Taj Mahal Essential Travel

Guide
The Taj Mahal looms fairytale-like from the banks of the Yamuna River. It's India’s
most recognized monument and is also one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It has
a rich history dating back to 1630 AD and is actually a tomb that contains the body of
Mumtaz Mahal -- the wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. He had it built as an ode to
his love for her. It's made out of marble and took 22 years and 20 000 workers to
complete. Words cannot do the Taj Mahal, its incredible detail simply has to be seen
to be appreciated.

Location

Agra, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, approximately 200 kilometers (125 miles) from
Delhi. It's part of India's popular Golden Triangle Tourist Circuit.

When to Go

The best time is from November to February, otherwise it can be unbearably hot or
rainy. You'll be able to get some excellent off-season discounts though.

Getting There

Agra is well connected by rail. The main railway station is Agra Cantt. High speed
Shatabdi Express services operate from Delhi, Varanasi, and cities in Rajasthan.

The new Yamuna Expressway (opened in August 2012) has reduced the travel time
by road from Delhi to Agra to under three hours. It starts from Noida and a toll of 320
rupees per car for a one way trip (520 rupees round trip) is payable.

Alternatively you can fly from major Indian cities, or take a tour from Delhi.
Tours from Delhi to Agra

Viator offers popular and highly rated private day tours to Agra and the Taj Mahal, as
well as combined day tours to Agra and Fatehpur Sikri and day tours to Agra and
Kachhpura Village.
If you'd like to take a tour from Delhi to see the Taj Mahal at full moon, Viator offers two
day Taj Mahal full moon private tours.

Opening Hours

6 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day except Friday (when it's closed for prayer). The Taj Mahal
is also open for moonlight viewing from 8.30 p.m. until 12.30 a.m., two days before
and after each full moon.

Entry Fees and Information

For foreigners, the entrance fee to the Taj Mahal consists of a 250 rupee Entry Tax
(Archeological Society of India) and 500 rupees Toll Tax (Agra Development
Authority). Indian nationals only pay is 20 rupees (50 cents). Children younger than 15
years are free. Tickets can be purchased at ticket offices near the entry gates.
Night time tickets cost 750 rupees for foreigners and 500 rupees for Indian nationals,
for half an hour’s admittance. These tickets must be purchased 24 hours in advance
from the Archaeological Survey of India office on Mall Road.

The Taj has three entry gates -- south, east, and west. The western gate is the main
gate and generally has the longest queues. The south gate is closest to the Taj Ganj
area, which is popular with travelers and where many of the budget hotels are situated.
A huge sandstone gateway provides access to the inner compound there. The east
gate has the shortest queues but do note that the ticket office (in Shilpgram) is
inconveniently located nearly one kilometer from the gate.

Festivals

The week long Taj Mahotsav takes place at Shilpgram in Agra, right near the Taj
Mahal, from February 18-27 each year. The focus of this festival is on arts, crafts,
Indian culture, and recreating the Mughal Era. It gets underway with a spectacular
procession that includes elephants, camels, and drummers. Elephant and camel rides
are on offer, and there are also games for the kids, and a food festival. The venue has
special significance, as it's apparently located on the site where the artisans who built
the Taj Mahal once lived.
Travel Tips

The Taj Mahal appears to gradually alter its color in the changing light of the day. It’s
well worth the effort to get up early and spend sunrise there, as it majestically reveals
itself. If you don’t want to pay the costly admission fee or battle the crowds, you can
get a great view of the Taj from across the river bank. Once such place there is Mehtab
Bagh -- a 25 acre Mughal garden complex directly opposite the monument. The entry
cost is 100 rupees for foreigners, and it's open until sunset. The view is one to
remember! It's also possible to take a row boat out on the river. Head down the path
along the eastern wall of the Taj Mahal to the riverside temple, where you will find
boatmen.
Uttar Pradesh Tourism's Taj Khema hotel offers notable vistas of the Taj Mahal from
its gardens too. A new marble bench was installed on a mound there in early 2015,
especially for visitors. Sip tea and watch the sunset! The hotel is located about 200
meters from the monument, on the eastern side. It's a government-run establish, so
don't expect great service though. Agra is a rather dirty and characterless city, so don’t
spend too much time there.

Where to Stay

Unfortunately, many of the hotels in Agra are as uninspiring as the city itself. However,
these 10 Homestay and Hotels in Agra for All Budgets should help make your stay
a memorable one. There are hotels to suit all budgets.

Dangers and Annoyances

Visiting the Taj Mahal can be overwhelming for all the wrong reasons. Be prepared to
encounter plenty of beggars and touts there. According to the news report, it has
become an increasingly troublesome problem, and many visitors go back home feeling
cheated, threatened and abused. Touts operate in sophisticated gangs that have
counterparts in other cities who identify potential targets at railway stations. Once the
tourists reach Agra, the touts start pestering them by claiming that they are guides or
taxi drivers. They commonly use ploys such as free taxi rides or the promise of heavy
discounts.
Note: There are 24 hour official prepaid auto rickshaw and taxi booths just
outside Agra railway station. Use these to avoid the hassle, and if you book a
tour there check the quality of your vehicle to make sure it's satisfactory.

Do be sure to tell auto rickshaw drivers which Taj Mahal entry gate you wish to be
taken to, otherwise it's likely that you'll find yourself dropped off in the area where
expensive horse and cart or camel rides wait to take tour groups to the west gate.
Apparently, there are only 50-60 approved guides at the Taj Mahal. However, more
than 3,000 touts posing as photographers, guides or middleman, openly solicit
customers at the monument's three gates (especially at the western gate, which
receives around 60-70% of visitors). Hundreds of hawkers (who pay bribes to the
police) are also a problem at the Taj Mahal, despite being officially banned.

In addition, many foreigners, particularly women and parents with young children, have
reported being frequently asked to pose for photographs (or even being photographed
without permission) by other people including groups of guys. This can be intrusive
and uncomfortable.

Lastly, do be aware of the notorious gem scam, which is alarming prevalent in Agra.

Side Trips from Agra

The deserted Mogul capital of Fatehpur Sikri is 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Agra
and can easily be visited on a day trip. Nature lovers will appreciate a trip to
the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary at Keoladeo Ghana National Park, 55 kilometers (34
miles) from Agra. Another place of interest is the beautifully carved, red ocher
sandstone tomb that's Akbar's Mausoleum. It's located at Sikandra, only 13 kilometers
(8 miles) from Agra.

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