See the Taj Mahal at sunrise
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
The white marble tomb that the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan began in 1631 for Mumtaz Mahal took about 17 years and some 22,000 artisans to complete, and stands beside the Yamuna River in Agra behind formal gardens and reflecting pools. The gates open half an hour before sunrise, so you can be inside as the day begins.
GentleUnder £100 / $130An afternoonOutdoorsAlone or with othersIndia
How to start
- Read the official visiting hours; the Taj Mahal opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes 30 minutes before sunset, and is closed to visitors on Fridays.
- Buy your ticket online from the Archaeological Survey of India's ticketing site to avoid queuing at the counter.
- If you would like to see it by moonlight, check the night viewing dates, held around the full moon with a separate ticket, never on Fridays or during Ramzan.
Where to go
We opened these links on 3 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. The hard part of a day out is the timing: the right season, tickets and getting there. The plan watches the calendar for you.
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