Taj Mahal
Agra, India
ताज महल (Taj Mahal)
Shah Jahan's white marble tomb for Mumtaz Mahal on the Yamuna, best at first light.
Checked 6 October 2026
The Taj Mahal is the 17th-century marble mausoleum built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, run by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It is closed every Friday, and going inside the mausoleum itself costs an extra ₹200 on top of the entry ticket, so add that when you book on the ASI's own portal.
About Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is a tomb. Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, built it for his wife Mumtaz Mahal after she died in 1631, and work on the complex ran until about 1653. The mausoleum stands on a raised marble platform at the river end of a walled garden on the bank of the Yamuna, framed by four minarets, a red sandstone mosque on one side and a matching guest hall on the other.
What makes it special up close is the detail, not just the silhouette. The white marble is inlaid with flowers and Quranic calligraphy in semi-precious stone, and the letters on higher panels are slightly larger, so they look even from the ground. The whole complex is laid out with strict symmetry, and the only thing that breaks it is Shah Jahan's own cenotaph, added beside his wife's when he was buried there.
Inside, the domed hall holds the two cenotaphs behind a carved marble screen; the real graves are in a crypt below, normally closed. The marble changes colour through the day, from pinkish at dawn to white at noon and golden in the evening, which is why so many people come at sunrise.
It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and draws millions of visitors a year, most of them Indian. That is why the practical side matters: queues, touts and a few rules (a time limit on tickets, no food, closed on Fridays) shape your visit more than at most monuments.
What to see
The Great Gate (Darwaza-i-Rauza)
The red sandstone gateway you walk through from the forecourt. The first view of the mausoleum, framed by the arch, is the classic moment; walk straight through rather than stopping in the crowd right under the arch.
Charbagh garden and reflecting pool
The four-part Mughal garden with the long water channel on the main axis. The marble bench on the central platform is the famous photo spot; at opening time there is a short window before it gets crowded.
Main mausoleum interior
The octagonal hall with the cenotaphs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan behind a pierced marble screen, and inlay work at eye level. It needs the extra ₹200 mausoleum ticket; photography is not allowed inside, and you leave your shoes at the free racks below or wear the shoe covers.
The river terrace
Walk round to the back of the mausoleum platform for the view over the Yamuna to Mehtab Bagh and Agra Fort in the distance. With the basic ticket you can still reach the platform area and the riverside, but not the inner hall.
The mosque and the guest house (mihman khana)
The two red sandstone buildings flanking the mausoleum. The mosque on the west side is still in use, which is why the Taj closes to visitors on Fridays.
Taj Museum
A small free museum inside the complex, open 10:00–17:00, with Mughal paintings, drawings and objects connected to the building. Easy to fit in after the mausoleum.
Taj Mahal tickets: which to buy and where
Buy the ASI entry ticket online and add the ₹200 mausoleum option, which most visitors want; foreigners pay ₹1,250 in total online. The rules that catch people out: the Taj is closed every Friday, and you must carry the ID (a passport for foreigners) used for the booking.
The official ticket site
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) e-ticketing
In April 2026 the ASI named two official websites for Taj Mahal tickets: asi.paygov.org.in and asi.payumoney.com (which now forwards to the ASI booking page at eticket.webfront.in/asi). The QR codes at the gates and ticket windows, and the ASI WhatsApp booking number +91 84228 89057, are also official. tajmahal.gov.in is UP Tourism's information site, not a ticket shop.
Entry + main mausoleum, foreign visitor
₹1,250 online (₹1,050 + ₹200); ₹1,300 at the ticket window; under 15 free
(€12 · €10 · €2)
Official ticketsSkips some lines
- Includes
- Gardens, platform, mausoleum interior; shoe covers, a 500 ml water bottle, an Agra map and the battery bus or golf cart from the parking area
- Best for
- Most foreign visitors. An online ticket skips the ticket window, but not the security queue at the gate
ASI (official) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Entry only, foreign visitor
₹1,050 online; ₹1,100 at the ticket window
(€10)
Official ticketsSkips some lines
- Includes
- Gardens, the mausoleum platform from outside and the riverside; not the inner hall. Same free extras
- Best for
- Visitors who only want the gardens and the exterior, or a second visit
ASI (official) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)SAARC and BIMSTEC citizens
₹535 online (₹540 at the window) + ₹200 mausoleum
(€5 · €2)
Official ticketsSkips some lines
- Includes
- As for foreign visitors; for citizens of SAARC and BIMSTEC countries (e.g. Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand), with proof of nationality
- Best for
- Visitors from neighbouring countries
ASI (official) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Indian citizens and OCI cardholders
₹45 online (₹50 at the window) + ₹200 mausoleum
(under €1 · €2)
Official ticketsSkips some lines
- Includes
- Gardens and exterior; inner hall with the ₹200 add-on
- Best for
- Indian nationals and OCI cardholders (carry the card)
ASI (official) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Full-moon night viewing
₹750 foreign adult; ₹510 Indian adult; ₹500 child 3–15 (UP Tourism list, also reported in 2024; check on the portal)
(€7 · €5)
Official ticketsDoes not skip lines
- Includes
- A 30-minute slot between 20:00 and midnight, 50 people per slot, viewed from the gardens (not the mausoleum interior). Full-moon night plus two nights either side, not on Fridays or during Ramadan. Sold online from 7 days ahead
- Best for
- Visitors in Agra on full-moon nights who book as soon as dates open
ASI (official) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Same-day tour from Delhi by car with tickets
from €82.62 per person (2 travellers, guide + tickets); €98.06 all-inclusive with meal
ResellerSkips some lines
- Includes
- Private car from Delhi NCR (2:00 pickup for sunrise), private guide, Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Baby Taj tickets
- Best for
- Travellers based in Delhi who want transport and tickets sorted
Viator (Keeper Landwey) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)
How to buy
- Go to asi.paygov.org.in (or asi.payumoney.com), choose the Agra circle and Taj Mahal, then pick your date and visitor type (Indian, Foreigner, SAARC, BIMSTEC).
- Choose 'Tajmahal with Mausoleum' if you want to go inside the main tomb; it adds ₹200 per person. Add children under 15, who go free.
- Enter the name and ID or passport number exactly as on the document you will carry, pay, and save the e-ticket with its QR code on your phone (the portal has a 'Regenerate Ticket' option if you lose it).
- On the day, go straight to the entry queue for your category at the East or West Gate (foreigners have separate lanes). Keep the ticket and passport to hand for the turnstile and security check.
- No online ticket? The windows at both gates open an hour before sunrise and close 45 minutes before sunset, or you can scan the official ASI QR code posted at the gate and pay by UPI or card.
Look-alike sites
Search results and social media ads lead to look-alike sites that use 'Taj Mahal tickets' in the name. In April 2026 the ASI said tickets from one such fake site were invalid and would not get anyone in. The real sellers are the ASI's asi.paygov.org.in and asi.payumoney.com (which forwards to eticket.webfront.in/asi). Check the spelling of the address, be wary of any site charging more than ₹1,050 + ₹200 for a foreigner's ticket, and never share an OTP or bank details on a site that is not a government portal. Tour companies that include tickets buy them on the ASI site for you, which is fine, but you are paying for the service, not for faster entry.
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Guided tours of Taj Mahal
The Taj is easy to visit on your own, and the free ASI map plus a little reading covers the story. A guide is worth it if you want the history, symbolism and inlay details explained, or help with photos. From Delhi, a tour with car or train mainly buys you transport, and possibly a 2am start for sunrise. No one sells a real skip-the-line: there is no such system at the gates, and everyone goes through the same security.
Private guided tour from Agra
Taj Mahal: Express Entry Ticket for Sunrise Tour with Guide
Steps To IndiaAgra-based local guide, hotel pickup in Agra, shoe covers and water. 'Express entry' in the title does not buy a faster line: there is no paid fast lane at the gates. If you choose the ticket option the company books your ASI tickets in your names. Several reviewers mention shopping stops after the tour; say upfront if you don't want them.
from €6 per person for the guide-only option; the option with entry tickets costs more
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Private day trip from Delhi by car
Sunrise Taj Mahal, Agra Fort & Baby Taj Tour from Delhi by Car
Keeper Landwey (on Viator)Hotel pickup anywhere in Delhi NCR at about 02:00 for sunrise; about 3 hours at the Taj, then Agra Fort and Itimad-ud-Daulah. Some reviewers mention a marble workshop stop. The same product is also on GetYourGuide.
€82.62 per person with guide and tickets, €98.06 all-inclusive with a meal (for 2 travellers)
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Private day trip by Gatimaan Express
Taj Mahal Day Tour from Delhi by Superfast Train
Pioneer Holidays (on Viator)Hotel-to-station transfers in Delhi, return train tickets with on-board meals, private car and guide in Agra, Taj, Agra Fort, Baby Taj and Mehtab Bagh, lunch and admissions. Not sunrise: the train arrives at 09:50. The Gatimaan does not run on Fridays, when the Taj is closed anyway. Pioneer Holidays also sells a car tour on its own site (next entry).
€90.80 per person in the cheaper train class, €136.19 in the upper class (for 2 travellers)
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Private day trip from Delhi by car
From Delhi: Taj Mahal and Agra Fort Day Tour by Car
Pioneer Holidays (same operator as the train tour above, booked on its own site, tajmahaldaytour.net)The car version of the Pioneer Holidays day trip, booked directly rather than through Viator. Private car via the Yamuna Expressway, guide, and depending on the option entry tickets, buffet lunch, tolls and parking. Daytime arrival around 09:30, not sunrise. Check which option the headline price covers before you pay.
from US$55 per person (headline price, shown as 30% off); one adult alone was quoted US$140 with tickets and lunch, US$100 without tickets
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Taj Mahal deals and discounts
The official ASI ticket is the best buy, and buying it online is the only standing discount (₹50 off for foreigners, ₹5 for Indians). Tours cost more because of the guide and transport, not because of better entry.
Under-15s go free
Children under 15 enter free, both Indian and foreign. Add them to the booking or tell the window, and carry their passport or ID.
Buy online: ₹1,050 instead of ₹1,100
The ASI portal charges foreigners ₹1,050 and Indians ₹45, against ₹1,100 and ₹50 at the window. The mausoleum add-on is ₹200 either way.
Free extras with a foreigner's ticket
Foreign, SAARC and BIMSTEC tickets include shoe covers, a 500 ml water bottle, an Agra map and the battery bus or golf cart from the parking areas to the gates. Pick them up at the gate; don't buy them from vendors.
Cheaper Agra Fort on the same day
Agra Fort costs foreigners ₹650 at the window, or ₹600 if you show a same-day Taj ticket. Online the ASI part is ₹550, with the ADA toll still paid at the fort's counter.
Free entry during Shah Jahan's Urs
For three days each year during the Urs (death anniversary) of Shah Jahan, entry is free for part of the time and the crypt with the real graves is opened. The latest schedule on UP Tourism's site is from 2023, when entry was free after 14:00 on 17 and 18 February and all day on 19 February. The dates move with the Islamic calendar each year, so check the ASI announcement shortly before.
Best time to visit Taj Mahal
Time of day: be in the queue before the gates open, which is 30 minutes before sunrise (around 05:45 in October, nearer 06:40 in midwinter). You get cooler air, softer light and an hour before the big groups. Late afternoon is the second best; midday is hot, flat-lit and busiest.
Season: October to March is the main season, with comfortable temperatures. Winter mornings (December–January) are often foggy, so the dome may only appear as the mist lifts. April to June is very hot, and July to September is the monsoon.
Week: the Taj is closed every Friday, which makes Thursdays and Saturdays busier. Weekdays outside Indian school and public holidays are quietest. Mehtab Bagh and the ADA Taj View Point across the river stay open on Fridays.
Full moon: night viewing runs on the full-moon night and two nights either side, except Fridays and Ramadan. A tour operator's list (July 2026) gives the coming full moons as 26 October, 24 November and 23 December 2026 and 22 January 2027 (a Friday, so no viewing that night), with no viewing during Ramadan in February–March 2027. Check the dates on the ASI portal before you plan around them.
Tips and tricks
Gathered from travel forums, locals and the sight’s own advice, rewritten in our own words. What worked for others, not a guarantee.
Use the East Gate
The West Gate handles most visitors, including the big domestic crowds. UP Tourism points people to the East Gate to avoid the crush, and it is closest to the hotels in the Fatehabad Road and Taj Ganj area. The South Gate is exit only at present.
From UP Tourism, tajmahal.gov.in, 2026
Leave food, tripods and chargers at the hotel
Banned: food (even sweets), tobacco, lighters, knives, headphones, phone chargers and power banks, electrical goods other than cameras, tripods (unless the ASI gave permission) and drones, which are banned in and around the Taj. Carry a small bag, since big bags slow the security check; cloakrooms at both gates take what you can't bring in.
From UP Tourism do's and don'ts, tajmahal.gov.in, 2026
Watch the three-hour limit
Since 2019 the entry token has been valid for three hours, and if you overstay you pay again at the exit turnstile (as announced by the ASI at the time; the current price pages don't mention it, so treat it as still in force). Three hours is plenty for the gardens, mausoleum and museum, but don't sit by the river all morning.
From Business Today, ASI statement on turnstiles, June 2019
Bring water, not snacks
Water bottles are allowed and foreigners get a free 500 ml bottle at the gate. Eat breakfast before you go; there is nothing to buy inside, and food is confiscated at security.
From UP Tourism ticketing page, 2026
Keep your shoes on or wear the covers
On the mausoleum platform you either wear the free shoe covers or leave your shoes at the free racks just below. The marble gets very hot by midday in summer, so keep socks or the covers handy.
From UP Tourism ticketing page, 2026
See the back view from Mehtab Bagh
The Mughal garden across the Yamuna lines up exactly with the Taj and is quiet, cheap (₹250 for foreigners online) and open on Fridays. The ADA Taj View Point next to it is open until late, for a moonlit view without a night ticket.
From ASI e-ticket portal and UP Tourism, 2026
Silence your phone, and no photos inside
Phones are allowed in the daytime but must be off or on silent. Photography is banned inside the main mausoleum, and guards do enforce it. For night viewing, phones are not allowed at all; a still camera is allowed after security, but not video cameras or spare batteries.
From UP Tourism do's and don'ts, tajmahal.gov.in, 2026
Take the metro if you are staying in Agra city
Agra Metro's first line runs underground to Taj East Gate and Taj Mahal (near the West Gate and Taj Ganj) stations, with Dr Ambedkar Chowk for Agra Fort. Fares are ₹10–20, and it avoids rickshaw haggling.
From UPMRC Agra Metro leaflet on tajmahal.gov.in, 2026
Allow 45 minutes for the sunrise queue, and skip the bag
Even with an online ticket, a visitor who reached the gate at about 06:15 on a Saturday in March 2026 found a long security queue and got in around 07:00. Screening is noticeably quicker if you carry no bag, so bring only your ticket, passport, phone and water.
From TripAdvisor Agra forum, September 2026
How to get to Taj Mahal
- From Delhi by train: the Gatimaan Express (12050) leaves Hazrat Nizamuddin at 08:10 and reaches Agra Cantt at 09:50, returning (12049) at 17:35 to arrive back at 19:30; it does not run on Fridays. For earlier arrivals, the Shatabdi (12002) leaves New Delhi at 06:00, arriving 07:50, and the Vande Bharat (22470, not Mondays) leaves Hazrat Nizamuddin at 06:00, arriving 07:40. Book on IRCTC.
- From Delhi by road: about 200 km, usually 3–4 hours on the Yamuna Expressway. Sunrise tours leave Delhi around 02:00–02:30.
- From Agra Cantt station: about 6 km to the Taj. Take a prepaid taxi or auto-rickshaw from the official booth. Agra Fort station is closer to Agra Fort and the metro at Mankameshwar.
- In Agra: Agra Metro runs from Mankameshwar via Dr Ambedkar Chowk (Agra Fort) to Taj Mahal (West Gate) and Taj East Gate stations. Fares ₹10–20.
- At the gates: no polluting vehicles are allowed within 500 m of the Taj. Cars and buses park at Shilpgram (for the East Gate) or Amrood ka Tila (for the West Gate), and battery buses and golf carts run to the gates, free with a foreigner's ticket. From hotels in Taj Ganj you can walk.
Scams and problems to watch for
Fake ticket websites
Look-alike sites with 'Taj Mahal tickets' in the name sell tickets that the ASI says are invalid at the gate. Tell-tale sign: a domain that is not asi.paygov.org.in or asi.payumoney.com (eticket.webfront.in), or a price above ₹1,050 + ₹200 for a foreigner. Book only on the ASI portals, the QR code at the gate or the ASI's WhatsApp number.
'Pay to skip the queue'
Men near the gates, sometimes claiming to be officials, offer to get you past the queue for around ₹1,000. In September 2026 Agra police arrested a guide after foreign tourists reported exactly this at the West Gate. There is no paid fast lane. Foreigners already have their own, usually much shorter, lane, and everyone goes through the same security.
Unlicensed guides at the parking areas
Unofficial guides work the parking areas at the East and West Gates and outside Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. Approved guides carry a government ID card; ask to see it before agreeing anything, and agree the price first. UP Tourism (64 Taj Road) and India Tourism (191 Mall Road) can arrange an approved guide.
Shoe covers, water and maps for sale
Vendors on the approach sell shoe covers, water and 'official' maps that come free with a foreigner's ticket at the gate. Only buy if you have an Indian ticket, which does not include them.
Commission stops at marble and gem shops
Rickshaw drivers, some guides and some tour packages end at marble inlay workshops or gem shops that pay commission. Reviews of even well-rated tours mention unplanned shopping stops. Say at the start that you don't want any, and don't buy gems as an 'investment' to resell at home.
'The Taj is closed today'
A driver or tout says the Taj is closed or the gate is shut, and offers to take you somewhere else first. The Taj closes only on Fridays (and in emergencies). Check the ASI site or simply walk to the gate.
Accessibility
The gardens are reached on paved paths with some slopes and kerbs. Battery buses and golf carts carry visitors from the Shilpgram and Amrood ka Tila parking areas to the gates, free with a foreigner's ticket. The ASI keeps wheelchairs and a first-aid box at its office in the Taj complex (phone 0562 2330498); ask at the gate. The mausoleum stands on a high marble platform, and there are steps up to it and between garden terraces, so wheelchair users may need help; the crypt is closed in any case. The night viewing area is reached through the Shilpgram security check near the East Gate. Agra Metro stations have wheelchairs (helpline 0562 2653225). There is no specific discount for disabled visitors in the ASI price list.
Combine it with
Agra Fort
The Mughal red sandstone fort 2.5 km upriver, where Shah Jahan spent his last years looking across at the Taj from the Musamman Burj. ₹650 for foreigners at the window (₹600 with a same-day Taj ticket); open sunrise to sunset daily, including Fridays.
Mehtab Bagh
The moonlight garden on the opposite bank, aligned with the Taj, for the classic view across the Yamuna at sunset. ₹250 for foreigners online; open on Fridays when the Taj is closed.
Itimad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj)
Nur Jahan's tomb for her father, the first Mughal tomb faced in white marble with stone inlay, a small, quiet forerunner of the Taj on the east bank. ₹250 for foreigners online.
Fatehpur Sikri
Akbar's abandoned red sandstone capital, about 40 km west, with the Buland Darwaza gate and the marble shrine of Sheikh Salim Chishti. ₹610 for foreigners at the window; plan half a day, or stop on the way to Jaipur.
Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra
The emperor Akbar's tomb in large gardens on the Delhi side of Agra, about 10 km from the Taj and far less crowded. ₹310 for foreigners at the window.
Questions people ask about visiting Taj Mahal
How much is the Taj Mahal ticket for foreigners?
₹1,050 when you book online with the ASI, or ₹1,100 at the ticket window, plus ₹200 to go inside the main mausoleum, so ₹1,250 or ₹1,300 in total. SAARC and BIMSTEC citizens pay ₹535 online and Indians ₹45, plus the same ₹200 for the mausoleum. Children under 15 are free (prices as of October 2026).
Where do I buy official Taj Mahal tickets online?
On the Archaeological Survey of India's portals, asi.paygov.org.in and asi.payumoney.com (which forwards to eticket.webfront.in/asi). In April 2026 the ASI also named the QR codes at the gates and its WhatsApp number, +91 84228 89057. Other sites using the Taj Mahal name are not official, and the ASI has warned that tickets from at least one of them were invalid.
Is the Taj Mahal closed on Fridays?
Yes. The Taj Mahal is closed to visitors every Friday, because the mosque in the complex is used for Friday prayers. On other days it opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes 30 minutes before sunset. Night viewing doesn't run on Fridays either, but Agra Fort, Mehtab Bagh and the other monuments are open.
Can you skip the line at the Taj Mahal?
Partly. An online ticket lets you skip the ticket window, but everyone queues for security at the East or West Gate, and no paid fast lane exists. Foreign visitors have separate, usually shorter, entry lanes. Ignore anyone offering to take you past the queue for money; police arrested a guide for this in September 2026.
How long do you need at the Taj Mahal?
Two to three hours covers the gate, gardens, mausoleum interior, river terrace and museum. Since 2019 tickets have been valid for three hours from entry, with an extra charge at the exit if you stay longer. Add an hour for Mehtab Bagh across the river, or a full day if you also do Agra Fort and Baby Taj.
How do I get Taj Mahal night viewing tickets?
Night viewing runs on the full-moon night and two nights either side, except Fridays and Ramadan, in eight 30-minute slots of 50 people between 20:00 and midnight. UP Tourism's FAQ says tickets (₹750 foreign adult, ₹510 Indian, ₹500 children) are sold on asi.paygov.org.in from seven days ahead; its night-viewing page still carries an older rule of buying the day before at the ASI office counter, 22 Mall Road (10:00–18:00). Book online as soon as your date opens, and report at Shilpgram near the East Gate 30 minutes before your slot, without a phone.
Is a guided tour of the Taj Mahal worth it?
Not essential: the site is easy to navigate, and foreigners get a free map. A licensed guide adds the history, the meaning of the calligraphy and inlay, and help with photos. If you hire one at the gate, check the government ID card and agree the price first. From Delhi, a tour mainly buys you transport and an early start.
More sights in 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
Before you go
The things that apply at every big sight: booking ahead, what skip-the-line really means, and the scams that follow tourists everywhere.