{"id":1544,"date":"2019-10-21T13:16:31","date_gmt":"2019-10-21T13:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/?p=1544"},"modified":"2026-01-26T23:01:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T23:01:23","slug":"15-top-tips-to-know-before-visiting-the-taj-mahal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/15-top-tips-to-know-before-visiting-the-taj-mahal\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Top Tips to Know Before Visiting the Taj Mahal"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/15-top-tips-to-know-before-visiting-the-taj-mahal\/#1_Learn_the_History_of_the_Taj_Mahal_Before_Visiting\" >1. Learn the History of the Taj Mahal Before Visiting<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/15-top-tips-to-know-before-visiting-the-taj-mahal\/#2_Be_Patient_and_Remain_Calm\" >2. Be Patient and Remain Calm<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/15-top-tips-to-know-before-visiting-the-taj-mahal\/#3_Go_Early_in_the_Morning\" >3. Go Early in the Morning<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/15-top-tips-to-know-before-visiting-the-taj-mahal\/#4_Buy_Your_Ticket_Online\" >4. Buy Your Ticket Online<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/15-top-tips-to-know-before-visiting-the-taj-mahal\/#5_Pick_Your_Gate_Carefully\" >5. Pick Your Gate Carefully<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/15-top-tips-to-know-before-visiting-the-taj-mahal\/#6_Get_a_Guide\" >6. Get a Guide<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/15-top-tips-to-know-before-visiting-the-taj-mahal\/#7_Dress_Appropriately\" >7. Dress Appropriately<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/15-top-tips-to-know-before-visiting-the-taj-mahal\/#8_Check_the_Opening_Times\" >8. Check the Opening Times<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/15-top-tips-to-know-before-visiting-the-taj-mahal\/#9_Check_out_the_View_from_the_Moonlight_Garden\" >9. Check out the View from the Moonlight Garden<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/15-top-tips-to-know-before-visiting-the-taj-mahal\/#10_Dont_Bring_Prohibited_Items\" >10. Don&#8217;t Bring Prohibited Items<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/15-top-tips-to-know-before-visiting-the-taj-mahal\/#11_Get_up_Close_to_the_Marble\" >11. Get up Close to the Marble<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/15-top-tips-to-know-before-visiting-the-taj-mahal\/#12_Have_a_Few_Photo_Spots_in_Mind\" >12. Have a Few Photo Spots in Mind<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/15-top-tips-to-know-before-visiting-the-taj-mahal\/#13_Dress_in_Bright_Colors\" >13. Dress in Bright Colors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/15-top-tips-to-know-before-visiting-the-taj-mahal\/#14_Escape_the_Crowds_ASAP\" >14. Escape the Crowds ASAP<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/15-top-tips-to-know-before-visiting-the-taj-mahal\/#15_Wear_Mosquito_Repellant\" >15. Wear Mosquito Repellant<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/15-top-tips-to-know-before-visiting-the-taj-mahal\/#Resources_for_Booking_Your_Trip_to_the_Taj_Mahal\" >Resources for Booking Your Trip to the Taj Mahal:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/15-top-tips-to-know-before-visiting-the-taj-mahal\/#Pin_this_post\" >Pin this post!<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\">A few weeks ago, I crossed the number one item off of my bucket list. Twenty-three years of desperate hoping and wishing finally paid off. I GOT TO SEE THE TAJ MAHAL IN PERSON! This was an experience unlike any other that I\u2019ve had. If I had one word to describe this architectural masterpiece, it would be marvelous. Actually, I don\u2019t think there are any words that accurately describe how beautiful the Taj Mahal is.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">I grew up learning about this monument and seeing photos of it everywhere. It\u2019s a huge part of my culture and it has always been a dream of mine to see it. When I saw it for the first time, I froze. I couldn\u2019t move or speak. I didn\u2019t know what to think. It felt like my heart was melting. The Taj Mahal was more beautiful than I ever thought it would be. It simply took my breath away and left me in utter awe and admiration. The air was full of love and tranquility. I felt a breeze and in that breeze, I felt the love that Shah Jahan had for his wife, Mumtaz.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">It felt surreal to stand in front of this grandiose structure that symbolizes everlasting love. Seeing the Taj Mahal for the first time will forever be my favorite travel memory. That being said, I wholeheartedly believe that everyone should see this masterpiece at least once in their life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">To help you plan your trip, I\u2019ve compiled a list of the best tips to make sure you have a smooth and dazzling experience at the Taj Mahal.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1567\" src=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-One-683x1024.png\" alt=\"A pinnable image to save this post.\" width=\"640\" height=\"960\" data-pin-description=\"Visiting the Taj Mahal in India? Here are 15 travel tips for the Taj Mahal that you need to know before visiting. #tajmahal #india #traveltips #travelguide #asia #agra #indiaguide #dishadiscovers\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-One-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-One-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-One-223x335.png 223w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-One-231x347.png 231w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-One-347x520.png 347w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-One-427x640.png 427w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-One-512x768.png 512w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-One-640x960.png 640w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-One-720x1080.png 720w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-One-150x225.png 150w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-One.png 735w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>This post contains affiliate links to the products that I use and trust. This means that I might receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase using any of my links below.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/disclaimer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">See full disclosure here.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Learn_the_History_of_the_Taj_Mahal_Before_Visiting\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #5c6e93;\">1. Learn the History of the Taj Mahal Before Visiting<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">I could write about the history of the Taj Mahal in this post, but let\u2019s be real here. History isn\u2019t my forte and you\u2019re here for these awesome tips\u2026 not my subpar history lesson. The story behind the Taj Mahal is beautiful and one you should familiarize yourself with so you have a better understanding when you\u2019re there. Roughly, it took twenty years to complete with the help of 20,000 builders. The entire building is made from marble. Rumor has it that Shah Jahan cut off all of the workers\u2019 fingers so they couldn\u2019t build anything this magnificent again. I read online somewhere that it\u2019s not true, but it\u2019s a fun rumor.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Be_Patient_and_Remain_Calm\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #5c6e93;\">2. Be Patient and Remain Calm<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">The Taj Mahal is incredibly crowded with everyone trying to get the perfect Instagram photos. At times, people will push and shove their way to the front of the queue for their photo and it gets very frustrating. But, take a deep breath and stay calm. Be patient and you\u2019ll get your perfect photos too.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1547\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1547\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1547 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-1-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of the Taj Mahal with crowds of people around.\" width=\"640\" height=\"853\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1547\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">See what I mean about the crowds?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Go_Early_in_the_Morning\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #5c6e93;\">3. Go Early in the Morning<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">The Taj Mahal is always crowded, but it\u2019s less crowded early in the morning. I recommend arriving around 5:30-5:45 am to secure a decent spot in the long queue to get in. Spoiler alert &#8211; don\u2019t expect a gorgeous sunrise. It\u2019s just not going to happen. The sun doesn\u2019t actually rise behind the Taj Mahal and the gates don\u2019t open until the sun has actually risen. They start letting tourists enter right after sunrise around 6:10 am or so. However, going early in the morning allows you to beat the afternoon heat and bigger crowds.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Buy_Your_Ticket_Online\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #5c6e93;\">4. Buy Your Ticket Online<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">I highly recommend buying your ticket online to avoid standing in the horrendous queues. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tajmahal.gov.in\/ticketing.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Here\u2019s<\/a> where you can buy it online. I don\u2019t think they charge extra for buying it online. We paid 200 INR for the mausoleum, 550 INR for the entrance fee, and 500 INR for taxes which totaled to 1200 INR per person.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">If you aren\u2019t able to purchase your ticket online for some reason, please have exact cash ready. It will make your life and the ticket agent\u2019s life easier. The ticket booth is about one kilometer away from the entrance of the Taj Mahal. It\u2019s a rather pleasant walk, but there are rickshaws available if you don\u2019t want to walk.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Your ticket should include a map of the Taj Mahal and shoe covers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><strong>Pro Tips:<\/strong><\/em> The ticket restricts you to a three-hour visit only so be mindful of your time, although three hours is plenty to see and learn everything to your heart\u2019s content. Apparently, if you go over three hours, they will make you pay the entrance fee again. I don\u2019t know if that\u2019s 100% true, but that\u2019s what we were told. When purchasing your ticket online, it asks for a form of ID. Please have that readily available when you visit whether it\u2019s a driver\u2019s license or passport. Ticket agents will ask for it as verification before they let you enter. Further, expect to get separated from your travel partner when going through security screenings; men and women both have a different queue so find a meeting spot on the other side of security. Lastly, it is required to have your tickets printed off.<\/p>\n<div data-gyg-href=\"https:\/\/widget.getyourguide.com\/default\/activites.frame\" data-gyg-locale-code=\"en-US\" data-gyg-widget=\"activities\" data-gyg-number-of-items=\"3\" data-gyg-currency=\"USD\" data-gyg-partner-id=\"PBJZOZH\" data-gyg-q=\"Taj Mahal\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Pick_Your_Gate_Carefully\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #5c6e93;\">5. Pick Your Gate Carefully<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">There are three entrance gates to the Taj Mahal &#8211; East, West, and South. It\u2019s imperative that you choose your gate wisely. I highly recommend asking your hotel\/hostel to see which one they suggest.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">The East Gate: We entered from the East Gate since it was closest to our hotel. Although it was crowded, we didn\u2019t have to wait too long to enter. It appeared as if this was the most convenient gate for tourists.<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">The West Gate: I don\u2019t know much about this gate, but it\u2019s furthest away from most of the hotels. Hence, it\u2019s a tad bit less crowded than the East Gate in the morning.<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">The South Gate: We were told to avoid this gate because this is where all the touts are hanging out to sell tourists their souvenirs. They\u2019re pretty pushy too. I suggest avoiding this gate because it\u2019s not a good start to your day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1553\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1553\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1553\" src=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Entrance-Gate-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Amos and I outside one of the entrances gates at the Taj Mahal.\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1553\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">One of the three entrance gates.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Get_a_Guide\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #5c6e93;\">6. Get a Guide<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">A lot of travel bloggers tell you not to get a guide, but I disagree with them. I recommend everyone to get a guide. It allows you to learn more about the Taj Mahal and you\u2019ll have your own bodyguard to protect you from the touts. They will also help you get the best photos since they know all the great Insta-worthy shots. If you want this process to go as seamless as possible, you should book your guide in advance through your hotel or a tour company. The Taj Mahal is notorious for people posing as guides. All 300 of them say that they\u2019re government approved. In reality, there are only around 75 official guides.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Side story: We booked our tour through a tour company and the tour guide never showed up at the hotel to pick us up. They told us to be ready in the lobby at 5 am and we waited there until 5:40 am. Frantically, we called an Uber and we arrived at the Taj Mahal completely flustered because we didn\u2019t have a guide. I read about the poser guides everywhere and didn\u2019t want to deal with that. Unfortunately, I didn\u2019t have an option. I wanted to learn more about the history of the Taj Mahal so I needed a guide. As we were walking to the entrance, this \u201cguide\u201d ran up to us and offered his services. We asked for the price and he kept saying, \u201cAs you wish.\u201d As a well-seasoned traveler, this raised a major red flag. I demanded an official price and he said 600 INR plus tip depending on how well he does. I didn\u2019t think that was a bad price considering I didn\u2019t have a guide. After agreeing to a price, he pushed us along to his colleague. We were sketched out again, but we decided to give it a try. His colleague ended being the most amazing guide we could have ever asked for. His English was perfect and he was the absolute best photographer. I actually never took a single photo when I was there. He took all my photos for me. He posed us perfectly and he even protected us from the touts. Moral of the story: even though most of the guides are posers, there are a few diamonds in the rough. I was lucky enough to get one.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong><\/em> If you have to get a guide upon arriving at the Taj Mahal, have your guard up. Don\u2019t allow them to walk all over you. Always negotiate a solid price with them and don\u2019t let them tell you, \u201cAs you wish on the price.\u201d We all know that they\u2019re not going to accept just anything that you offer.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1555\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1555\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1555\" src=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Posing-at-the-Taj-Mahal-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of me posing at the Taj Mahal.\" width=\"640\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Posing-at-the-Taj-Mahal-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Posing-at-the-Taj-Mahal-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Posing-at-the-Taj-Mahal-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Posing-at-the-Taj-Mahal.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Posing-at-the-Taj-Mahal-735x919.jpg 735w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Posing-at-the-Taj-Mahal-268x335.jpg 268w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Posing-at-the-Taj-Mahal-278x347.jpg 278w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Posing-at-the-Taj-Mahal-416x520.jpg 416w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Posing-at-the-Taj-Mahal-512x640.jpg 512w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Posing-at-the-Taj-Mahal-614x768.jpg 614w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Posing-at-the-Taj-Mahal-864x1080.jpg 864w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Posing-at-the-Taj-Mahal-150x188.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1555\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">One of the many poses our guide had me do.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Dress_Appropriately\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #5c6e93;\">7. Dress Appropriately<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">There is no official dress code at the Taj Mahal, but it\u2019s still important to dress modestly. I recommend that ladies cover their shoulders and not wear anything above knees length. Don\u2019t be that woman who shows up in shorts and a tank top. Wear light and loose clothing because it can get really hot and humid. You can see in the picture above what I wore. It was perfectly comfortable and modest.<\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\namzn_assoc_placement = \"adunit0\";\namzn_assoc_search_bar = \"true\";\namzn_assoc_tracking_id = \"dishadiscover-20\";\namzn_assoc_ad_mode = \"manual\";\namzn_assoc_ad_type = \"smart\";\namzn_assoc_marketplace = \"amazon\";\namzn_assoc_region = \"US\";\namzn_assoc_title = \"My Amazon Picks\";\namzn_assoc_linkid = \"b2220e0d7f2e4272b556fa3455682eda\";\namzn_assoc_asins = \"1743216769,B01ARAER10,B004N59OFU,B06W55JCCX\";\n<\/script><br \/>\n<script src=\"\/\/z-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/onejs?MarketPlace=US\"><\/script>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Check_the_Opening_Times\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #5c6e93;\">8. Check the Opening Times<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">The Taj Mahal is open for visitors between sunrise and sunset every day except for Fridays. It\u2019s a Muslim monument so it\u2019s closed on Fridays for the Holy Day. It\u2019s important to remember this so you plan your trip to Agra with enough time to observe the Taj Mahal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong><\/em> The Taj Mahal is also open in the night when there\u2019s a full moon. I don\u2019t know the exact times for this, unfortunately. Take advantage of this opportunity if you\u2019re going during the full moon. It\u2019s stunning from what I hear.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Check_out_the_View_from_the_Moonlight_Garden\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #5c6e93;\">9. Check out the View from the Moonlight Garden<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">The view of the Taj Mahal from the Moonlight Garden was my absolute favorite view of the Taj Mahal. You can grab an Uber or a tuk-tuk across the river to the Moonlight Garden (Mehtab Bagh). It\u2019s 200 INR for the entrance fee and well worth it. It\u2019s the only photo I got of the Taj Mahal without anyone in it.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1557\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1557\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1557\" src=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Moonlight-Garden-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of us standing in front of the Taj Mahal.\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1557\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The garden was well worth the visit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Dont_Bring_Prohibited_Items\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #5c6e93;\">10. Don&#8217;t Bring Prohibited Items<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">Make your life easier and read up on this beforehand. The official website for the Taj Mahal has a list of items that you aren\u2019t allowed to bring inside. Some of these items include food, inflammable\/dangerous\/explosive objects, headphones, gum, portable chargers and more. Just bring cash, your phone, your camera and a bottle of water. I highly doubt you\u2019ll need anything more than that.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong><\/em> If you accidentally carry a prohibited item with you, you\u2019ll probably have to store it in a small shop that has lockers. In exchange for them safeguarding your belongings, they\u2019ll pressure you into buying something. The other alternative is to throw those items away, which I highly doubt you want to do.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"11_Get_up_Close_to_the_Marble\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #5c6e93;\">11. Get up Close to the Marble<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">Don\u2019t just gaze at the Taj Mahal from afar. Get up close and admire the architecture. Soak in the intricate details of the marble carvings. My mind was blown when I saw the architecture up close. It was shocking and amazing to think that people 380+ years ago were able to construct something so incredible with just their hands.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1556\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1556\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1556 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Up-Close-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of the Taj Mahal up close.\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1556\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">How beautiful is the detail?!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"12_Have_a_Few_Photo_Spots_in_Mind\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #5c6e93;\">12. Have a Few Photo Spots in Mind<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">I spent a few hours on Pinterest the night before I went to the Taj Mahal to make a list of everywhere I wanted to take a photo. Once you get inside the Taj Mahal, you\u2019ll feel overwhelmed and you won\u2019t be able to think about where all you want a photo. Create a photo plan in advance to make sure you get all the shots you want.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong><\/em> Tripods are not allowed.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"13_Dress_in_Bright_Colors\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #5c6e93;\">13. Dress in Bright Colors<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">If you want your photos to really stand out, wear bright colors. I saw so many Indian women wearing bright-colored saris and their pictures turned out gorgeous. Bright colors look stunning against the white marble.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"14_Escape_the_Crowds_ASAP\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #5c6e93;\">14. Escape the Crowds ASAP<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">When you first enter the Taj Mahal, everyone and their mom stop there to take photos. Keep moving forward. The further you walk, the better the photo spots without tons of people in them. I made the mistake of posing for a few photos here and I don\u2019t like any of those photos.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1558\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1558\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1558\" src=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Turned-Taj-Mahl-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of us at the Taj Mahal.\" width=\"640\" height=\"853\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1558\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This is one of my favorite photos from our Taj Mahal trip. Keep walking from the entrance until you see this bench. You&#8217;ll definitely want to take a photo here.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"15_Wear_Mosquito_Repellant\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #5c6e93;\">15. Wear Mosquito Repellant<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">For some reason, mosquitoes don\u2019t like my Indian blood. However, Amos was getting eaten alive by them along with other tourists. It\u2019s wise to bring some with you.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Resources_for_Booking_Your_Trip_to_the_Taj_Mahal\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #5c6e93;\"><strong>Resources for Booking Your Trip to the Taj Mahal:<\/strong><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Flights:<\/b>&nbsp;I use&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.jdoqocy.com\/click-8942555-12624156\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kiwi.com<\/a>&nbsp;and<a href=\"http:\/\/www.dpbolvw.net\/click-8942555-12532525\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">&nbsp;Skyscanner<\/a>. These are the go-to search engines that help me find cheap flights all around the world and they will help you find flights to India.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Accommodation:<\/b>&nbsp;If you want to stay at a hotel, use&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.jdoqocy.com\/click-8942555-13553140\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hotels.com<\/a>. I use it all the time because it provides the cheapest rates for hotels. Don\u2019t forget to join their rewards program. Every tenth night is free!<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Travel Insurance:<\/b> India is safe, but you never know when accidents can happen. Don\u2019t forget to protect yourself against flight cancellations, unexpected illnesses, theft and more. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shareasale.com\/r.cfm?b=728177&amp;u=1930309&amp;m=59209\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">RoamRight<\/a>&nbsp;has great customer service and benefits.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Have you been to the Taj Mahal? Do you have any tips that I didn\u2019t mention above? Let me know in the comments below.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pin_this_post\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"color: #5c6e93;\">Pin this post!<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-1568\" src=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-2-200x300.png\" alt=\"A pinnable image to save this post to Pinterest.\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" data-pin-description=\"Visiting the Taj Mahal in India? Here are 15 travel tips for the Taj Mahal that you need to know before visiting. #tajmahal #india #traveltips #travelguide #asia #agra #indiaguide #dishadiscovers\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-2-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-2-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-2-223x335.png 223w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-2-231x347.png 231w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-2-347x520.png 347w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-2-427x640.png 427w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-2-512x768.png 512w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-2-640x960.png 640w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-2-720x1080.png 720w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-2-150x225.png 150w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-2.png 735w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-1569\" src=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-3-200x300.png\" alt=\"A pinnable image to save this post to Pinterest.\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" data-pin-description=\"Visiting the Taj Mahal in India? Here are 15 travel tips for the Taj Mahal that you need to know before visiting. #tajmahal #india #traveltips #travelguide #asia #agra #indiaguide #dishadiscovers\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-3-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-3-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-3-223x335.png 223w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-3-231x347.png 231w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-3-347x520.png 347w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-3-427x640.png 427w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-3-512x768.png 512w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-3-640x960.png 640w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-3-720x1080.png 720w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-3-150x225.png 150w, https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Taj-Mahal-Pin-3.png 735w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A few weeks ago, I crossed the number one item off of my bucket list. Twenty-three years of desperate hoping and wishing finally paid off. I GOT TO SEE THE TAJ MAHAL IN PERSON! This was an experience unlike any other that I\u2019ve had. If I had one word to describe this architectural masterpiece, it&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1565,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[499],"tags":[514],"class_list":["post-1544","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-explore-before-you-go","tag-asia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1544","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1544"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1544\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":76075,"href":"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1544\/revisions\/76075"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1565"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1544"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1544"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dishadiscovers.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1544"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}