Visit the Taj Mahal: What to know
The Taj Mahal in India. Credit: Getty Images/Getty Images
Every time Dilip Doctor visits the Taj Mahal in India, he said he discovers something new.
Doctor, 78, of Sands Point, said he has been to the UNESCO World Heritage Site three times. During one trip, the semi-retired urologist said he noticed that the lettering of the Koranic inscriptions inside the main gate gradually got bigger as you looked up, so that it was still legible from far away. He also noted the intricate inlaid and carved stone throughout the site.
“Besides the monument, there’s a lot of art,” he said.
The Taj Mahal, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the modern world, was built in the northern Indian city of Agra between 1632 and 1648 by Emperor Shah Jahan. It was meant to be a memorial to his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died while giving birth to their 14th child. She is entombed there.
The 42-acre complex is said to be the “greatest architectural achievement” in Indo-Islamic architecture, according to UNESCO, with its distinctive mausoleum and marble dome surrounded by four smaller domes, white marble minarets, a courtyard and reflecting pool. Between 7 million and 8 million people visit every year, according to the Taj Mahal’s website.
“You can’t go to India and not see the Taj Mahal,” Doctor said.
The most popular way to visit is to fly to Delhi and take a “Golden Triangle” tour of India, which includes Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, said Ianyat Masih, owner of Pollina Tours and Travel in Hicksville.
The trip typically takes six to seven nights, with one night in Agra — about a two-hour car ride from Delhi. The remaining time is generally spent in Jaipur and Delhi, Masih said.
Other sights near the Taj Mahal are the Red Fort, a 16th-century red sandstone palace, and Fatehpur Sikri, a former Mughal capital that is famous for being home to the Jama Masjid mosque, among other historical monuments.
The marble architecture of the Taj Mahal is something to behold, especially at night, Masih said.
“When the moonlight hits the Taj Mahal it glows,” Masih said. “It’s like the light passes through the marble. . . . It’s very beautiful.”
COST
Travel costs can vary. Pollina Tours and Travel offers a 6-night package for $900 per person that includes stays at 4- or 5-star hotels, transfers, a guide and entrance tickets. Airfare can cost up to $2,000 per person.
WHEN TO GO
Although it’s less expensive to visit in the summer, Pollina Tours and Travel owner Ianyat Masih recommends waiting until the fall, after monsoon season has ended and cooler weather prevails. “The best time to visit is from October ‘til February or March,” said Masih, who recommended bringing sunscreen and insect repellent. The CDC recommends taking antimalarial drugs before travelling to all areas of India that are lower than 6,500 feet elevation, including Agra.
GOOD TO KNOW
Eating is strictly prohibited at the Taj Mahal and cell phones must be turned off or kept on silent mode. Photography is not allowed inside the main mausoleum and visitors are asked not to bring big bags, as they may increase your security check time, according to the Taj Mahal’s website.
GO VIP
Dilip Doctor, of Sands Point, suggested purchasing a VIP pass to avoid long lines, save time and get quicker access sto the monument. “There’s a slightly higher charge but in terms of the American dollar, it’s really nothing,” he said.
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