The Complete Guide To Visiting Taj Mahal Like A Boss

 

No trip to India can be called complete without visiting Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan’s eternal monument of love. Rising out of the fields of Agra next to the Yamuna river into a radiant beauty of white translucence, the Taj Mahal deserves at least one visit during your lifetime worthy of a lifetime of admiration. But what do you do if you’re an Indian citizen and the government announces that you have only three hours to see the Taj Mahal? 

Well, worry not. I visited Taj Mahal some time ago and I can tell you it’s possible to see the Taj Mahal in three hours; that too, without feeling hurried or rushed at any point. Here are my top tips for visiting the Taj Mahal in three hours and less.

Know The Right Time To Visit

First things first. The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays. So well, don’t land up on a Friday outside the Taj Mahal unless you want to experience heartbreak. On other days, the monument – or mausoleum – as you wish to see it – is open from sunrise to sunset. That sounds slightly vague but it’s the perfect opportunity to see the Taj Mahal before anyone else. Get to the ticket counter around 6.30 AM and be inside the monument gates before 7 AM. The monument typically opens around 6 AM. Disclaimer: If you are going through the South Gate, be advised that tickets are issued only between 8 AM and 5 PM.

This is the only foolproof way to avoid crowds and beat tourists coming from cities like Delhi on a day trip. And of course, having the Taj to yourself is an experience unlike anything else on Earth.

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Arrange Your Transport Beforehand

Unfortunately, a lot of adventurous people have started staying in Agra and visiting the Taj Mahal in the morning. Fortunately, unless you’re staying at a walking distance from the monument, getting to the gates and ticket counters takes at least one automobile ride from your hotel. Be smart and arrange your transportation a day prior to your visit to the Taj to ensure you reach the monument on time. Don’t rely on public transport to take you to the Taj Mahal.

Get Your Tickets Online

You can buy your tickets to the Taj Mahal online. Yep, and it costs just Rs 40. It’s better to get your tickets online and save time queuing up. This is especially important if you plan to arrive at regular hours when the queues for Indian tourists stretch for miles. Standing in the heat will just sap your energy and excitement that can be better utilized to tackle the Taj Mahal. If not online, remember to pick it up from any ASI site you might visit previously. In Delhi, you can buy Taj tickets at Humayun’s Tomb, Red Fort and Qutub Minar.

Head Straight To The Monument

It doesn’t matter which gate you enter from, the fact is you will have your breath taken away when you first enter the Taj lawns. It is the easiest thing to gape at the gardens and walk aimlessly taking in your surroundings. But try to get over the brilliance of the monument and head straight to the monument first. Take more than an hour walking around the four minarets and inside the domes housing the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. They’re fake so don’t spend too much time in there. The real tombs are kept out of the public eye on a lower level. Admire the marble domes, spires and motifs instead. Then imagine how they were all made way back in 1632.

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Find Perfect Pictures Outside Taj Mahal

While you will definitely take pictures in front of the main entrance of Taj Mahal, you will also find these pictures photo-bombed by other tourists. To get pictures of the Taj without any crowds jostling for space, head across the Yamuna to see the Taj in all its glory without having your peace disturbed. There’s a garden called Mehtab Bagh that is a popular viewpoint where any public vehicles can zip you in less than 30 minutes. Don’t forget to visit the other Mughal gardens as well.

Know The Do’s And Don’ts

Don’t carry a bagful of stuff with you while visiting the Taj Mahal. Not only will it wear you down, it will also raise the hackles of the security staff. Water, small cameras and mobiles are just about the only things you can carry inside the Taj complex. Eating and littering are not permitted once you pass security. Also, be respectful in terms of what you wear as the Taj Mahal is, when you really think about it, a mausoleum.

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Watch The Taj Basked In Moonlight

Not many visitors can time their entrance to the Taj Mahal during full moon. But this is a visual spectacle that is the stuff of poetry. Visitors are allowed night-time viewing of the Taj Mahal two days before and after the full moon night so you can technically see the Taj at night at least five nights each month. Tickets are sold one day prior at the gate offices. Here’s a helpful guide with all the dates of full moon nights until December 2020 in case you plan to visit the Taj at night.

Avoid Visiting On Saturdays

Because the Taj Mahal is closed on Friday, the visitor rush on Saturday is unprecedented compared to other days of the week. Ideally, you must try to visit between Monday to Wednesday with Thursday and Sunday as buffer days. This is the only way to avoid the chaos that comes with visiting a major tourist attraction like the Taj Mahal.

Read Up In Advance Or Hire A Guide

Don’t just see pretty pictures of the Taj Mahal and land up there. Learn a bit more about India’s most famous monument either by reading up on the Taj Mahal or hiring a licensed guide to take you around the complex. This is one place where scrimping on the guide if you have no idea about the Taj, apart from the bare basics, is a strict no-no. Nina Epton’s Beloved Empress that describes the life and times of Mumtaz Mahal is highly recommended. Another recommended book is Complete Taj Mahal by Ebba Koch. (Affiliate links appear on this sub-section)

Strategise Your Walk To Avoid Doubling Back

Once you’re done with the main dome and four minarets, take a walk down from the opposite side of the Yamuna river and take in the Islamic calligraphy, plant motifs, lattice work and Persian poems etched on the walls. Walk along the fountains to reach the seat on which famous people have sat to have their pictures taken with the Taj in the backdrop. Amble around on the other side and take in as much of the monument as you want. Despite the ongoing scaffolding work to beautify and preserve the Taj Mahal, it is difficult not to be overawed by this architectural delight.

Bonus Tip: Don’t Take The Pinching Picture

You know this one, so let me just say it again. The pinching shot over the finial dome of the Taj Mahal is a surprisingly popular thing to do. In my opinion, it’s totally out of line to do this, especially since the Taj Mahal needs to be seen as a mausoleum first and an attraction later. Be respectful and don’t take that pinching shot.

Do you have any tips for visiting the Taj Mahal? Let me know in the comments below.

Stay tuned for more updates on my adventures. All pictures by Priyanko Sarkar. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay updated with the latest news. Subscribe to my email list on the right to stay in touch.