.m. on EID Day (the end of Ramadan), unless it happens on a Friday (in which case the Taj Mahal will be closed).
You may also take free images of the Taj Mahal from the banks of the sacred Yamuna River. The Taj Mahal may be seen directly from the Mehtab Bagh gardens across the river.
The gardens themselves are in disrepair, and strolling about during the wet season is, to say the least, difficult. However, the vistas are worthwhile, and because of the angle and height, there will be no people in the frame to mar your image.
The gardens are not free (it costs roughly 2.5 US dollars to enter), but it is well worth it if you want to take amazing shots.
Are there any Taj Mahal guided tours? Are they worth it?
If you want to do more than simply snap photographs at the Taj Mahal, there are several guided excursions available.
A guided tour has several advantages, such as roundtrip transportation, skip-the-line tickets, and having an expert guide to assist you learn more about the sites you’re seeing. When all prices are considered, guided tours are sometimes large money saves (and generally time savers as well) and a terrific way to just enjoy your vacation.
Many of these excursions begin in the adjacent city of Agra, from where you’ll be transported in an air-conditioned van to the majestic Taj Mahal and numerous additional locations (typically the Agra Fort and the ghost town of Fatehpur Sikri, depending on the itinerary you pick).
Check out the top locations to visit in Agra.
As you stroll around the majestic UNESCO World Heritage site, you’ll learn about the Taj Mahal’s love story, how the design came to be, and why its mystical attraction is still very much alive today.
You may pick between dawn and sunset trips (the two most popular), or a typical afternoon tour. Many excursions will also take you to attractive locations inside Agra to buy for local handicrafts made of marble, comparable to those used to construct the Taj Mahal. Entrance fees and hotel transfers are often included, and most full-day trips include lunch.
Are you in Delhi or Jaipur? There are trips that leave from both locations. Tours from Delhi are often by vehicle or a mix of car and air-conditioned express train – a fantastic 90-minute ride through the magnificent countryside where you may have breakfast or lunch (depending on the tour you pick) while admiring the scenery out the window.
What are the Taj Mahal’s timings?
Except for Fridays, the Taj Mahal is open every day of the year. Tickets for the Taj Mahal may be purchased at the Western and Eastern entrance gates beginning one hour before dawn.
The Taj Mahal’s doors technically open at daybreak and shut at nightfall. However, depending on when you come, this will imply various times. Sunrise in June may be as early as 5:30 a.m. and as late as 7:15 a.m.
The same is true for sunset; in the winter, it becomes dark before 6 p.m., but in the summer, you’ll have until about 7:30 p.m. to tour the mausoleum grounds.
Don’t come at the last minute hoping for a fast shot since the ticket windows shut 30 minutes before sunset.
Can I visit the Taj Mahal at night?
It’s difficult to imagine a more magnificent vista of the Taj Mahal than at night, when the moonlight reflects off the immaculate white marble. While nocturnal views of the Taj Mahal are possible, they must be carefully planned and scheduled, since these trips are only available five evenings each month.
Night visits are allowed on the full moon night, as well as the two days before and following that day. The Taj Mahal will be open from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on certain days.
Remember that if any of those dates occurs on a Friday, the mausoleum complex will be closed. The five days do not apply during Ramadan; always reference a calendar to confirm dates, since Ramadan dates fluctuate from year to year.
For night tickets, the ticket windows are closed. Tickets for Taj Mahal night visits must be ordered at least 24 hours in advance and are only available online. On each of these evenings, just 400 people are admitted inside the Taj Mahal, and tickets sell out rapidly.
The night ticket will have a time slot written on it, and you must show up for that time window – persons are permitted in groups of 50 every 30 minutes. This is done to guarantee that everyone gets the opportunity to explore and observe everything within their 30-minute time period inside the Taj Mahal.
You’ll be out of luck if you miss your time window. You will also be advised to leave after 30 minutes, so don’t linger in the same area for too long and make sure to explore and take lots of photographs.
The night ticket for adults is roughly ten dollars. Although children are free to access the Taj Mahal during the day, they must pay to come at night. For youngsters aged 3 to 15, the price is $6.50 USD.
Can you cancel your Taj Mahal tickets?
Day tickets cannot be refunded and must be used at the time specified on the ticket. If you come late, you will be refused access and must wait in line to purchase a new ticket.
Nighttime tickets may be canceled on the planned day if done before 1 p.m. There will be a 25% cancellation charge applied.
whether you booked a guided tour, contact the business to see whether you’re entitled for a refund or to reschedule your trip. Depending on the conditions of your contract, this may not always be available.
On which days is the Taj Mahal closed?
Except for Fridays, the Taj Mahal is open every day of the year, including holidays. This is due to the fact that the structure adjacent to the Taj Mahal is a functional mosque, and Fridays are prayer days.Only Muslims are permitted to enter the Taj Mahal to worship on Fridays (and only between noon and 2 p.m.).
The Taj Mahal may be closed for special VIP visits by foreign dignitaries on occasion, although this is uncommon and normally only lasts a few hours. Still, it’s worth verifying ahead of time, particularly if you intend on purchasing a ticket at the gate.
What is the best time to visit the Taj Mahal?
This depends depend on whether you want the finest weather, the best picture chances, or the fewest people.
A guided tour is your best hope for beating the crowds since it includes skip-the-line tickets and your guide will already have a path planned to make the most of your visit.
If you’re going to the Taj Mahal on your own, early mornings are generally the ideal time to go. That means coming before or shortly after the doors open. By mid-morning, the lines are already lengthy; in fact, unless you come before 8 a.m., mornings are often quite crowded. Sunset is the busiest time, and weekends are particularly busier for obvious reasons, so go during the week if feasible.
Weather and seasons are other crucial considerations when deciding when to come. Depending on what you want to gain out of the vacation, this might be difficult. Monsoon season lasts from July to September, which means lots of rain (if you don’t mind the rain, this usually means fewer people and some wonderful unique photos), while November to February bring nicer weather (cooler, more comfortable for walking around), but also a higher risk of fog blocking the views and larger crowds.
Although it might be difficult to determine the optimum time to travel, March through June may be your best bet. By June, the weather is already fairly hot, but you’ll have lots of beautiful sky and the finest shooting chances (but expect increased hotel and airfare rates!).
Days with free admission and official holidays (such as the Holi festival in February/March) should also be avoided due to large crowds.
How long will it take to visit the Taj Mahal?
When purchasing a ticket, travelers now have just three hours to explore the Taj Mahal. If you wish to remain longer, you must purchase a second ticket, and if you are found inside beyond the three-hour restriction, you will be fined (which is exactly the same as purchasing a second ticket when you depart through the gate).
Tickets have an admission time printed on them, and you must enter at that time (or risk losing your ticket) and depart within three hours.
The good news is that seeing the Taj Mahal in three hours is more than enough time. If you’re going with a guide, they’ll make sure you stop at each key corner of the complex, but if you’re on your own, you may want to take your time walking around the complex so you can admire the architecture. If you want to take some fantastic shots, allow yourself some extra time; you may need to wait for a long to obtain a good image without people in it.
Because you’ll have the opportunity to hear intriguing anecdotes along the way, guided tours frequently take longer than exploring on your own. If you stroll alone and simply enjoy the architecture, you’ll probably be done in 2 hours or less.
Keep in mind that if you use the East Gate, the ticket window will be around 1km distant from the real gate. So you’ll have to pay the ticket first, then go to the gate. This may seem inconvenient, but it is still quicker than waiting in the much longer queues near the west gate (where all the tourist buses stop). In any case, be sure to include in the time spent waiting to purchase a ticket and enter the Taj Mahal when planning your visit; otherwise, you’ll have less time to spend inside.
What will I see?
Standard Taj Mahal tickets provide admission to the whole 42-acre complex’s grounds, with the exception of the mausoleum’s interior (which needs an extra ticket). These include the formal gardens and all of the other structures from the 17th century.
Three sides of the Taj Mahal complex are surrounded by red sandstone walls (the side facing the Yamuna River is open). Everything within the walls is included in the purchase of your ticket. Visitors may also explore tiny structures placed beyond the fortifications (mostly mausoleums).
Main Gateway
The darwaza (great gate) protects the entrance to the Taj Mahal complex and is made out of enormous clay brick archways embellished with inlaid floral motifs. The rectangular structure resembles a castle, replete with turrets and many Koran inscriptions covering the entrance frames.
The gateway is simply designed to be the complex’s entry, but it’s also an excellent area to shoot photos with the giant archway gates as a backdrop.
Mausoleum
The Taj Mahal’s renowned white marble structure is really a mausoleum, the last burial place of 17th-century Mughal ruler Shah Jahan and his favored wife Mumtaz Mahal. The spectacular multi-chambered edifice is designed in Indo-Islamic architecture and boasts four minarets framing the structure, integrally painted walls with Arabic calligraphy and stone inlays, and the iconic onion dome or amrud, which stands over 35 meters tall.
Inside, if you purchased the extra ticket required to enter, you will discover amazing inlay work done with jewels, lapidary inlay, flowers carved on the gorgeous marble, and bas-reliefs. The real crypt where Shah Jahan and his wife’s corpses are kept lies underground.
Gardens
The Taj Mahal gardens are around 300 square meters and include finely built stone paths, elevated flowerbeds, and stunning water reflecting ponds. Fountains, avenues of trees bordering walks, and a tiny garden-within-a-garden section created to simulate a symmetrical Persian garden are also included.
Mosque
Aside from the tomb, the most impressive structure here is a mosque on the west side of the mausoleum. The mosque is made of red sandstone with elaborate geometric decorations and black marble on the floor. It also has a gorgeous vaulting dome and lovely archways.
On the east side, there is a “twin” structure that today serves no use. According to theories, it was erected as a guesthouse or as a prospective “balancing” structure so that the tomb in the middle would be flanked by two equal pieces of architecture. The mosque floor, which was created with pieces of black marble to represent the shape of prayer rugs, is the principal distinction between the two structures.
