A trip to Agra in Uttar Pradesh, India cannot be complete without visiting its prime attraction – the Taj Mahal. It is not just the key attraction of the city; it’s also one of the world’s seven wonders and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Now you know why paying a visit to the Taj is an absolute must! Most important, the monument which is often referred to as an “epitome of love” has some interesting history behind it which is worth a listen.
All this and much more can be difficult to explore just on your own. You need someone who can walk you through the Taj tour enlightening you on its various interesting facets. Here we talk about all the things you need to know before visiting the Taj Mahal and how a guide can help educate you on these.
What you need to know when visiting Taj Mahal
1) Read up – Taj Mahal is such a special structure that you wouldn’t want to miss any little detail about it. The magnificent beauty of the monument that stands in shimmering white only needs to be experienced for oneself. It’s hard to put down the splendour of this architectural marvel in words. Yet, history has made a bold attempt at it and you’d find books describing all about the beauty of this pure marble structure.
Read up a bit before you visit to get a brief idea about the monument. There’s always a lot to discover on its fascinating history, architecture on its dome and walls, and the different angles from where you can enjoy an enchanting view of the structure. Leave that to experience!
2) Get an idea on the ticket pricing – The pricing of the visitor ticket for Taj Mahal keeps changing almost every year. The monument is crowded for most parts of the year and the ticket price thus keeps changing accordingly. Tickets can be purchased from the entry gate ticket counter of the monument. Your guide may also be able to help you get one without any hassle.
3) Learn about what to see or do nearby – Taj Mahal is a full-day tour in itself but there are other attractions in and around Taj as well which are worth a visit. Day trips include Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, Itmad-ud-Daula’s Tomb, Akbar’s Tomb, Jama Masjid, Mehtab Bagh and Soami Bagh. A guide will be able to help you plan depending on the time available and budget for the trip.
4) What to shop for – You’d want to carry home some souvenirs from your trip when going back so you may want to learn about what Agra is famous for. Take the help of your guide. Being a local, he’d be well-acquainted with the culture of the place. He’d also know the best shops nearby and also the ones that sell goods at a decent price so you can keep your shopping economical too.
5) How to take good pictures and get an excellent view of the Taj – A tour is incomplete without good pictures to look again and cherish those fond memories. And Taj Mahal is such an exquisite monument built in pure white that one good picture is worth saving in your photo album forever. If you aren’t sure at what time the Taj looks its splendid best so you can get a good shot, ask your guide. They’d know all about it.
Taj looks different at both day and night times, believe us! The viewing experience, therefore, is also entirely different. The spotless white monument sparkles bright under the moonlight and you’d never want to miss that sight for anything in the world.
For getting access to the best photos and views of this magnificent structure, a guide can help you. He’d know exactly all the places where you can get the perfect view of the Taj Mahal, guide you on whether to visit it in the day or at night, inform the timings of visit, and also educate you on other things-to-know for the place.
Summing Up
There’s so much to know about the Taj before the visit and even during it, for its special! To avoid missing out on something important, hire a guide and enjoy its mesmerizing beauty to the best.
