Things to know, where to eat after Taj Mahal, and other professional advice
The Taj Mahal. What a famous thing. What a big, famous marble structure and sultanic mausoleum. But what’s it all about?
I went to India for a yoga teacher training in Rishikesh. My original plan was to leave for Bali right after, but when people found out I was headed to India, they would always ask, “are you going to visit the Taj Mahal??”
I would tell them no, and they would look at me like this: 🤨
Well, I wasn’t going to India for straightforward tourism, but the more I thought about it, the more I started to regret that I would be leaving the country without seeing that big ol’ chunk of marble that we call the Taj Mahal.
Enter Harshit, who saved me from myself with one simple question: wanna go to the Taj Mahal?
I met Harshit at the aforementioned yoga teacher training in Rishikesh. It quickly became clear that he was a driven and immensely capable professional in the tourism industry. Beyond that, he was just super cool and a great time to hang around.
He suggested whisking me and some other friends from the training away to the Taj Mahal. He had his own car and all the necessary qualifications to do so — and in bureaucratic India, where folks aren’t allowed to simply drive across the country without the right paperwork, that latter point becomes quite important.
With Harshit’s help, I DID visit the Taj Mahal, much to the glee of my friends and family. Along the way, I learned some key things about this amazing structure, which I wanted to share with you here.
Why is the Taj Mahal special?
The Taj Mahal is special not only because of its artistic significance, but also because it’s a labor of love. It was constructed by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to mourn the death of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
Is the Taj Mahal a wonder of the world?
There are actually several lists of “Wonders of the World” — while the Taj Mahal is too new to be considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it is listed as one of the “New 7 Wonders of the World” by UNESCO World Heritage.
Can you do a day trip from Delhi to Taj Mahal?
Yes, it’s possible to take a one day trip from Delhi to see the Taj Mahal, returning to Delhi in the evening. You’ll need to wake up early to take the Gatiman Express train from Nizamuddin Station — if you leave at 8:10am, you’ll arrive in Agra at 9:50am.
However, if you want to make things easy and go by car, it’s very possible and very convenient, if you have a professional tour guide like we did.
Taj Mahal Tour from Delhi by Car
Traveling from Delhi to the Taj Mahal in Agra can be a little more complicated than one might expect. This is because in India, drivers will need an international license to go from Delhi to Agra.
If you’re looking to do this in a way that’s easy and problem-free, my biggest recommendation would be to reach out to Harshit. Harshit is an excellent tour guide with years of experience; he speaks perfect English, and will pull out all the stops to make your journey as smooth and memorable as possible, even adding his own personal touches and experience along the way. His contact information is at the bottom of this page.
Harshit has been to the Taj Mahal more than 50 times, so he knows a thing or two. Here are some tips from that well of experience.
Things to Know Before Visiting the Taj Mahal
Consult the official list of Taj Mahal prohibited items
Even though Harshit warned me plenty of times, I still tried to push my luck a little when I entered the Taj Mahal. In the end, security confiscated 1) my pocket-sized copy of the Bhagavad Gita, 2) my classic Duncan Butterfly yo-yo, 3) my secret mystery vaporizer from the US.
Admittedly, it was quite amusing to see the looks on the security guards’ faces as they confiscated all these items one-by-one from a grown man. When they got to my hyper-realistic keychain of a bloody, severed finger, they just didn’t know what to do, so they let me keep it. This was an oversight on their part, because I later used it to frighten a small child outside the main mausoleum.
The security guards found the whole process amusing as well, and they let me pick up my items at the end. But that’s not guaranteed, so if you don’t want to lose your own strange objects, keep in mind that their prohibited items list is bizarrely strict, banning everything from books and toys to crayons and backpacks.
Photography is not allowed inside the main mausoleum
I mean shoot, can you blame them? Although the remains of Mumtaz Mahal and Emperor Shah Jahan are actually buried far underground, this is still technically a grave site.
Attendants are ready to herd you through the circular ambulatory like cattle, pointing things out with laser pointers and feeding you nifty factoids about the mausoleum’s construction. Be aware, they will expect a tip for this unrequested service.
You may get mobbed for photos
This is quite classic in major tourist sites across Asia. You have to recognize that this isn’t New Delhi — a lot of these people are coming from small villages in rural India, and have never seen a non-Indian person before.
I happened to be traveling with two lovely French ladies and a tall shapely Russian girl, so this really set off some alarms. We couldn’t go two steps without being swarmed for selfies, and after a while, it gets rather old.
I’m a pretty deft navigator of these situations, but it became overwhelming for our Russian friend. I brandished my severed finger as a psychological weapon in this photographic skirmish, but as I mentioned before, I really only managed to traumatize a wee lad of 6 or 7. Be warned.
Where to Eat After Taj Mahal
After touring the Taj Mahal, you should eat at The Palm Burj. Described as a “Sky Garden and Lounge,” it’s an impressive and comfortable way to end your day of exploring.
It was actually surprisingly difficult to decide where to eat after Taj Mahal, and to find a good restaurant in Agra. Most places were either empty of customers or lacking in ambiance, and not quite the relaxing dinner setting we were looking for.
The Palm Burj had an awesome rooftop, live music, and delicious food. After subsisting primarily on street-style Indian snacks and quick bites, we really enjoyed the relief of an international-quality meal in a cool environment. If you’re trying to decide where to eat after Taj Mahal, this place comes highly recommended!
Well there you have it. Some fast facts and insider tips to prepare you for your visit to this mountainous masterpiece of Mughal marble, AKA the Taj Mahal.
My biggest tip is this: if you’re going to the Taj Mahal, do yourself a favor and hit up Harshit! Seriously, he’s the man with the plan, and will make your expedition smooth, easy, and unforgettable.
Click here for Harshit’s website, here for his Instagram, or send him a message on WhatsApp: 0091 8586911345
And don’t expect to get your yo-yo past security — they’re a sharp bunch.
