Taj Mahal is considered as one of the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is also one of the Seven Wonders in the world that attracts a huge population of indigenous and international tourists. Standing tall on the banks of Yamuna River, this marble stone erection dates back to 1630. It was Shah Jahan’s creation to remember his beloved wife Mumtaz. This fairytale tomb was constructed over the grave of Mumtaz. It took more than 22 years to complete and engage the expertise of over 20,000 workers. Every detail of this marble miracle is unique. No description can do justice to this unique masterpiece. All you have to do is to witness its remarkable beauty by visiting Agra.
Things to know
If you are visiting the Taj Mahal for the first time, there are a few things you should know.
- Location
Taj Mahal is considered one of the points of the famous Golden Triangle tour. It is 200 km distant from Delhi, the capital city of India. You can take a train or a bus service to reach there. Private transport will also be a great idea.
- Best time to visit
Delhi-Agra belt suffers immensely due to excessive heat waves. The temperature can reach up to 46°C during April, May, and June. The unbearable heat and unprecedented rain might ruin your plan. The best time to visit Agra and the Taj Mahal is in between November and March. The winter season is the ideal time to enjoy roaming inside perimeter enjoying the sun. You can use an Audio Tour Guide during your visit to find out the information about every artefact and erections in the monument.
- How to reach
You can easily get there as Delhi offers an excellent transport platform with different options. You can either hire a private transport that will take you to Agra via the Yamuna Expressway. The toll tax will cost you INR 415 for a one-way journey and INR 665 for a round trip.
You can also take a Volvo A/C bus to cover this distance. It will cost you INR 700 for each tourist. The bus journey provides a halt of 30 minutes in the Vango Restaurant. You can also take a train to Agra. It will definitely cost you less than all the other arrangements mentioned above.
- Opening hours
Taj Mahal opens from 6 am till 7 pm. Every Friday is prayer day here. You can also visit Taj Mahal during the full moon night. It opens from 8.30 pm to 12.30 am on a full moon day. The visit at night is suspended for two months during Ramadan.
- Entry fee
The entry fee for the Indian tourists is INR 50. If you opt for cashless transactions, you will get a discount of INR 5 per person. For foreign tourists, the ticket price is INR 1100. For cashless transactions, it is INR 1050 per person. The tickets can be purchased online or at the gates. The ticket cost assigned for the foreign tourists comprises of a tourist map, show covers, a bottle of mineral water, and a golf cart or bus service to the main entry gate. The night visit will cost INR 750 per foreign tourist and INR 510 for one Indian tourist. Only the night visit tickets should be booked one day advance from the venue of Archeological Survey of India.
- Guide cost
Hiring a certified guide will cost INR 650 for Indian tourists and INR 3000 for foreign tourists. It is a small package for arranging everything a tourist group needs to visit the Taj Mahal.
VerdictYou can also visit this historic monument without any help from a guide. You can easily download an Audio Tour Guide and get the best information about the Taj Mahal and its aspects easily. Why wait then? Arrange your Taj Mahal trip today and enjoy the aura of one of the Seven Wonders in the world.
