When To Visit Taj Mahal

To truly appreciate the Taj Mahal and encapsulate its various moods, we suggest that you spend at least one full day in Agra and view this dream in marble at different times of the day - for the Taj transforms its character with the changing light. The precision and care which went into Taj Mahal's design and construction is just as impressive whether you view it from across the river or from arm's length.

Best time of the day:
Dawn is a magical time when it's virtually deserted and the first rays of the sun light up the Taj. In the afternoon, the Taj is a dazzling spectacle in white, and in the evening the Taj dons the orange glow of the setting sun. Of course, there's nothing more romantic than beholding the Taj on a full-moon night.

Taj Mahal in the Morning
The glory of the monument is strangely undiminished by the crowds of tourists who visit each day, as small and insignificant as ants in the face of this immense and captivating monument. That said, the Taj is at its most alluring in the relative quiet of early morning, shrouded in mists and bathed with a soft red glow. As its vast marble surfaces fall into shadow or reflect the sun, its colour changes, from soft grey and yellow to pearly cream and dazzling white; it's well worth visiting at different times. This play of light is an important decorative device, symbolically implying the presence of Allah, who is never represented in anthropomorphic form.

Beauty of Taj Mahal during Day
The Taj Mahal shows a different aspect of beauty at different times of the day. The sight of the Taj awash with the subtle pinks of dawn is an unforgettable sight.

Taj Mahal at Sunset
Sunsets stain the Taj an exotic shade of orange. But nothing beats the poignant beauty of the Taj seen when the cool white marble is bathed in the soft silver light of the moon. Even in the bright light of the day, this wonder of the world shines with an awe-inspiring loveliness.

Try arriving just as it opens or is about to close. A few minutes alone in the perpetually echoing inner sanctum will reward you far more than several hours spent on a guided tour.