Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal · Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
An epic of love written in white marble, the pinnacle of Mughal architecture.
Antes de ir · Know before you go
- On Fridays it is open only to Muslims attending prayers and closed to other visitors
- drones are banned throughout the site
- don't make noise at religious places.
Este artículo está «Sin verificar». Consulte los avisos oficiales sobre precios, horarios y fechas.
Stories & people
Historias y personajes
Historia
The fourteenth child
In 1631 Shah Jahan's empress Mumtaz Mahal accompanied the army to Burhanpur in the Deccan, where, after giving birth to her 14th child, a daughter named Gauhar Ara, she died of postpartum haemorrhage aged just 38. Her body was first buried temporarily in a garden on the banks of the Tapti River at Burhanpur. The grief-stricken Shah Jahan began building the Taj Mahal for her in 1632.
Historia
The prisoner who gazed at the Taj Mahal from his window
In 1658 Shah Jahan fell seriously ill, and a war of succession broke out among his sons; his third son Aurangzeb won, executing his brothers, including the crown prince Dara Shikoh. When Shah Jahan recovered, Aurangzeb kept him under house arrest in Agra Fort until his death in 1666. He was buried in the Taj Mahal beside Mumtaz Mahal.
Fuente: Wikipedia: Shah Jahan
Culture
Cultura y costumbres
Contexto cultural
The fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, built it in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died young, employing more than 20,000 craftsmen over about 22 years (1632–1653). The building is perfectly symmetrical, its white marble inlaid with floral patterns in precious stones from many lands. It became a World Heritage Site in 1983 and is India's most iconic cultural symbol.
Costumbres locales
- Entry involves strict security checks
- large bags, food and lighters may not be taken in
- keep quiet inside the main mausoleum and don't touch the marble walls.
Religión y creencias
- The Taj Mahal is an Islamic mausoleum with a minaret at each corner and a mosque and guest house on either side
- dress appropriately in the religious areas.
Etiquette
Normas y tabúes
Normas que se aplican aquí
India: some states ban alcohol completely
- Before visiting Bihar, Gujarat, Mizoram, Nagaland or Lakshadweep, learn the alcohol rules
- Drinking or carrying alcohol in a dry area
- Drinking in parks and other public places
Drinking or possessing alcohol in a dry state can lead to arrest without bail and 5 to 10 years in prison.
Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: India travel advice
India: e-cigarettes are banned
- Leave your e-cigarette at home
- Bringing an e-cigarette into India or buying one there
E-cigarettes and related products are banned in India.
Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: India travel advice
India: no satellite phones or GPS devices without a permit
- Before you leave, check whether your equipment needs a permit
- Carrying a satellite phone or satellite navigation device without a permit (even in transit)
Illegal; you can be fined or arrested and the device confiscated. British tourists have been arrested for this.
Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: India travel advice
No lo haga DON'T
- On Fridays it is open only to Muslims attending prayers and closed to other visitors
- drones are banned throughout the site
- don't make noise at religious places.
Lo que aprecian los locales DO
- Locals like to bring their families to picnic and take photos on the lawns in the early morning
- during the wedding season you'll often see couples having photos taken here.
Plan your visit
Información práctica
Consejos de viaje
- Arrive before sunrise for fewer people, soft light and reflections in the pool
- ticket prices vary by season, and buying online saves queuing
- it's about 2 hours from Delhi by fast train — check official websites for current details.
Eat nearby
Qué comer cerca
Imprescindible
- Petha
- Mughlai pilaf / biryani
- Roast chicken / tandoori
Petha (ash-gourd candy, Agra's speciality), Mughlai biryani, tandoori chicken, bedai with potato curry + jalebi for breakfast, dal moth (crunchy savoury lentil snack)
| Dónde comer | Panchhi Petha (a long-established petha shop), Sadar Bazaar's Chaat Gali snack street, the restaurant area outside the Taj's East Gate |
|---|---|
| Normas en la mesa | The Taj is a mausoleum / mosque — dress appropriately; food may not be taken inside (security is strict), and some Mughlai food is halal |
| Precio orientativo por persona | INR 400–800 ≈ CNY 34–67 |
| Consejos | Petha comes in many flavours (saffron, angoori) — buy a small box to try; check menu prices at restaurants by the entrance first. |
Los precios son orientativos a octubre de 2026, no presupuestos exactos; en zonas con tipos de cambio muy variables solo se da un intervalo aproximado en yuanes.
Rsrikanth05 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photos
Fotos
Srividya Bharadwaj · CC BY-SA 2.0
Malpaniashutosh · CC BY-SA 4.0
Manish Jhawar · CC BY-SA 4.0
Fuentes y notas de verificación
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