Taj Mahal Timings & Visitor Guide 2026: Opening Hours, Tickets and Tips
Quick Answer
The Taj Mahal is open from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes before sunset, Saturday to Thursday. It is closed every Friday. In mid-October that is roughly 5:45 AM to 5:20 PM; in mid-December roughly 6:30 AM to 4:55 PM. Foreign visitors pay ₹1,100 for entry, plus ₹200 to go inside the main mausoleum, and children under 15 enter free. Arrive at opening time for the softest light and the smallest crowds, and allow 2–3 hours.
Taj Mahal Opening Hours by Month
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) opens the Taj Mahal 30 minutes before sunrise and closes it 30 minutes before sunset, so the hours move through the year. The table shows approximate times for the middle of each month, worked out from sunrise and sunset in Agra and rounded to the nearest five minutes.
| Month (mid-month) | Opens (approx.) | Closes (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 6:40 AM | 5:15 PM |
| February | 6:25 AM | 5:40 PM |
| March | 6:00 AM | 5:55 PM |
| April | 5:25 AM | 6:10 PM |
| May | 5:00 AM | 6:30 PM |
| June | 4:55 AM | 6:45 PM |
| July | 5:00 AM | 6:45 PM |
| August | 5:20 AM | 6:25 PM |
| September | 5:35 AM | 5:55 PM |
| October | 5:45 AM | 5:20 PM |
| November | 6:10 AM | 5:00 PM |
| December | 6:30 AM | 4:55 PM |
From October to March, queues at security build quickly after opening, so being at the gate before opening time gets you into the gardens while they are still quiet. Closing time is when the gates shut, so plan to start walking back about 20 minutes earlier.
Opening rule from the official Taj Mahal website (tajmahal.gov.in), checked 15 October 2026. Monthly times are our estimates; the ASI can change hours at short notice.
Opening Hours and the Friday Closure
- The Taj Mahal is closed every Friday for prayers at the mosque inside the complex. It is open Saturday to Thursday.
- Agra Fort, the Baby Taj (Itimad-ud-Daulah), Mehtab Bagh and Fatehpur Sikri stay open on Fridays, so a Friday in Agra is still a full sightseeing day.
- If you only have one day in Agra and it is a Friday, see the Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh across the river and visit it on another day if you can.
- Night viewing is not held on Fridays either.
Our 2-day Agra itinerary includes a plan for when one of your days falls on a Friday.
Taj Mahal Tickets at a Glance
| Visitor | Entry ticket | Main mausoleum (optional) |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign tourists | ₹1,100 | + ₹200 |
| SAARC and BIMSTEC citizens | ₹540 | + ₹200 |
| Indian citizens | ₹50 | + ₹200 |
| Children under 15 | Free | – |
The entry ticket covers the gardens, the mosque and guest house, and the platform around the mausoleum. Going inside the marble tomb, where the cenotaphs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are, needs the extra ₹200 ticket, which most first-time visitors find worthwhile. Booking online saves ₹50 on each foreign-tourist ticket and ₹5 on each Indian ticket.
Our Taj Mahal ticket price guide covers how to book, who qualifies for each rate, and the other Agra monument fees.
Prices from the official Taj Mahal website (tajmahal.gov.in), checked 15 October 2026. They include the ASI and Agra Development Authority charges.
Best Time to Visit: Sunrise, Daytime or Sunset?
Sunrise offers the softest light on the marble and noticeably smaller crowds than mid-day, especially from October to March. Late afternoon is the second-best option for similar reasons. Sunset is best seen from Mehtab Bagh across the river, where you watch the marble change colour without the crowds; see our sunset and Mehtab Bagh experience.
By season, October to March is the most comfortable, though December and January mornings can be foggy. April to June is very hot, so go at opening time. July to September is the monsoon, with green gardens and fewer visitors.
Night Viewing
The ASI opens the Taj Mahal at night on the full-moon night and the two nights before and after it, which makes five nights a month. Visits run from 8:00 PM to midnight in eight batches of up to 50 people, and each batch has 30 minutes. There is no night viewing on Fridays or during the month of Ramadan. Tickets are limited and must be booked in advance, so treat night viewing as a bonus rather than the main visit: you see the Taj from a distance, not up close.
Entry Gates
The Taj Mahal has three gates: East, West and South. The East and West Gates are the ones most commonly used by visitors and guided tours, and they have ticket counters and parking areas nearby with short electric-shuttle or walking connections. The South Gate is closer to the old market area and is often used as an exit. Your guide will choose the quickest gate for your time of day.
Security and What to Carry
Security checks are thorough, so travel light on the day of your visit.
- Allowed: phone, camera, wallet, passport, a small bag and a water bottle.
- Not allowed: food, tobacco, tripods, drones, large bags, knives and similar items.
- Carry your passport or ID, sunscreen and a hat in summer, and a warm layer on winter mornings.
- Shoe covers for the mausoleum platform are usually handed out with foreign-tourist tickets; otherwise you remove your shoes.
Photography Tips
- The classic view is from the central platform in front of the reflecting pool, near the main gateway. Arrive early to find space.
- Photography is not allowed inside the main mausoleum.
- For a quieter frame, walk to the sides of the gardens or the mosque and guest house terraces.
- From across the Yamuna, Mehtab Bagh gives an uncrowded view, especially at golden hour.
How Long Do You Need?
Plan 2 to 3 hours for the Taj Mahal itself. Since 2019 the ASI has limited day visits to three hours inside the complex, and staying longer can mean paying an extra charge at the exit. A full day in Agra adds Agra Fort and the Baby Taj; two days add Fatehpur Sikri and a sunset at Mehtab Bagh. If you are coming from Delhi for the day, read how to plan a Taj Mahal day trip from Delhi, which compares the train option with travelling by car.
A Short History
The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Construction began around 1632 and took roughly two decades to complete. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and remains one of the most recognised buildings in the world. The white marble tomb, its gardens, mosque, guest house and great gateway were designed as a single, symmetrical composition beside the Yamuna River.
Getting the Most From Your Visit
A government-certified guide can add real depth to the visit, explaining the symmetry of the garden layout, the calligraphy on the entrance gate and the pietra dura inlay work on the mausoleum, much of which is easy to miss without context. Our private Taj Mahal sunrise tour is led by our own Agra guides, and we can add a private car or a pick-up from Delhi. Afterwards, explore the city's other Mughal monuments with our guide to Agra beyond the Taj Mahal.
Not sure which day or gate suits your trip? Send us your date on WhatsApp and we'll reply with a suggested plan.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes 30 minutes before sunset. That is roughly 5:45 AM to 5:20 PM in mid-October, 6:30 AM to 4:55 PM in mid-December and 4:55 AM to 6:45 PM in mid-June.
No. The Taj Mahal is closed every Friday. Agra Fort, the Baby Taj, Mehtab Bagh and Fatehpur Sikri stay open on Fridays.
The foreign-tourist entry ticket is ₹1,100, and going inside the main mausoleum costs an extra ₹200, so ₹1,300 in total. Booking online saves ₹50 per foreign ticket. Children under 15 enter free. Prices checked on tajmahal.gov.in on 15 October 2026.
Opening time at sunrise is the best time, both for photography and for avoiding the busiest hours. October to March is the most comfortable season.
Two to three hours is enough for most visitors. Day visits are limited to three hours inside the complex.
Yes, on five nights a month around the full moon, between 8:00 PM and midnight, in 30-minute batches of up to 50 people. There is no night viewing on Fridays or during Ramadan, and tickets must be booked in advance.
It is not required, but a government-certified guide adds context on the history and architecture that is difficult to get from signage alone.
You can take photos in the gardens and on the platform, but photography is not allowed inside the main mausoleum.
Related Tours
Private Taj Mahal Sunrise & Agra Fort Tour
