Taj Mahal and Agra, independently explained
Plan the visit. Keep the memory.
Tell the planner when you are going and who is coming. It gives you the ticket prices, the closed day, the rules at the gate, how busy it will probably be and what the light will do at that hour. Afterward, write a few lines and turn them into a card you can keep.
- FridayThe Taj Mahal is closed to visitors every Friday.
- SunriseGates open about 30 minutes before sunrise and close 30 minutes before sunset.
- +₹200The main mausoleum needs its own ticket on top of the entry fee.
- No tripodsAlso no food, tobacco, drones, chargers or large bags.
- 5 nightsNight viewing runs only around the full moon, in small timed groups.
Part 1
Taj visit planner
Four questions. The checklist updates as you answer, and nothing leaves your browser. Fees and rules are from official pages, checked November 2026.
Part 2
Memory card
Write what you want to remember about the day. Pick a date and a style, then download the card as a PNG. Notes stay in this browser only.
Read before you go
Eight guides to the Taj Mahal and Agra
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Tickets and timings
What each ticket costs, what it covers, when the gates open and close, and the one day of the week you cannot get in.
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Best time to visit
Sunrise is the best hour almost every month. The season matters more than people expect, mostly because of fog in winter and heat in early summer.
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Full-moon night viewing
Five nights a month, eight slots a night, 50 people per slot, 30 minutes each, seen from a distance. Here is how to get a ticket and what to expect.
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Delhi to Agra
The fast trains take about 100 minutes, the expressway takes three to four hours door to door, and a sunrise visit means sleeping in Agra.
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What you can bring inside
Bring a phone, a camera, water and a small bag. Leave food, tobacco, tripods, chargers, drones and anything large at the hotel.
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Photography tips
Get in at opening, shoot the long axis first, then work the sides, the gateway arches and the mosque. No tripods, no drones, and no photos inside the tomb.
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History in brief
Built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, mostly between 1632 and the early 1650s. Here is the story in the order it happened.
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Agra beyond the Taj
Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri are World Heritage Sites in their own right, and both stay open on Fridays. Mehtab Bagh is the place for the Taj at sunset.
Quick answers
Which day is the Taj Mahal closed?
The Taj Mahal is closed to sightseers every Friday, when the mosque inside the complex is used for afternoon prayers. Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri and Mehtab Bagh stay open on Fridays, so that is a good day for the rest of Agra.
How much is a Taj Mahal ticket?
As listed on the official Taj Mahal ticketing page in November 2026: 50 rupees for Indian citizens, 540 rupees for SAARC and BIMSTEC citizens and 1,100 rupees for other foreign visitors, plus a separate 200 rupee ticket to enter the main mausoleum. Children under 15 enter free. Fees change, so check the official portal before you go.
What is the best time of day to visit?
Sunrise. The gates open about 30 minutes before sunrise, the first hour is the least crowded, the marble takes on a soft pink and gold tone, and the heat is lowest. Late afternoon is the second choice, but entry closes about 30 minutes before sunset.
Does the memory card upload my note anywhere?
No. The card is drawn in your browser, and your notes are saved only in your own browser's local storage. Nothing is sent to this site or anyone else.
Notes from Agra
One day in Agra: a sample plan from sunrise to sunset
A realistic one-day plan for Agra: the Taj Mahal at opening, Agra Fort before the heat, a quiet tomb after lunch and Mehtab Bagh for the sunset view.
Five small mistakes that cost Taj Mahal visitors their morning
Arriving on a Friday, carrying a power bank, buying from touts, skipping the online ticket and leaving the classic view for later: five avoidable Taj Mahal mistakes.