When you are visiting one of the world wonders, like The Taj Mahal, you do need to put in some preparation, to ensure your visit is a truly EPIC one!

Why do I need to plan my visit to the Taj Mahal? I hear you ask.

When you first think about visiting a monument you may not put too much thought into how you are going to see it, what time you’ll visit or what you will take with you on the day.

Follow my tips/guide to ensure you have the best, easiest and most memorable visit to the Taj Mahal possible.

Best Time Of Year To Visit The Taj Mahal

The weather in India has its extremes. So, this is vital in ensuring you have a comfortable visit.

October – March, has the most comfortable temperatures, however the most crowds

April – June, the temperatures can soar to 45c, there is not a lot of shade

July – September, the monsoon rains have set in, you’ll need an umbrella!

It is also CLOSED EVERY FRIDAY, so when you’re in your initial planning stages avoid arriving and planning your trip on a Friday!

What To Wear

To some, this may seem irrelevant, but you are in a conservative country, visiting a mausoleum and a mosque.

Therefore, you need to be appropriately dressed.

Women, this means shoulders and knees covered, no tank tops or spaghetti straps, or mini skirts or shorts.

When entering the Taj itself, the Mosque and the Mehman Khana you need to remove your shoes, (or have them covered) so wear flip flops or sandals, something easy to remove.

If you’re feeling adventurous why not wear a saree and make your photos really pop.

Never Assume it’s okay….

I asked numerous Indian men and women about whether it would be inappropriate for me, a white western woman, to wear a saree, as I didn’t want to offend anyone. Every single person I spoke with said how great it would be to see me wearing their national, traditional dress and how proud it would make them feel. However, never assume it is okay to dress in traditional outfits!

Read this post on how to nail your insta-worthy photos at the Taj Mahal, for more tips.

Best Time Of Day To Visit The Taj Mahal

I’m not one for crowds, so my recommendation will always be there first thing before the gates are even open. Obviously, the Taj gets insanely busy and very quickly. Hence, even at 6 am there are a lot of people and to get nice photos without people in them takes patience. At 6 am!!

Also, the Mausoleum can only have a certain number of people inside, so a long snaking line starts to build up very quickly. Therefore, to avoid all these things be there before the sun comes up.

What To Take And NOT Take With You On The Day

Take as little as possible! There is heavy security, bag checks, and metal detector gates as you enter. So, if you want to breeze through to enjoy the Taj and get those elusive “people free” photos, then you want to get through security quickly and with little hassle from the guards.

With that in mind, I chose not to take a bag or backpack, so I could avoid that search altogether. Thankfully, I also had a wonderful guide who volunteered to put my phone and my small purse in his jean pockets, and I carried my DSLR around my neck.

That’s all I had with me! (In my purse I had my ID, which you MUST take with you and a small lip balm and of course my card and some money).

Absolute Must Not’s

You cannot take tripods in, drones are definitely not allowed and no food either.

Also, don’t bother taking a water bottle either as you get a free bottle with the purchase of your ticket.

Opening Times And Purchasing Your Tickets

Entry and exit is dependant on the sunrise and the sunset, so it is slightly different each day. The ticket gate is opened one hour before sunrise and the entrance to the compound of the Taj 30 minutes before sunrise. The last ticket is sold 45 mins before sunset.

My advice is to check with your guide, hotel reception or www.tajmahal.gov.in for updated opening times so you are one of the first in line at the ticket gate.

The ticket gate is divided into several different queues, each accepting different types of payments. For example, there are cash or card queues, local women and foreign women queues and the same for men. Be sure you get into the right queue quickly.

At some other monuments in Agra, it is cheaper to purchase your entry ticket if you use your card. The government is trying to sway people away from cash and into the 21st century if they use cards.

However, that is NOT the case at the Taj. The price is the price whether you pay by card or cash.

Cash or Card?

The only cash accepted is Indian Rupee. Not US dollars like the people in front of me tried to pay with. Which held up the line as they argued their invalid point to the ticket clerk. Don’t be that sort of traveller, please!

The cost for a foreign visitor is 1100 Rupee. Since December 2018 an additional 200 Rupee is charged if you want to enter to Mausoleum. To ensure quick service make sure you have exact change, so you can head straight to the entrance gate.

I opted to use my card. However, the machine was not working on the day I visited so always have backup cash with you. Included in the cost of your tickets are a small bottle of water, shoe coverings and a map.

Gates and Lines

Head to the entrance gate, use the Western Gate, and try to join the correct line. Again, there are different lines for women and men, foreigners and locals.

You can also enter and exit from the Eastern Gate and only exit from the Southern Gate

I actually joined the shortest women’s line without realising it was for the local women. No one seemed to mind or said anything so I just stayed there. There were only 5 people in front of me!

Once the gates open you need to show your ticket. Then head through the metal detector gate. After which, to the left, is a bag search. Then you are through to the main compound and ready for your visit.

If you’ve followed my tips you will be through security in 5 minutes or less. If you opted for a guide, you will have to wait for them to pass through security too.

How To Structure Your Visit To The Taj Mahal

Now, this is going to come down to pure choice and what sort of traveller you are. I don’t like crowds or people in my photos, so I made a beeline to all my top photo spots. I  moved quickly to start with. Then, once done with my photo taking, I meandered around the complex slowly. I took everything in, listening to my guide and thoroughly enjoying my time there.

Now, that’s not to say I didn’t stop and enjoy myself when I was taking my photos. I absolutely did! I had butterflies in my stomach, I teared up when I first came around the corner and saw the Taj, I breathed in the majesty and glory of the buildings and I absolutely stopped and watched the sun rising.

If you are not so fussed about people in your photos or rushing around to start with. Easy. Don’t.

Once you have come through security you will walk through the courtyard for a little way. Then turn left into the Main Gateway where you will get your first glimpse of the Taj. It will be perfectly framed by the archway of the Main Gateway.

From there the compound is there to be explored at your own leisure and pace. The long waterways leading to the Mausoleum, “Diana’s” chair, the immaculate gardens, the Mosque to the left of the Taj and the Mehman Khana to the right.

Don’t forget the lines build up quickly to enter the Mausoleum, and you are not allowed to take photos inside.

I entered the compound at 6 am and was comfortable with my visit, what I had seen, what I had learned from my guide and the photos I had taken. By 8 am I was ready to leave. For me, that was more than enough time and I was also starving and ready to head back to my hotel for a huge breakfast and a mid-morning nap….. haha

To Get A Guide Or Not To Get A Guide

I would recommend getting a guide. But get a reputable one BEFORE you get to the Taj. Get your hotel reception to recommend and help you find one.

Therefore, my prerequisites were, good quality English, a tourism/guide license and someone who was okay and comfortable taking my photos for me (see what not to take with you eg tripod!)

I am always beyond happy and satisfied to provide a hansom tip to guides that will assist with taking photos.

The guide they found for me was beyond marvellous in all those aspects. I had Asif for the two days I was in Agra, his English was impeccable, he had a wealth of knowledge, he was a great photographer, taking ALL my photo’s in Agra, and he also helped shoo away all the young teenage boys who would sidle up next to me and try and take my photo without my permission!

What I Don’t recommend

What I would NOT recommend is waiting until you get to the Taj to find a guide. They are mostly touts, without licenses, will overcharge you and will not provide you with a great experience. If you don’t really care about the history of the Taj, have been before or are there just for the photo opps, then don’t get one.

Let me know if you would like to use my guide by leaving me a comment and I will send you Asif’s contact details.

Most Importantly

Enjoy yourself while you visit the Taj Mahal. Stop, Sit back and Stare. Stare at the majesty, the detail, the magnificence and the brilliance that is the Taj Mahal. One of the Seven Wonders of the World!

Have you read my post on how to get the perfect photos at the Taj Mahal?

Lastly, try and stay close to the Taj Mahal for that early morning wake up call for sunrise entry.

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