Sights in India
Most of India's great monuments, from the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort to Ajanta, Ellora, Hampi and Khajuraho, are run by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which sells e-tickets for 166 sites through one government system and charges foreign visitors far more than Indians. The rules that catch people out are the weekly closing days, which differ by monument (the Taj Mahal shuts every Friday), and look-alike ticket and visa websites.
Checked 6 October 2026
Our sight guides for India
Amber Fort
Jaipur, India
The Kachhwaha kings' hilltop palace above Maota Lake, with its famous hall of mirrors.
- From
- ₹1,000 foreigners, ₹200 Indians(€9 · €2)
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours inside; half a day with the walk up, Panna Meena ka Kund and Jaigarh
Ellora Caves
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, India
Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples cut into one cliff, crowned by the Kailasa temple.
- From
- ₹550 foreigners online(€5)
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours for the main caves; 5–6 hours to see all 34 on foot
Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib)
Amritsar, India
The holiest gurdwara of the Sikhs: open day and night, free to all, with a meal for everyone.
- From
- Free
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours with the langar; come back before dawn or after dark for the Palki Sahib
Hidden gemHampi
Hampi, Karnataka, India
The ruined Vijayanagara capital, scattered among giant boulders on the Tungabhadra.
- From
- ₹550 foreigners online(€5)
- Time needed
- Two full days for the main ruins; one long day covers the highlights
Hidden gemKhajuraho temples
Khajuraho, India
Thousand-year-old Chandela temples covered in some of India's finest stone carving.
- From
- ₹550 foreigners online(€5)
- Time needed
- 3 hours for the Western Group; a full day with the Eastern and Southern groups and the evening show
Taj Mahal
Agra, India
Shah Jahan's white marble tomb for Mumtaz Mahal on the Yamuna, best at first light.
- From
- ₹1,050 foreigners online(€10)
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours inside (tickets have been limited to 3 hours since 2019); half a day with Mehtab Bagh
Visiting sights in India
Tickets, prices and passes
There is no national monument pass: you buy a separate ASI ticket for each site, online at asi.paygov.org.in (which runs on the eticket.webfront.in/asi system) or at the gate. In October 2026 the online price for foreign visitors at major ASI sites such as the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Ellora, Ajanta, Hampi, Konark and Khajuraho was ₹550, against ₹35 for Indians and ₹35 for SAARC and BIMSTEC citizens. The Taj Mahal is the exception at ₹1,050 for foreigners, plus ₹200 to enter the mausoleum. Online slots open about a week ahead. Window prices are a little higher: in Agra, foreigners pay ₹1,100 at the Taj window and ₹650 at Agra Fort.
Free entry and discounts
Children under 15 enter the Agra monuments free, Indian and foreign alike, and the ASI's booking system has no child fare at its other sites either; carry their passports. Buying online is a small standing saving (₹50 for foreigners at the Taj). In Agra a same-day Taj ticket cuts other entries for foreigners: Agra Fort drops from ₹650 to ₹600 and Fatehpur Sikri from ₹610 to ₹600 (October 2026). A foreigner's Taj ticket also includes shoe covers, a bottle of water, a map and the battery bus from the car parks. Citizens of SAARC and BIMSTEC countries (including Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar) pay rates close to the Indian price. There are no student or senior discounts for foreigners.
Getting between the sights
Trains are the classic way between Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Varanasi: Shatabdi and Vande Bharat express trains cover Delhi–Agra and Delhi–Jaipur in comfortable AC chair cars with meals included. Bookings open 60 days ahead (since November 2024) and popular trains fill weeks before. Foreigners can register on irctc.co.in with a foreign mobile number (a ₹122 fee for the SMS code), or book through agencies such as 12Go, which take foreign cards. Since 1 July 2025 the last-minute Tatkal quota needs an Aadhaar-verified account, which rules out most visitors, but a Foreign Tourist quota exists and big stations have International Tourist Bureau counters. Carry your passport on board: it is your ID with an e-ticket.
Dress codes and customs at sacred sites
Take off your shoes at every temple, mosque and gurdwara; shoe minders expect a small tip, or carry your shoes in a bag. At mosques such as the Jama Masjid in Delhi, shoulders and legs must be covered (wraps are rented at the door), visits are brief, and tourists are kept out at prayer times. At the Golden Temple in Amritsar everyone, men and women, must cover their head, and you wash your feet before entering; scarves are free at the entrances. Use your right hand for offerings and anything sacred, and don't point your feet at people or shrines. At the Taj Mahal, the mosque on site is the reason for the Friday closure. Dress modestly at religious sites and in rural areas.
Seasons, closing days and crowds
October to March is the main season for the north: dry and mild, though December and January bring fog and smog to Delhi and the plains, which can delay trains and veil the Taj at dawn. March to May is very hot, and the monsoon runs from June to September or October, with flash flooding and landslides in hill areas; cyclones hit the east coast mainly from September to December. Check the weekly closing day for every site: the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, Ajanta on Mondays and Ellora on Tuesdays, and the Red Fort is reported closed on Mondays (check before you go). Avoid Indian long weekends and national holidays at the big Delhi sites, when queues can take hours.
Scams and problems to know about
Fake ticket sites are a real problem: in April 2026 the ASI warned that tickets bought on a look-alike Taj Mahal site were invalid, and named only its own portals, the QR codes at the gates and its WhatsApp number as official. The only e-visa site is indianvisaonline.gov.in; the government says no agent can speed up an e-visa. At stations, ignore anyone offering tickets or tours, and at airports take a prepaid taxi only from the official counter with a receipt. Touts claim your hotel has closed or the monument is shut, and steer you to shops that pay commission; gem 'export' deals are a known scam. At Delhi's Jama Masjid, men posing as compulsory guides demand payment.
Also worth the trip
Not on Sightsale yet, but worth knowing about.
Konark Sun Temple
A 13th-century temple in Odisha built as a giant stone chariot with carved wheels, near the temple city of Puri. An ASI site at the standard ₹550 foreign rate.
Questions people ask about visiting India
How much do monuments in India cost for foreigners?
At most major ASI monuments a foreign visitor pays ₹550 online (October 2026), against ₹35 for Indians. The Taj Mahal costs ₹1,050 online, plus ₹200 for the mausoleum. Children under 15 are free.
Where do I buy official ASI monument tickets?
On the ASI's portal asi.paygov.org.in, which runs on the government's eticket.webfront.in/asi system, or at the ticket window. In April 2026 the ASI warned that tickets from look-alike sites are invalid and do not get you in.
Which Indian monuments are closed on which days?
The Taj Mahal is closed every Friday, the Ajanta Caves on Mondays and the Ellora Caves on Tuesdays; the Red Fort is reported closed on Mondays, so check before you go. Most other ASI sites open daily from sunrise to sunset. Check the site's page on the ASI portal before you plan.
Can foreigners book Indian trains online?
Yes. You can register on irctc.co.in with a foreign mobile number (a ₹122 fee for the verification code) or book through an agency that takes foreign cards. Bookings open 60 days before departure, and since July 2025 the Tatkal quota needs an Aadhaar-verified account, so book early.
What is the best time to visit India's monuments?
October to March for the north, when it is dry and mild. March to May is very hot, and the monsoon runs from June to September or October. December and January bring fog that can delay trains and hide the Taj at sunrise.
Sources for this page (16)
- ASI e-ticketing portal (accessed 6 October 2026)
- ASI e-ticket system: list of monuments (accessed 6 October 2026)
- ASI e-ticket system: Taj Mahal prices and closing day (accessed 6 October 2026)
- ASI e-ticket system: Ajanta Caves (accessed 6 October 2026)
- ASI e-ticket system: Ellora Caves (accessed 6 October 2026)
- ASI e-ticket system: Red Fort (accessed 6 October 2026)
- UP Tourism, Taj Mahal: ticketing and entry fees of Agra monuments (accessed 6 October 2026)
- ETV Bharat: ASI warns tourists against fake Taj Mahal booking websites (8 April 2026) (accessed 6 October 2026)
- Indian e-Visa, Government of India (official site and FAQ) (accessed 6 October 2026)
- UK FCDO travel advice: India, safety and security (accessed 6 October 2026)
- UK FCDO travel advice: India, warnings and insurance (accessed 6 October 2026)
- UK FCDO travel advice: India, entry requirements (accessed 6 October 2026)
- The Man in Seat 61: India by train (accessed 6 October 2026)
- Wikivoyage: India (accessed 6 October 2026)
- Wikivoyage: Old Delhi (Red Fort, Jama Masjid) (accessed 6 October 2026)
- Wikivoyage: Amritsar (Golden Temple) (accessed 6 October 2026)