A step by step guide to visit the Taj Mahal without other tourists

Your trip to India is not complete without visiting the Taj Mahal. Millions of people line up every year to see this magnificent building with their own eyes. You don’t want to be overwhelmed by crowds of tourists, but you do want to see this highlight of India? Then use my step-by-step plan for an ultimate visit to the Taj Mahal without tourists.

Palace or tomb?

Many people think the Taj Mahal is a palace. But nothing could be further from the truth. The Indian emperor Shah Jahan was crazy about his wife Mumtaz Mahal. They were not only lovers but also best friends. Mumtaz and Shah Jahan were married for 19 years and had 13 children. When the last child was born, Mutaz died. The emperor was devastated and because of that, he promised to build a tomb so beautiful that no one would ever forget her. More than 20,000 people built the gigantic tomb between 1631 and 1648. Years later the emperor was deposed by his own son. Shah Jahan was locked in a tower of the Red Fort, overlooking the Taj Mahal. According to the stories, Shah Jahan has been looking at the white tomb where his beloved wife was buried for the rest of his life. As a result, almost 400 years later, the Taj Mahal is still the symbol of infinite love. And because of that, a lot of people want to see it.

To and from Agra

The Taj Mahal is located on the Yamuna River bank in the city of Agra. Because the city itself is dirty and very busy it can be a bit confusing. I wouldn’t stay here longer than necessary. Agra is easy to reach by train. From Delhi, Jaipur and Varanasi there are daily trains. It’s smart to book the train well in advance, as they can quickly fill up. If the trains are full you can also travel by bus. It takes just as long as the train. But the bus is a lot more expensive and less comfortable.

The best time to go

The best time to visit Taj Mahal is between October and March. Because it’s not that hot and you avoid the rainy season. The disadvantage is that there is more chance of smog in that period, and that can spoil your experience. In spring it’s a lot warmer, but still okay. The big advantage is that you have less chance of smog. The disadvantage is that it is high season and it can be very busy.

The Taj Mahal without tourists

Do you want a photo like this? The Taj Mahal without tourists in the background? That’s possible, but it comes with a price. A price you are happy to pay, but still. The gate to the Taj Mahal opens at 6. Make sure you are in the front row! How? I’ll explain everything in the handy step-by-step plan below.

1. Be the first to arrive

We left our hotel at 5 o’clock to make sure we were the first to arrive. I advise you to go to the East Gate. There it is usually a bit quieter. Around this time nobody is queuing up yet, but there are already people busy preparing for the opening. Make sure that the people at the gate have seen you. A friendly greeting can come in handy later.

2. Divide the tasks

This is probably the most tricky part. You have to buy a ticket, but that is about 100 meters away from the queue. The problem is that the first tour groups arrive around 5.30 a.m. and dozens of them are queuing up in front of the gate at the same time. They have a guide who gets the tickets for them. And that is exactly how you should do it too. Make sure one of you is at the front of the queue at the ticket counter and the other one at the front of the queue at the entrance gate.

3. Buy your tickets

The Taj Mahal ticket counter will open around 5.45 am. A ticket costs 1,000 rupees (About $ 15,-)per person. It’s wise to have that in cash, as ATM’s are often useless in India. After buying your ticket you walk on to the second desk, where you get a bottle of water and a small net to cover your shoes.

4. Queue up at the gate again

After buying the tickets you will see that the queue at the gate has grown considerably. Don’t panic! After all, one of you is already at the front. This is where the friendly greeting of the gatekeeper comes to good use. The men at the gate know that you were there first and let you join your friend. Ignore the angry looks of the people behind you. After all, they do the same thing.

5. Security

The gate opens at exactly 6.15 a.m. First, you have to pass security. They check your bag. If it isn’t necessary to bring a bag, I advise you to leave it in the hotel. That saves a lot of time and hassle.

6. Running

When the gate opens you’re not quite there yet. You still have to walk a few hundred meters to the Taj Mahal. There are plenty of madmen who start running when the gates open. You have to decide for yourself if you want to do that. We didn’t. After all, it’s a sacred place you enter. When we arrived at the Taj Mahal, there where around 20 other people. The area is big enough to take a picture of the Taj Mahal without tourists in the background.

7. The perfect picture

Don’t delay too long on the path to the Taj Mahal. The colours change constantly at the time of the sunrise. For the best photos, you want to capture the golden yellow glow on the beautiful structure before it’s too late. The quicker you move, the more pictures of the Taj Mahal without tourist you will be able to shoot.

Full moon

When it’s a full moon the white Taj Mahal lights up completely. To be able to see that special spectacle, it’s also opened in the evening, 5 days a month. Starting 2 days before full moon, until 2 days after full moon. The Taj Mahal is open from 20.30 to 00.30 hours. Full moon tickets cost 750 rupees and can be purchased 24 hours in advance at the counters at the various gates. If you will be able to take pictures of the Taj Mahal without tourists then is a question I can’t answer :).

Good to know

There are a few things to keep in mind when preparing a visit to the Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, so make sure your visit is planned on a different day.

Tickets can only be bought on the day of your visit at the counter, or online at the official website of the Taj Mahal. My experience is that the online sale doesn’t work. I have tried to pay online in every possible way (credit card, bank card, etc.), PayTM, Paypal), but nothing works.

There are several queues for ticket sales: a tourist queue and a queue for locals. Get in the right queue, otherwise, you will be sent away.
Do not accidentally stand at the South Gate, because it will only open at 8.00 a.m.

At around 8 o’clock the area fills up and remains busy for the rest of the day.
Give the tuk-tuk driver who will take you to the gate in the morning clear instructions. Otherwise, you run the risk that he will drop you off at the camel rides, hoping that you will travel the last part with one of his friends.

Time to spend in Agra?

If you have time left in Agra there are a number of other sights worth visiting. Just outside Agra is Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted capital of the Mogul Empire. In Agra itself, you can visit the Tombe of Itimad ud-Dauluh, better known as the ‘Baby Taj’. In the middle of the city lies the Red Fort, where the deposed emperor overlooked the Taj Mahal. In the suburb of Agra lies the Mausoleum of Akbar, a beautiful example of Mongolian architecture. Do you want a beautiful view over the Taj Mahal during sunset? Then I advise you to go to Methab Bagh at the end of the afternoon. Because it’s the beautiful garden on the other side of the river, right behind the Taj Mahal. In other words, you don’t have to get bored when visiting Agra.

Last but not least; you have to eat anyway. So when you are in Agra, have lunch or dinner at Sheroes Hangout. This special restaurant employs women who have survived a hydrochloric acid attack. In this blog I’ll tell you more about it.