A visit to the astonishing Taj Mahal was one of the first stops of my solo trip to India, and should be part of everyone’s itinerary. And what time to visit would be better than than early in the morning, watching the magical sunrise at Taj Mahal before the crowds arrive.

Taj Mahal and Machu Picchu are my two favorites of the 7 modern wonders of the world. People even consider Taj Mahal as the most beautiful building in the world. In this post I’m sharing everything you need to know for a good experience watching the sunrise at Taj Mahal.

Sunrise at Taj Mahal, Agra, India - Taj Mahal Visiting hours, Distance from Delhi to Taj Mahal, Is Taj Mahal safe

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Sunrise at Taj Mahal - All you need to know before you go

Here are some tips to prepare you for your visit to Taj Mahal – things that made my visit easier and things I wish I had known before.

Buy your ticket online

Buying your ticket online saves you waiting time in line and the ticket is INR 50 (EUR 0.60) cheaper then at the ticket office. When you get there you can simply show the e-ticket on your phone to enter.

The ticket price of Taj Mahal depends on your nationality:

Foreign nationals: INR 1100
SAARC and BIMSTEC nationals: INR 540
Indian nationals: INR 50
Main Mausoleum: INR 200

Have a look at these experiences by Get your Guide:

Dress appropriately

While there are no actual rules for a dress code at Taj Mahal you should dress conservatively and cover your shoulders and knees to respect the culture. Also, covering up will save you from a lot of stares – especially if you’re a girl. 

Agra, Rajasthan, Golden Triangle, India

Don't buy souvenirs near Taj Mahal

All the shops around Taj Mahal charge more than the shops in other places. If you don’t mind buying overpriced souvenirs, go ahead and get them there. Otherwise, go to markets or to the town center to buy your souvenirs.

Also, don’t forget to bargain. The rule of thumb is that you can get the price down to about half of the first price the seller mentions.

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Carry only essentials in your bag

Before entering Taj Mahal you have to go through security and you’d be surprised about the things that are not allowed in there.

I had brought my everyday bag which contained my journal, a deodorant, chewing gum and an apple among other things. All of the items I mentioned are not allowed – don’t ask me why – so I had to leave them in a deposit room outside. They keep your things there for free and you can pick them up after your visit.

The Taj might be covered in fog

Taj Mahal covered in Fog

Early in the morning the Taj Mahal tends to be covered in fog and you won’t be able to see it clearly. But don’t worry – usually the fog clears up within a while and the view becomes clear.

You'll feel like people come just for the photos

I get it, we all want to have a nice photo of our visit to Taj Mahal. But it seemed like people were fighting for the photo spots. Some people were posing for the camera while others in line complained that they were taking too much time. Others got mad when someone walked through the background and the photographers got stressed by the people waiting for their turn.

Everywhere you look you just see people taking photos. It seemed to me that some of them forgot to appreciate the beauty of the place in real life, but who am I to judge – I also had my camera with me.

Agra smells like cow poo

Cows in Agra, India

It sounds like a bad joke but it’s true. The area around Taj Mahal is everything but clean. I honestly didn’t expect such an incredible architectural masterpiece to be surrounded by slums and garbage-eating cows. But then again, this is India. I’m not even saying this in a negative way, it’s just part of the experience. It’s also not that bad, I’m simply mentioning it so you can be prepared.

Best time to visit Taj Mahal

Sunrise at Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Sunrise at Taj Mahal, Agra, India

The visiting hours of Taj Mahal are not specifically set. The monument opens early in the morning before sunrise and closes late afternoon before sunset. Be aware that Taj Mahal is open for visitors everyday except for Friday. 

The best time to visit Taj Mahal is right in the morning when it opens. When I visited, the opening time of Taj Mahal was 6:00 in the morning. Going for sunrise at Taj Mahal gives you the advantage of beating the crowds and seeing the monument in a beautiful light.

The best time of the year to visit Taj Mahal is between October and March. During these months you’ll have ideal weather conditions.

Also, if you visit Taj Mahal on a weekday you’ll encounter less crowds than on a weekend. 

Sunrise at Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Getting from Delhi to Taj Mahal

The distance from Delhi to Taj Mahal, Agra is around 200 km. If you drive from Delhi to Agra by car it will take about 4-5 hours depending on traffic.

You can also take a train to the station Agra Cantt. The trains between Delhi and Agra run on a regular basis and take about 4-5 hours. Tickets are very affordable. You can find the train schedules here.

TIPS FOR TRAIN TRAVELING:

  • Make sure you choose the right seating class of your train ticket. The cheapest class is “Sleeper” and by any means, do not book that one except if you want to be squeezed between Indians into a small department without A/C as the only foreigner. I recommend booking AC3 or above that (AC2 or AC1), but AC3 is good enough.
  • There will be three levels of bunk beds in the train if you book AC3. Always make sure you book the lowest bunk. I accidentally booked the top bunk once. Between hitting my head on the ceiling when sitting up and getting paranoid about my luggage which was down on the floor, the train ride was not that nice. If you get the lower bunk you can sit more comfortably and enjoy the view out of the window.
  • The official train website doesn’t accept payments with international cards. You can buy your ticket online through the platform 12Go.asia but they add a small commission to it. Otherwise you could ask a local person to book the ticket for you or you buy it in advance at the train station. I usually booked through 12Go.asia as the fee isn’t that high and it’s just the easiest way to book the ticket.

How to get to Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

If you’re staying in Agra, the city of Taj Mahal, the easiest way to get there is by tuk tuk. Your accommodation will be able to book a driver for you and make sure the drivers don’t overcharge you.

Where to stay in Agra

Agra has loads of accommodation options for every budget. If you’re a backpacker like me and are looking for an affordable place with an authentic experience, I highly recommend staying at ZIGZAG HOMESTAY.

The place is owned by a lovely family who are very welcoming. They cook traditional dinner in the evening and they helped me plan everything. From giving me recommendations, to organizing my driver and booking my train ticket. The place was clean and they made me feel like I was part of the family!

Is it safe to visit Taj Mahal?

Visiting Taj Mahal is absolutely safe. After 2 months in India, I have never felt unsafe in any place.

In the area around Taj Mahal there are some “slums” where people live in very basic housing and you’ll see cows eating garbage on the street. That’s just how people live there and nothing to be afraid of.

Other things to do in Agra

Rooftop café with views of Taj Mahal, Agra
Rooftop café with views of Taj Mahal, Agra

If you have more time in Agra, you could visit the Agra Fort, the Baby Taj or do a boat trip on the river.

To be honest, I was too tired to visit more monuments and I decided to have breakfast at a rooftop terrace and relax there for a while. There are several rooftop terraces with views of the Taj. I recommend the Chia Taj View Café, located on the rooftop of Joey’s Hostel. They have good coffee and Indian and Western breakfast options.

After my visit to Agra and Taj Mahal, I continued my trip to Jaipur – the pink city of India. Check out my other posts about India:

 

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Sunrise at Taj Mahal, Agra, India - Taj Mahal Visiting hours, Distance from Delhi to Taj Mahal, Is Taj Mahal safe
Sunrise at Taj Mahal, Agra, India - Taj Mahal Visiting hours, Distance from Delhi to Taj Mahal, Is Taj Mahal safe

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