The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of Empress Mumtaz Mahal. This guide covers visiting hours, entry and travel, plus ways to combine the visit with other Agra sights.
- Location: Agra, on the Yamuna River’s south bank.
- Opening pattern: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset; closed to general visitors every Friday.
- Entry: Tickets are available at both gate ticket windows and online through the ASI Agra Circle ticketing website.
Prices and times checked November 2026.
When should you visit the Taj Mahal?
The Taj Mahal is open from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes before sunset and is closed to general visitors every Friday. Plan your arrival with those hours in mind, and check the official site before you go for current visitor details.
Ticket windows at the Eastern and Western Gates open one hour before sunrise and close 45 minutes before sunset. If you want to buy your ticket at the complex, factor those window hours into your visit rather than assuming they match the monument’s full opening period.
What do Taj Mahal tickets and entry rules involve?
Day-visit tickets are sold at windows at the Western and Eastern Gates or online through the ASI Agra Circle ticketing website. The posted entry prices vary by visitor category, with a separate charge for access to the main mausoleum.
- Indian citizens: ₹50.
- SAARC and BIMSTEC nationals: ₹540.
- Other foreign nationals: ₹1,100.
- Additional charge to visit the main mausoleum: ₹200.
- Children below 15 years enter free.
The Western and Eastern Gates are entry points; the Southern Gate allows exit only. A water bottle is allowed inside. Drones are prohibited, and visitors are advised to carry government-issued identity proof. Wheelchairs and a first-aid box are available at the ASI office at the Taj Mahal.
Petrol and diesel vehicles are not permitted within 500 metres of the monument. Battery buses and golf carts operate from Shilpgram at the Eastern Gate and from the Western Gate parking; other pollution-free transport options near the Taj Mahal include battery-operated buses, horse-drawn tongas and rickshaws.
How do you get to the Taj Mahal?
The Taj Mahal is about 40 minutes by car from Hotel Madhushrie, or about 71 minutes on foot. For a car journey, remember that petrol and diesel vehicles cannot enter the area within 500 metres of the monument, so you may need to use the available transport from a designated point.
Agra Cantt railway station is 6 km from the Taj Mahal, Agra Airport (Kheria) is 13 km away, and ISBT is 4 km away.
What can you see inside the Taj Mahal complex?
The complex brings together the main mausoleum, a mosque, a guest house, formal charbagh gardens and reflecting pools. Its central mausoleum is made of ivory-white marble and stands on the Yamuna’s south bank.
Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal in 1631 in memory of Mumtaz Mahal. About 22,000 artisans worked on the monument over 17 years. The Taj Museum is inside the complex and has free entry; its opening hours are 10:00 AM–5:00 PM.
Can you combine the Taj Mahal with Agra Fort or Mehtab Bagh?
Agra Fort and Mehtab Bagh are visitor attractions in Agra, making either a possible addition to a Taj Mahal visit. Mehtab Bagh offers a view of the Taj Mahal across the river; the garden and the monument are separate stops.
If you are a foreign visitor, the ₹500 ADA toll is valid on the same day across the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar’s Tomb and Itimad-ud-Daulah, and is not levied on Fridays. For details on the fort, see this Agra Fort visitor guide.
Mehtab Bagh provides a view of the Taj Mahal across the river, with the garden and monument as separate stops.
A one-day plan can also include other Agra stops; an Agra one-day itinerary sets out a broader route.
FAQs
Is the Taj Mahal open every day?
It is closed to general visitors every Friday. On other days, it is open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset.
Can you buy Taj Mahal tickets at the entrance?
Yes. Ticket windows operate at the Western and Eastern Gates, and day-visit tickets are also available online through the ASI Agra Circle ticketing website.
Can you take a vehicle right up to the Taj Mahal?
Petrol and diesel vehicles are prohibited within 500 metres of the monument. Battery buses and golf carts operate from the Eastern Gate’s Shilpgram and the Western Gate parking.
Is entry to the Taj Museum included?
The Taj Museum is inside the complex and has free entry. Its opening hours are 10:00 AM–5:00 PM.