Taj Mahal

HERITAGE

Classic Golden Triangle India – Uncover the Gems of India in 8 days!

Golden Triangle Tour Packages in India. 

The moment you listen to these three golden words, your mind takes you to that glittery world where there are huge alluringly frenetic old vestiges like forts, palaces, mausoleums, museums, temples, and tombs. And everything is so nice and beautiful.
For all those who don’t know about the iconic golden triangle tour, let me tell you that it is the best and perhaps the classiest-est introduction to the cultural diversity that India poses. Quite renowned amongst the international travelers, this 650-mile circuit of almost fairy tale beauty covers India’s three most visited cities – Agra, Jaipur, and Delhi.
Surely after reading this, a question will pop in your mind – Why it is a golden triangle?

Well, this is because by pointing all these places on the map, a roughly equilateral triangle, some 200-250 km along each side will be formed. That’s why this famous tourist circuit in India is called triangle tour, and golden because of the extraordinary wealth of cultural and historical splendors that each city offer. For more details, have a look at the video below.

Interesting, Mesmerizing, Breathtaking.. Isn’t it?

So, after watching all these pictures, if you’ve decided to bookmark golden triangle India for your next holiday then I am presenting you an interesting travel itinerary. It will allow you to see the golden triangle with a twist, calling it – BREAK THE TRIANGLE.

BREAK THE TRIANGLE? sounding amusing, right? Don’t worry I am not making or breaking places. Infact I will be suggesting you some extra places to visit around the Delhi Agra Jaipur tour.

Some places you must have to visit in India. 

:- Taj Mahal

                 

Beauty of Taj

The Taj Mahal is a white tomb built in the 16th century by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. 

Top Tips to know Before You Visit the Taj Mahal Morning view of Taj

 There is so much we wish we would have known before visiting the Taj Mahal. These tips will let you in on our top tips with everything you need to know before your visit. We hope this helps make your experience as memorable as possible.

1. Arrive early to the ticket booth

Our advice is to visit the Taj Mahal first thing in the morning There will be fewer crowds, nice lighting and you'll avoid the midday heat (that actually starts around 9 a.m.). Arrive to the ticket booth as early as possible. We arrived at 5:45 a.m. (15 minutes before the ticket booth opened_, and there was already a decently long queue. If we were to do it again, we would try to arrive at 5:15 a.m. The building is called Shilp Gram U.P. Tourism). When we exited just after 6:15 a.m. the line was wrapping outside the door. Even though the ticket booth is 1 km from entrance of the Taj, it's not a bad walk. But there are plenty of rickshaw drivers you can hire if you don't want to make it on foot.  Keep in mind: Don't expect a colorful sunrise in solitude. The sunrise isn't actually behind the Taj Mahal; plus, the gates don't open until the sun has actually risen. That said, the morning lighting is lovely. And even though you're waking up early and beating the majority of crowds, you certainly won't find yourself alone – there are crowds all throughout the day, even right when the gates open. As long as your expectations are realistic, you won't regret waking up early.

2. Know what you can't bring inside

Prohibited items at Taj Mahal 

Bags must be scanned, so after being frisked you must get in yet another queue if you have a backpack or purse.

There is a long list of items you cannot bring inside the Taj Mahal, including food, headphones and tripods. Read up on banned items on the official website. We had a deck of cards, a headlamp and the tripod section of our GoPro extendable arm taken. And we saw a girl's pack of gum get confiscated. Be very selective when packing your bag!

We had to go back out of the gate, directed to a little nearby shop which had "lockers". This shop will hold your belongings, but will pressure you to buy something when you come back to pick it up.

The things in these shops are overpriced knockoffs, so we didn't want any. Cut to the chase, tell them you're not interested, and give them 100 rupees for holding your stuff.

3. View the Taj Mahal from across the river at Moonlight Garden

If you have time, take a tuk tuk across the river to the Mehtab Bagh (which translated is "The Moonlight Garden"). Entrance is 200 rupees and could be worth it if you want a shot of the Taj Mahal without any one in it. 

Tip: If you don't want to pay the entrance fee, just next to the Moonlight Garden there is a road with a pretty decent view of the Taj Mahal too. Our rickshaw driver knew where it was and happily took us there so we didn't have to pay an entrance fee.

04. Get a nice photo of yourself

It's easy to take all sorts of pictures and forget to get one of yourself. If you are traveling with a companion, it's easy to exchange photos of each other.

But if you want a shot together or you're traveling solo here's a tip:

If you want a photo of yourself, find someone with a nice camera (they'll most likely take better pictures than someone using a cell phone) and ask if they'd like their picture taken. Take the shot with the same composition as you'd like yours and show them what it looks like. Then ask if they'll take one of you in return.

05. Get up close!

Close views of Taj Mahal 

Don’t just take photos from the pools… The detail shots are where it’s at!

The thing that makes the Taj Mahal so beautiful is the details of marble carving. Don't forget to take some photographs up close.

Makrana marble is a type of white marble, popular for use in sculpture and building decor. It is mined in the town of Makrana in Rajasthan, India, and was used in the construction of several iconic monuments such as the Taj Mahal in Agra and the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. The Makrana Marble is listed as a Global Heritage Stone Resource by International Union of Geological Sciences.

 Frequently Asked Questions about the Taj  Mahal
Below you'll find the answers to the most commonly asked question about visiting the Taj Mahal. 

What is the best time of year to visit the Taj Mahal?

The best time to visit the state of Uttar Pradesh, in which the Taj Mahal is located, is typically said to be October to March. This season has the most comfortable temperatures, ranging from 10° - 30°C (50° - 86°F).

. October - March: The most comfortable temperature, but also the most crowds.

. April - June: Can get incredibly hot, with temperatures peaking at 45°C (113°F).

. July - September: Monsoon season, so try your best to avoid visit. If you do, bring an umbrella.

When does the Taj Mahal open and close?

The Taj Mahal is open every day except Fridays, when it is closed for prayer.

Hours: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Special Moonlight Viewings: 2 days before and after each full moon. You must buy tickets for the moonlight viewing in advance, and they do sell out during peak tourist season. This website has more information on Moonlight Viewings.

Night time tickets cost 750 rupees for foreigners and 510 rupees for Indian nationals, for half an hour’s admittance. These tickets must be purchased between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., one day in advance from the Archaeological Survey of India office on Mall Road.

See more details here, including night viewing dates.

When is the best time of day to visit the Taj Mahal?

The best time to visit the Taj Mahal is as soon as the gates open! As we mentioned in Tip #1, sunrise is the time of day where you'll find the fewest crowds. Plus, the lighting is nicer than at midday and you'll avoid the extreme heat

How much time do I need at the Taj Mahal?

If you're into photography or want to relax a bit and people watch, allow about 3 hours to visit the Taj Mahal. Otherwise, you could probably snap a few shots, walk around the building and inside and feel like you've seen everything in 1.5 hours.

How long did we spend at the Taj Mahal?

We walked through the entrance around 6:40 a.m. and left at 9:30 a.m. By this time, the crowds were thick and we were happy to be leaving.

How much does entry to the Taj Mahal cost?

. Foreigners: 1,000 rupees ($15.40 USD) (recently increased from 750 rupees)*

. India nationals: 40 rupees

. Children 14 and under: Free!

*Included in the price of a foreigner ticket is a bottle of water, shoe covers and a tourist map of Agra. Plus, there are shuttles you can take from the ticket booth to the entrance if you'd like (we skipped this, as waiting for a ride would have taken us longer than walking the 1 km).

Which gate is best to enter the Taj Mahal?

There are 3 entry gates to the Taj Mahal: South, East and West. We found the East Gate to be most convenient for us; but choose the one that sounds best to you based on the descriptions below:

The East Gate: This gate is nearby some of the more popular hotels, so you'll see many foreigners entering here. For us, this gate was the most convenient, and since we arrived early, we didn't wait in line very long.

The West Gate: This is the most crowded gate throughout the day, as it receives roughly 60-70% of visitors. This gate is primarily used by Indian visitors, and while lines are very long throughout the day, you may find shorter lines right away in the morning.

The South Gate: Located by a somewhat dodgy market with pushy touts selling overpriced souvenirs, the South Gate entrance receives the fewest number of visitors. It doesn't open until 8 a.m., so if you want to arrive at sunrise, you can count this gate out.

What to wear at the Taj Mahal?

There is no dress code enforced at the Taj Mahal, but while traveling in India, we would always recommend dressing modestly. Ladies, it's usually a good idea to wear something that covers your shoulders and knees. 

Are there guided tours of the Taj Mahal?

If you're traveling solo and want some company, or you simply don't feel like organizing this visit on your own, we'd recommend booking a tour with our partner company Get Your Guide. This top-rated Taj Mahal Tour has a whole day planned out leaving from and returning to Delhi.

Many tour companies offer a "Golden Triangle" tour, which stops in New Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. These cities are all located in northern India and are roughly the same distance apart -- approximately 200-500 kilometer (125-155 miles).

What is the nearest international airport to the Taj Mahal?

The closest airport to the Taj Mahal is the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi (DEL). Delhi International is a major hub in the region and you can typically get pretty cheap airline tickets.

How to get around Agra?

Many people hire a rickshaw driver for the day, which is a great way to see all the sights listed above. We went to the Taj Mahal on our own (since we wanted to spend a few hours there and didn't want a driver to be waiting). Our driver picked us up at our hotel at 10 a.m., and brought us to Agra Fort, the Baby Taj and the Mehtab Bagh Gardens. We paid 900 rupees ($13.90 USD) for all day transportation.

Agra Auto Rickshaw Service

There is one thing you should be aware of when you hire a rickshaw driver in Agra: They will most likely end your day tour by driving you to several shops which they claim have great products and prices (not exactly true!).

How long should i spend in Agra?

We would recommend staying 1 - 2 nights. This will give you one full day to see the Taj Mahal and explore a few other things that this city has to offer.

 

Written by :Zaid Dk