Taj Mahal Timings & Ticket Prices

For normal operating days, the opens Taj Mahal Timings 30 minutes before sunrise and closes 30 minutes before sunset.

Taj Mahal is normally open to visitors from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM every day, except on Fridays (when it remains closed for prayers). During the full moon, the monument keeps its gates open for night viewing from 8:30 PM to 12:30 AM, plus two days after and before the full moon, totaling five days.

Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays for general viewing. But it is always open on the other days.

The Archaeological Survey of India sets the taj mahal timing for visits to the Taj Mahal. The Taj is open every day of the week, except Fridays, when it is only open in the afternoon when people are attending the Taj Mosque for prayers. The Taj is open between sunrise and sunset every day. Tickets are available throughout the day at the western and eastern gates, and at the southern gate tickets are available from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Visitors can spend as much time in the Taj complex as they like, starting from dawn to dusk.

The Taj Mahal is open for night viewing only on five nights in a month: the night of the full moon, two days before it and two days after it, except for Fridays. In order to reserve tickets for night viewing, please book one day in advance (24 hours).

Outlets For Ticketing

Buying a Taj Mahal ticket from the entry gate ticket counter.

Taj Mahal Western Gate:- Tickets are available on Western Gate near Saheli Burj. (Timing-One Hour before Sunrise upto 45 Minutes before Sunset).

Taj Mahal Eastern Gate:- Tickets are available at Eastern Gate of Taj Mahal. (Timing-One Hour before Sunrise upto 45 Minutes before Sunset).

Taj Mahal Southern Gate:- No Entry from this gate at Present only Exit is allowed.

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Taj Mahal Ticket Price 2024-25

In order to enter Taj, there are two separate queues for foreigners and domestic tourists and signs will direct you accordingly.

Note:

No entry fee for children below the age of 15 years. (both Domestic and Foreigner).
Additional Rs.200/- will be charged if one wants to visit the main mausoleum

History of Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan. In the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in 1631 while giving birth to their 14th child. Mumtaz, Shah Jahan’s third wife, was known for her exceptional beauty, and the emperor was known to be mad about her. Crestfallen by her sudden death, the emperor, it is believ, turn grey-haired in just one night. Work on the Taj began in 1632, but it wasn’t until 1653 that the whole monument came together in its current form. But as fate would have it, soon after the Taj was built Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangazeb who held him prisoner in the Agra Fort, where he spent the rest of his years yearning for the Taj. Shah Jahan after his death in 1666 was buried beside his beloved Mumtaz in the Taj Mahal.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983 for being the “jewel of Muslim art in India. And one of the universally admir masterpieces of the world’s heritage”, an army of 20,000 artisans from across India, Central Asia and Europe were employed to work on the Taj.

Taj Mahal Architecture

The Taj Complex

The ornamental gardens design on the lines of the typical Mughal Charbagh, is a square garden dissect by water bodies with an ornamental marble plinth running through its center. To the northern end of the complex is the elevated marble platform on which the main mausoleum stands. The raised podium is to lift it above the other structures on the complex, as if reaching out to the very skies. A 40-metre-high white minaret adorns each corner of the marble platform, and call it an engineering masterstroke, the towers each slightly lean outwards. This was so that they fall away in case of an earthquake and let the superstructure remain unperturbed.

Buildings on the Taj Mahal Complex

The main entrance to Taj is an ornate Mughal structure predominantly made of white marble with tomb-like archways. The arches are rich in calligraphy and have vaulted ceilings and walls with geometric designs. On the other end of the structure there are two identical red sandstone buildings, the western building is actually a mosque, and its prototype, a jawab (answer).

Taj Mahal Central Structure

Built in semi-translucent white marble with intricate carvings and inlay work of precious and semi-precious gems, the four identical sides of the mausoleum is majestic in its detailing. There are four small domes topping the central structure with one large bulbous dome in the centre. Right below the main dome lies the cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal with gorgeous jaali and inlay work in marble, and beside it the cenotaph of her husband. The construction is such that sunlight streams in directly through the jaali and falls on the cenotaphs. But the actual tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz are in a chamber in a basement room that is not open for public viewing.

Taj Mahal Quick Facts

– A 1000 elephants were used to transport building materials for the construction of the Taj.

– The brilliant white marble came in from Makrana in Rajasthan, the jade and crystal came from China, the jasper from Punjab, the turquoise from Tibet, the Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan, the carnelian from Arabia and the sapphire from Sri Lanka.

– The famous inlay work on the marble has about 28 varieties of precious and semi-precious stones.

Taj Mahal Timings & Entry Gates

Western Gate:

To enter through this gate, you can buy the tickets near Saheli Burj. Taj Mahal opening hours for this gate are an hour before sunrise and about 45 minutes prior to sunset. This is actually the main entrance to the mausoleum and looks out to the Agra Cantt and the city at large. Outside this gate, don’t miss the beautiful red sandstone structure ‘Fatehpur Begum’, dedicated to another of Shah Jahan’s wives. Sprawl out across an open terrace, the courtyard of the building is fit to accommodate about 200 people at a time who wish to offer Namaz.

Eastern Gate:

The tickets are available at this gate itself. Again, the Taj Mahal visiting hours remain the same; an hour before sunrise, and 45 minutes before sunset. Facing Fatehbad, there is a dom tomb here nestl on an elevated plinth, also known as ‘Sirhi Darwaza’. This too is a tomb to another of Shah Jahan’s wives, Sirhindi begum. The main structure is an architectural marvel what with its 24 arches, a giant hall and courtyard, and built in a unique eight-sided style.

Southern Gate:

You can only exit from this gate; no entry is allow. Meant for pedestrians alone, this gate faces the old town, Mumtazabad. There is a tomb here too of red sandstone complete with a rambling courtyard and a dome. The grave is believ to be of a maid of Mumtaz Mahal’s who always kept her company and look after her.

Be appris of the fact that there are separate queues for domestic and foreign tourists.

aj Mahal Address

The Taj Mahal is located in Dharmapuri, Forest Colony, Tajganj, Agra, Uttar Pradesh – 282001.

Taj Mahal Opening Days

The Taj Mahal is open for viewing to the general public on all days of the week except Fridays.

How to Reach the Taj Mahal

From the NCR, you can drive down the 165-kilometre-long Yamuna Expressway connecting Greater Noida with Agra. Agra is 235 kilometre from Jaipur and 125 kilometre from Gwalior.

Nearest Bus Stand to the Taj Mahal:

The Idgah bus station is Agra’s biggest and most prominent bus terminal. It is in close proximity to the Idgah railway station and also the Agra Cantt, Agra’s main railway station. The UPSRTC (Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation) operates regular deluxe. Semi-deluxe buses from here to different parts of the city. Alternately, you can hire a taxi and reach the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is approximately six kilometres from the Idgah bus stand.

Nearest Railway Station to the Taj Mahal:

Agra Cantt is the prominent railway head in Agra, and at a distance of approximately six kilometres from the Taj Mahal. It is well-connect by taxis and other local modes of transport like state buses. To get to Agra Cantt from India’s capital, take the country’s fastest train. The Gatimaan Express departing from Hazrat Nizamuddin at 08:10 am and arriving into Agra Cantt in a cool 100 minutes by doing an average speed of 112 km/hr. Alternately. You can also take the second best option, the Shatabdi Express that departs from New Delhi at 06:00 am and brings you to Agra Cantt by 08:00 am. There is the Taj Express too which makes the journey in an average of 2.5 hours between the cities. This train too like the Gatimaan and Shatabdi Express now goes all the way to Gwalior and then Jhansi.

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Nearest Aiport to the Taj Mahal:

The Agra Airport is a military base and also serves as a public airport. You have flights between Delhi and Agra. Which you need to book at least a couple of weeks ahead for better rates. There are two flights daily between Delhi and Agra, and the popular airlines serving the route include Air India, SpiceJet, and IndiGo. A nonstop flight takes about 3 hours to get you to Agra from Delhi. From the Agra Airport, the Taj is approximately 13 kilometres, taking you about 40 minutes by road.

Map For Taj Mahal