The Taj Mahal
The most beautiful building in the world - a perfect white marble mausoleum raised by an emperor for his beloved wife, mirrored in still pools at Agra, a UNESCO wonder.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
UNESCO World Heritage
The Taj Mahal is widely held to be the most beautiful building in the world, a mausoleum of luminous white marble raised in the seventeenth century by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. Perfectly symmetrical, inlaid with semi-precious stones and mirrored in long reflecting pools within its formal gardens, this UNESCO wonder is a peerless monument to love and grief.
What you actually see
- The marble mausoleum - the perfect white dome and minarets.
- The reflecting pools - the tomb mirrored in the still water of the gardens.
- The pietra dura inlay - the semi-precious stone flowers inlaid in the marble.
- The changing light - the marble glowing pink at dawn and gold at sunset.
When to go
October to March for the coolest weather; go at dawn, when it opens, for the softest light, smallest crowds and the marble glowing at sunrise. It is closed on Fridays. The changing light through the day is part of the magic.
Honest expectations
It is extremely popular, so go at dawn to beat the crowds and the heat; it is closed on Fridays for prayers. Agra itself is a hectic, hassle-heavy city, and touts and 'guides' at the gate are persistent. The reflecting-pool photo spot queues, but the beauty lives up to every expectation.
Nearby
Agra Fort is across the city; the ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri is nearby.
What to pack for The Taj Mahal
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
