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Taj Mahal

Agra · India

Background

World Heritage since
1983
Type of site
Cultural
Built
1632–1648

A white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the Yamuna River, built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Shah Jahan himself was later buried beside her.

Masons, stone-cutters, inlayers, calligraphers and dome builders were brought from across the empire, Central Asia and Iran, under the chief architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori. UNESCO calls it the greatest architectural achievement of Indo-Islamic architecture, and singles out its marble relief work and inlay of precious and semi-precious stones.

“A teardrop on the cheek of eternity.” — Rabindranath Tagore, quoted on Wikivoyage

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. 1631Shah Jahan commissions the tomb
  2. 1632Construction begins
  3. 1648Mausoleum completed
  4. 1653Outer courtyard and cloisters finished
  5. 1983Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    Darwaza-i-Rauza
    The Great Gate into the complex. Filming is allowed up to its red sandstone platform.
  2. 2
    Charbagh Garden
    A Persian-style garden in four parts, with a raised marble tank and a long reflecting pool that frame the classic view.
  3. 3
    The Mausoleum
    The white marble tomb of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan, raised on a platform.
  4. 4
    Mosque and Guest House
    The two buildings that stand either side of the mausoleum.
  5. 5
    Tombs of Fatehpuri Begum and Sirhindi Begum
    Tombs of two other wives of Shah Jahan, among the less visited parts of the complex.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Closed on Fridays
Friday prayers are held here. Wikivoyage also lists closures during Ramadan.
Open Sunrise to Sunset
Roughly 6–7am to 6–7:30pm. Entry closes 30 minutes before sunset.
No Photos Inside
Photos and videos are not allowed inside. Many find the exterior more impressive than the interior.
Pick Your Gate
The West Gate can take hours on weekends. Try the East or South Gate.
Travel Light
Big bags slow security. Lockers are available at the gates.
No Polluting Vehicles
Near the Taj, use an electric vehicle or a tonga. Metro: Taj Mahal and Taj East Gate stations, Yellow Line.

A Day Around the Taj

From the GoGo Agra guide, peak season · Open the Agra Guide ›

  1. 06:00
    Taj Mahal at Sunrise3 hrs
    The white marble tomb in the first light.
  2. 13:30
    Agra Fort2 hrs
    The red sandstone fort where Shah Jahan watched the Taj. Also on the World Heritage List.
  3. 15:45
    Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah1 hr
    The “Baby Taj”, an inlaid marble tomb.
  4. 17:00
    Mehtab Bagh75 min
    The Taj across the river at sunset.
  5. 18:30
    Mohabbat the Taj90 min
    A stage show about the love story.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Dec–Feb. Very hot (highs 34°C+) in Mar–Jul. Rainy season Jul–Aug.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Jul (185 mm), driest Nov (5 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
The Taj Mahal and Agra Fort are 2 km apart and fit in one day, as in the Agra guide. Fatehpur Sikri and Keoladeo lie west of Agra on the same side, so they can share a day trip.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 252 · Wikipedia: Taj Mahal · Wikivoyage: Agra/Taj Mahal (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Agra guide · UNESCO listing