Soak in the beauty of Taj with Taj Mahal Moonlight Tour

[Ankur jha]

Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the world. This UNESCO World Heritage Site radiates beauty and grandeur. Its beauty is best seen on a moonlit night. A lot of people like to book Taj Mahal Moonlight Tours. It is believed that Taj dons different colors at different times of the day. It looks breathtakingly beautiful on full moon nights. If you happen to visit The Taj Mahal during the full moon, it will definitely leave memories etched in your mind for a lifetime. Taj Mahal is open for public viewing on five nights in a month. Only 400 visitors are allowed each night. You are permitted entry in batches of 50. So just 5 batches can enter and that also for a span of just 30 minutes. Night viewing of Taj is between 8:30 AM To 12:30 PM. The view of the Taj Mahal under the shining rays of the moon is actually a surreal experience.

Also, night viewing of the Taj Mahal is not permitted on Fridays. During the whole month of Ramadan/ Ramazan, the Taj Mahal is closed on every Friday.

The history behind Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal is a brilliant monument which was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in fond memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal who died giving birth to his 14^th child. This ivory-white marble mausoleum is located on the southern banks of River Yamuna. Shah Jahan commissioned it in 1632. The tomb of Shah Jahan is also located inside the complex. In order to build the Taj Mahal, stone cutters, artisans, inlayers, masons, painters, dome builders, calligraphers, etc were commissioned from the whole of Central Asia, including Iran. 22, 000 laborers worked day and night to build Taj, A sum of approximately INR 32 million was spent on construction. In 1653, the Taj Mahal was finally completed. This epitome of love has drawn innumerable visitors to date. In fact, 2 to 4 million people visit the Taj Mahal every year. You will see verses of the Quran on the walls throughout the complex. The Taj Mahal was constructed in different stages. It took almost 15 years to build the plinth and the tomb. Another 5 years were taken to construct a mosque, minarets, jawab, and gateway. On the sides of the Tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, you will find 99 names of Allah in the form of calligraphic inscriptions.

Is there any entry fee for the Taj Mahal?

In order to enter the Taj Mahal, you have to pay an entry fee. Indian Nationals are required to pay an entry fee of INR 45. The entry fee for SAARC and BIMSTEC citizens is INR 535. Foreigners have to pay an entry fee of INR 1050. Children below the age of 15 are not charged any kind of fee. If you wish to enter the main mausoleum an additional INR 200 needs to be paid. Entry tickets for the Taj Mahal can be purchased at the entry gate. You can buy an entry ticket for the main mausoleum at the time of buying entry tickets for the Taj. It will save you from the hassle of standing in a queue separately for this.  The main mausoleum which is located in the basement does not allow tourists except for three days of Urs fair which happens annually.  You can even buy your Taj Mahal entry tickets online from the Archaeological Survey of India website.

All you need to do is enter information such as your name, age, gender, ID proof which you are providing, such as your passport, Aadhaar card, driving license to voter’s card, including the unique ID number. Per booking, a maximum of 20 adults and 10 children are allowed.  The main entry to Taj is from Western Gate. It opens one hour prior to the sunrise and closes 45minutes prior to sunset. Then there is this Eastern Gate which also opens entry an hour before the sunrise. The exit is via the Southern Gate.

So, this is all the information that you need to know if you are planning the Taj Mahal viewing the tour. People come to see Taj in huge groups. Accommodation is easily available nearby.  If you are short on time you can also book the same day Taj Mahal tour. This allows you to be back in Delhi in a span of a single day. Make sure you choose a reliable tour operator otherwise you will be wasting your money. Always have a Govt approved tour guide accompanying you as this will add more value to your tour. You will get to know about the minutest details about the monument. So, book your tour and have a nice time.