Agra – Home to the Magnificent Taj Mahal

This blog may seem to be mostly about the Taj Mahal, but the fact is that Agra is mostly about the Taj Mahal so it is only right to dedicate 80% of the blog to the spectacular and only one of its kind, Taj Mahal. No matter how many times you visit Agra and see the Taj Mahal, it is never enough. The Startling white beauty of the Taj Mahal set against the vibrant blue sky, reflecting into the water pond leading to it is a sight that never fades away.

The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal ruler Shah Jahan in remembrance of his beloved wife Mumtaz. Now standing since 1643, the white marble mausoleum took Eleven years to be built . In the following 10 years other building including a mosque were built in the same complex. In 1983 the Taj Mahal designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for being “ the jewel of Muslim art in India” . In 2007 it was the winner of the new 7 wonder of the world and for good reason.

All tourist and local transport vehicles only go upto the parking on the Taj Mahal. From the parking, you can either walk or take a battery van or a rickshaw until the ticket counter of the Taj Mahal. You can either by a “high value” ticket or a “general public” ticket. Non- Indian national can only purchase the high value ticket. India national are pick between the two. The high value tickets gives you express entry into the Taj Mahal so it is definitely the better option.

Once you purchase your ticket and go through security, you come to the outer gates and walls of the Taj Mahal. You can not see the Taj Mahal just yet, but another few steps towards the arch of the gate will give you the best view of the Taj. Look below !!!

Once you go though the gates, you can walk down the paths in between the gardens and the water ponds to the Taj. You must climb a few steps to the enter the Taj Mahal. Once you are on top, do go around the Taj Mahal. You will get to see the river Yamuna following behind the Taj . As the myth goes, Shah Jahan had planed to built a black mausoleum for himself across the Yamuna river but could not complete it as he was put under house arrest by him son. You can also enter the Taj Mahal but the actual cannot see the actual burial sight of Shahjahan and his beloved wife Mumtaz .Their graves are at a lower level, underneath the inner chambers of the Taj Mahal.

The best time to visit the Taj Mahal is early morning . The Taj opens at sunrise and closes at sunset, like most monuments in India. Entry to the Taj normally starts at 7-7:30. It is a good idea to reach early to avoid queues to get in. Early mornings are also less crowed so a good opportunity to get a perfect picture with just you can the Taj Mahal.

The best months to visit the Taj Mahal are November and February when the sky is mostly clear and the temperatures are low. December and January are also good months as the temperature stays low through out the day and on most days it is nice a sunny. Avoid early morning visits during these months as morning tend to be very foggy and views are not very clear. March -April and September – October , are good months for early morning visits and late afternoon visits. May-August are very very hot months , with June- July being the hottest time of the year. Temperature goes up to 45 degree Celsius. I would only recommend visiting the Taj early in the morning . The sun becomes very sharp by about 8-9 pm. The Taj also opens early during the summer months.

If possible , visit Agra on a full moon nights ( or a day before or after) . Only 50 tickets are sold for a 30 minute visit to see the Taj Mahal against the magnificent white shinning moon. It is not a guided tour and a tourist guide cannot accompany you. Well you can take a guide with you, but the guide needs to have him or her own valid ticket to enter. It is a spectacular sight and the Taj Mahal is at it best when soaked in the pure reflection of the Moon light.

On all my three visits into Agra, I have only visited the Taj Mahal. However, there is more to Agra than just the Taj Mahal. Agra Fort- where Shahjahan was kept captive by his son until he died. Tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah more commonly know as the Baby Taj or Jewel Box is a miniature version of the Taj Mahal. Mehtab Bagh – gardens across the river Yamuna for a different view of the Taj Mahal. There is also an evening musical on the Taj Mahal and a heritage walk of Agra taking you through the hidden spots of the city.

Agra is located at a convenient 3 -4 hour drive from Delhi. There is also an option taking a super fast train – along with a number of other frequent trains. The train from Delhi will take about 2-3 hours depending on the train you select. Trains from other major cities also stop at Agra. You can also fly into Agra, but flights are not very frequent and on most occasions , once or twice a week only.

We drove from Delhi to Agra in a 12 seat mini van. It took us 4 hours including a hour lunch break. Our driver was very particular about not over speeding on the state of the art – Express way. Unless , you have other stops enroute, insist on taking the express way from Delhi to Agra. It is called a express way for a reason and is the fastest road connecting Delhi and Agra.

I have visited the Taj Mahal in September 2007, December 2017 and once or twice earlier when I was very young. This blog is based on my last trip in December 2017.