India
Taj Mahal
the majesty of Asia
welcome to the taj mahal
The poet Rabindranath Tagore described it as “a tear upon the cheek of eternity”; Rudyard Kipling as “the embodiment of all things pure”; while its creator, Emperor Shah Jahan, said that he made “the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes”.
Every year, tourists who exceed twice the population of Agra pass through its gates to catch a unique glimpse of what is considered to be the most beautiful building in the world. Few have been disappointed.
history
The Taj was built by Shah Jahan as a memorial to his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their fourteenth child in 1631.
Mumtaz’s death left the Emperor so heartbroken that his hair would turn gray virtually overnight.
Construction of the Taj began the following year; although the main building is thought to have taken eight years to construct, the entire complex was not completed until 1653.
A short time after it was finished, Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb and imprisoned in Agra Fort, where for the rest of his days he could only watch his creation through a window.
After his death in 1666, Shah Jahan was buried here alongside his beloved Mumtaz. In total, some 20,000 people from India and Central Asia worked on the building.
Specialists from Europe were brought in to produce the exquisite marble screens and pietra dura (marble inlays) made from thousands of semi-precious stones.
The Taj was designated a World Heritage Site in 1983 and today looks almost as pristine as when it was first built, although it underwent a huge restoration project in the early 20th century.
welcome to the taj mahal
how to get
The Taj Mahal can be visited on a day trip from Delhi. Agra is well connected by rail. The main railway station is Agra Cantt. Shatabdi Express high-speed services operate from Delhi, Varanasi and cities in Rajasthan.
how to turn
There are the official 24-hour prepaid rickshaw and taxi cabs just outside the Agra Railway Station. Use them to avoid the hassle, and if you book a tour, check the quality of your vehicle to ensure it is satisfactory.
where to sleep
Most people arrive on a day trip from New Delhi or stay in Agra. There are many great hotels to choose from.
when to go
The best time is from November to February, otherwise it can be unbearably hot or rainy. You'll still be able to get some great off-season discounts.
book yours
vacation
A selection of the best hotels around the Taj Mahal, in partnership with Booking.com. You can book your favorite and ideal hotel for your holiday at the Taj Mahal directly on the portal. You just have to leave, the pearl of India awaits you.
welcome to the taj mahal
The Taj Mahal (meaning “Crown of the Palace”) is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna River in the Indian city of Agra.
Tickets
Every year, millions of people visit the imposing and mysterious Taj Mahal palace in India. For foreigners, the entrance fee to the Taj Mahal is 1,000 rupees. Indian citizens pay only 40 rupees. Children under 15 are free. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket offices near the entrance gates or online at this site. Read our pricing guide.
Upon exiting the East Gate after your visit, head to Cafe Coffee Day for coffee and muffins, clean restrooms, and welcome air conditioning.
Where to eat in Agra:
- Esphahan: There are only two sittings each night at Agra’s finest restaurant (6.30pm and 9.30pm), so reserving a table is essential. The exquisite menu is chock full of unique delicacies and rarely seen regional heritage dishes.
- Mama Chicken: This superstar dhaba is a must: unsupervised veg duelists and street glory employing 24 cooks on the run, each manning open-air tandoori or other traditional utensils. They whip up some outrageously good sandwiches (kathi) (try chicken tikka or paneer tikka)
- Pinch of Spice: This is the best place outside the five-star hotels to indulge in rich curries and succulent tandoori kebabs. The murg boti masala (chicken tikka swimming in a rich, spicy country gravy) and paneer lababdar (unfermented cheese cubes in a spicy red gravy with stir-fried onions) are outstanding.
What to take:
- Mutter Paneer: A vegetarian dish consisting of peas and paneer in tomato gravy, topped with garam masala.
- Biryani: The infusion of spices and seasonings combined with long grain Basmati rice and tenderly cooked meat (or vegetables), Lucknawi or Awadhi Biryani is a feast in itself. The royal dish is best served with a simple raita (curd).
- Butter Chicken: butter chicken or murgh makhani is a dish, originally from the Indian subcontinent, of chicken with a slightly spiced curry sauce.
- Samosa: A fried or baked snack filled with spiced potatoes, onions, peas or lentils and often accompanied by a mint chutney.
- Chaat: sweet and sour snack prepared with potatoes, chickpeas and spicy mustards
to.eat
book a guide
The Taj Mahal can certainly be seen with a detailed guide. But don’t underestimate what a good guide can add: local perspective, as well as all the historical, architectural and biological information you’d expect. Here are some of our favorite guides and tours.
