7 top travel hacks for visiting the Taj Mahal

Visiting this marble mausoleum known as the 'crown of palaces' is sure to be the highlight of any Indian adventure. But to your pilgrimage to the Taj perfect, take a look at our list of top travel hacks for visiting this monument.

Top tips for visiting the Taj Mahal

• Get to the grounds as early as possible. Tourist busses start moving around 9 am, so show up before then to avoid the crowds. The gates open at 6:30 am, and often there is a queue as early as 6 in the morning.
• Tickets cost about A$16 for foreign tourists. If you have citizenship in the country, the cost is only 50 cents. Bring money with you at the gate. Learn more about Taj Mahal ticketing details.
• If a chai tea seller approaches you while in the queue, by all means buy a cup. They are delicious and an experience you won't find many other places.
• Be ready to be separated into two lines – one for men and one for women. This is done because guards search you when you enter.
• Written rules say that food and meal objects will be confiscated. Avoid trying to bring these through the line so as not to hold it up for everyone else.
• To take the best photo at the Taj Mahal (you have probably seen this photo in friends' albums), you need to join an informal queue by the edge of the pond. Place your camera on the ground to ensure you get the water and the whole building in the frame. Take as many pictures as you can before the tourists behind you start edging you out of place, this gives you the best chance of getting an unobstructed view.
• After you've sufficiently wandered the grounds of the Taj Mahal, head to the gardens across the river for a cheap, but equally stunning, view. The entry fee is about A$2 and crowds are usually minimal.

Image courtesy of Flickr user Christopher John SSF; cropped from original