Many people have tried to describe the Taj Mahal’s beauty. Shah Jahan, the buildings creator said “it made the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.” Rudyard Kipling said “It is the embodiment of all things pure” and Rabindranath Tagore described it as a “teardrop on the cheek of eternity.”
Although this may seem like hyperbole, If you were to ask me what I considered to be the most beautiful building I have ever seen, there would be no contest; the Taj Mahal reigns supreme. I’m not alone in this. Each year, over 4 million tourists pass through the complex’s enormous, red sandstone gates in order to catch a glimpse of India’s most visited tourist site and I’m sure that they would tell you the same.
Most visitors already know countless facts about the Taj Mahal and the story of its construction; Built by Shah Jahan in 1631 as a memorial for his 3rd wife who died in childbirth, the main mausoleum took just 8 years to complete, but it wasn’t until 1653 that the finishing touches were added to the complex as a whole. Because of this, it is often described as the world’s greatest monument to love. However, what most people don’t know is that you don’t necessarily have to enter the complex itself to get a great view of the buildings glistening white onion dome. If you want photographs or viewpoints of the Taj Mahal that are a little unique, here are my favourite alternative spots to visit in order to see the white-marble masterpiece.
The Best Views of the Taj Mahal
While I don’t recommend skipping a visit to the Taj Mahal while you’re in Agra, the stunning structure dominates the city and you are able to get a good glimpse of it from a number of different locations. Here are some of my favourite viewpoints.
Mehtab Bagh
One of the most mesmerising views of the Taj Mahal is from the Mehtab Bagh gardens on the Yamuna river’s north bank. Mehtab Bagh is beautiful; a long, lush green lawn dotted with flowering bushes designed to mirror the Taj Mahals own decorative gardens. Legend says that Mughal emperor Shah Jahan long planned an exact copy of the Taj to be built in the spot as a tomb for himself, only made entirely of black marble. The idea originates from the fanciful writings of Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a European traveller who visited Agra in 1665. It was suggested that Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son, Aurangzeb, before it could be built.
The perfect time to visit is just before sunset, settling in for a view of the Taj as daylight fades, casting an orangy pink glow on the building’s marble dome. I spent a beautiful evening, sat in complete silence with dozens of other people, gazing in awe at history’s greatest monument to love.
Although it is only a few hundred metres from Agra’s centre, getting there and back is a 16 km round trip, taking 20 minutes each way and costing around 150 rupees on an overpriced tuk-tuk. It requires travelling a few kilometres west of the city, crossing the Ambedkar bridge, and then making your way back eastwards to the Taj Mahal viewpoint.
Opening Hours: 6am – 6pm
Entry fee: 100 Rs
From a Boat on the Yamuna River
It’s the view that you see in most guidebooks or articles; the sun setting over the Taj Mahal while a boatman punts his way across the Yamuna in a wooden boat with the great white onion dome reflecting in the calm waters. Officially, it’s illegal for tourists to take a boat ride on the Yamuna. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s impossible, you just have to know where to look and who to ask. After all, who would want to miss out on the best view of the Taj Mahal just for the sake of a few rules?
Most hostels in and around Agra offer this tour (200-250 Rs per person) but I found that the best way is to do it yourself from Dusshera ghat. To reach Dusshera ghat, head to the Taj Mahal’s east gate from Taj East Gate Road and, as soon as you pass the ticket office, take a right and follow the Taj’s perimeter wall all the way to the waterfront. As boat rides are not advertised, it is best to ask around at the jetty to see if anyone will take you. When I visited, there were a few policemen on the jetty but they didn’t seem to mind me hopping aboard a boat. For the best view of the Taj, visit at sunset or sunrise.
We paid 100 rupees (around £1.10) each for a 15 – 20 minute ride.
Check out this blog post for a detailed account of how to take a sunset boat ride at the Taj Mahal.
From the Trails of the Taj Nature Walk
Just a short walk from the Taj Mahal down the East Gate Road sits this lush expanse of parkland, crisscrossed by walking trails, picnic spots and viewpoints. The nature reserve covers 70 acres, stretching from the road towards the banks of the Yamuna and you can expect it to be fairly quiet compared to the rest of Agra if it is a little peace and tranquillity that you’re looking for. I only spotted two other couples walking the trail while I was there.
While it is great for twitchers and nature lovers, the real attraction is the various vantage points dotted around the park, allowing to see the Taj Mahal from a unique perspective. It’s possible to spend a whole morning exploring the different paths but I found that an hour was enough time.
Opening Hours: 7am – 6pm
Entry Fee: 100 Rs. for foreigners, 20 Rs for Indians.
Agra Fort
Aside from the Taj, Agra’s most impressive structure is this red sandstone relic of the Mughal era. Its construction began along the banks of the Yamuna in 1565 by Emperor Akbar and was later embellished with white marble by his grandson, Shah Jahan. What was once a sprawling, military fortress was transformed into a palace during his reign.
What will strike you most about the fort is its scale. It is 2.5km in circumference and the walls get as high as 20m at some points. Once you get inside, the interior is as impressive as the outer walls. Here you will find stunning structures such as the Shish Mahal (mirror palace), Khas Mahal, Diwan-e-khaas (hall of private audiences), Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) and Nagina Masjid (Gem/Jewel mosque). My advice would be to spend an entire morning or afternoon wandering the various buildings to get everything you can out of your visit. Just make sure to peek out of the rampart windows to catch a distant glimpse of the Taj Mahal.
Opening Hours: 6am – 6pm
Entry Fee: 550 Rupees
From a Rooftop Cafe or Restaurant
While it took many tuk-tuk rides, entrance fees and bartering with local boat owners to find all of the best viewpoints of the Taj Mahal, I needed really have bothered. One of the best spots for viewing the famous mausoleum is right in the centre of the city, the Taj Ganj, an area popular for budget accommodation. Many of the hotels in this neighbourhood have rooftop terraces and cafes, meaning you can grab a coffee and enjoy an unparalleled view of the Taj and the Great Gate. I tried the rooftop of Hotel Saniya Palace and the view was spectacular. The majority of the restaurants around Taj Ganj don’t carry an alcohol licence, however, if you ask nicely they will soon find you an ice-cold beer. Just be warned, the food probably won’t live up to the view.
Where to Stay in Agra
Being home to one of the Wonders of the World, Agra is brimming with accommodation options to cater for the hoards of tourists that flock to the city to visit the Taj. You will find everything from budget dorms to luxury rooms with views of the monument itself. Check out my recommendations below.
Budget
Moustache Agra
This popular hostel chain is a safe choice for a place to stay in most of India’s major cities and their Agra outpost is no different. Looking at a map, it looks fairly far from the Taj Mahal but the distance is walkable or relatively cheap by tuk tuk.
Budget
GOSTOPS Agra
Another of India’s more popular hostel chains, GoStops is a little more modern and spacious than Moustache and the dorms are cleaner and brighter. However, the private rooms are slightly more costly than Zostel and the walk to the Taj Mahal is a little further.
Luxury
The Oberoi Amarvilas
If you are looking for something a little special, Oberoi Amarvilas is often named as one of the best hotels in India and has one of the best views of the Taj in the city. It is the only hotel in Agra that offers uninterrupted views of the monument from each of its 102 rooms.
How to Get to Agra
The best way to reach Agra from both Delhi and Jaipur is by train. I find that the easiest way to book trains in India is via 12GO which allows you to search routes and book your journey in advance.
Around 20 trains travel between Delhi and Agra each day, most of them leaving from Delhi’s main station and arriving at Agra Cantt. The journey can take anywhere between 2 and 4 hours. If you plan on getting to Agra and back in a day, the Bhopal Shatabdi Express departs New Delhi at 6 am, arriving Agra Cantt at 7.57 pm. The return leg departs Agra Cantt at 8.30 pm, arriving in New Delhi at 10.30 pm.
The fastest train – and the one that I chose to take to Agra – is the Gatimaan Exp, taking only 1 hour 40 minutes. It leaves Delhi at 8.10 am and arrives at 9.50 am. Both these trains are the more expensive options but if you’re willing to have a longer journey, you can catch any of the other trains for around half the price (700-800 Rs).
Check train times and prices between New Delhi and Agra.
There are two trains that you can catch from Jaipur to Agra, the Ald Jp Express and the Kurj Udz Express, taking 4h 45 and 5h 50 respectively. The Ald Jp Express leaves Jaipur at 3.20 pm and makes the return leg at 7.15 am the next day. The Kurj Udz Express leaves Jaipur at 6.15 am, returning from Agra Cantt at 6 pm.
Agra Cantt lies southwest of the Taj and Agra Fort, which are both just a short ride away by car or tuk-tuk. The pre-paid taxi stand at the station charges a flat rate of 150 Rs to any hotel in the city but it may be possible to haggle for a cheaper ride on an autorickshaw.
India Essentials
When travelling, there are certain brands and resources that I always rely on when booking things like flights, accommodation and tours. Here are my recommendations.
Mobile Data and SIM Cards
Prepaid eSIM’s are a great way of accessing affordable data and staying connected while travelling. I use and recommend Airalo.
Booking Accommodation in India
When securing accommodation abroad, I almost always rely on Booking.com as they have everything from rental properties to homestays and luxury hotels.
Most cities in India also have a good range of hostels for the budget traveller and some of the country’s largest chains such as Moustache and Zostel have outposts here. I always use Hostelworld when booking my bed in hostel dorms.
Train Travel in India
Thanks to India’s extensive rail network, the country is best explored by train, however, booking rail tickets in India can be slightly confusing when using local booking services. The cheapest and easiest way of securing tickets is via 12GO, who allow you to search for journeys and book trains easily.
Tours in India
Many of India’s cities are vast, sprawling and chaotic, meaning that they are best seen with the help of a local guide. Whether you are planning an adventurous day trip or a delectable food tour, Get Your Guide and Viator have a huge number of options.
