VISITING THE TAJ MAHAL
If the spirit of India could be captured in one moment or view then the Taj Mahal is it
In our opinion the best time to visit the Taj Mahal is sunrise. We got up at around 4am to go buy our tickets and then wait in line for the gates to open. We wanted to try to be the first in so we could capture some photos before the crowds arrived. When the gates opened we headed straight past the first view and closer to the Taj Mahal to take photos, we had a couple of minutes before groups of people eventually swamped us and the view. It was all we needed though and the early wake up call was worth it!
The entrance fee is around 1000 rupees per person and that includes being able to go inside and also spending as long as you want walking around the grounds. We suggest walking around the whole building as each angle is beautiful. The back side of the Taj Mahal often has less people as they will stay in the front gardens capturing photos.
You can also walk down to the river bank to get another angle of the Taj Mahal and if you know where to look you can walk up to an old turret and watch the sunset over the river as the sky glows and the Taj Mahal fades into the night.
Head across the river to the Black Taj Mahal site, the location for the incomplete Black Taj is a fantastic viewpoint of the Taj Mahal and a peaceful spot to watch the sunset.
A UNESCO World Heritage site the Taj Mahal certainly lives up to expectations and is certainly one of the most beautiful buildings we have ever visited.
Unfortunately the Taj Mahal is in serious danger from pollution and river levels. The marble is being discoloured from the air pollution and the timber foundation is routine from the river levels changing. Other threats include acid rain from nearby oil refineries. Because of these threats a zone has been set up around the Taj Mahal to try and reduce air pollution. In 2011 it was reported that the Taj Mahal could collapse within 5 years due to the threats it currently faces. Luckily it has not yet collapsed but it is worrying to know that such a grand beautiful building is in such a dangerous place because of the way we treat our world and the environments.
