On five nights a month the Taj Mahal opens after dark: the night of the full moon and the two nights either side of it. Seeing the white marble under moonlight is something people travel a long way for — but it is tightly controlled, and the details matter.
How night viewing works
- Five nights a month: full moon night, plus two nights before and two after
- Between 8:00 pm and midnight, in eight half-hour batches of up to 50 people
- You view the Taj from the Red Sandstone platform at the main gate — you do not go up to the mausoleum
- Report to Shilpgram, near the East Gate, half an hour before your slot for the security check
- Closed on Fridays and throughout the month of Ramzan
Night viewing ticket price
- Indian adults: ₹510
- Foreign adults: ₹750
- Children aged 3 to 15: ₹500
Tickets are sold online through the ASI's official portal and usually go a day or so before the date. Carry the same ID you booked with — it is checked.
Is it worth it?
Honestly, it depends on the sky. On a clear night the dome glows; on a hazy winter night you may see a pale outline at a distance. Because you stay at the gate, it is a view rather than a visit. Most of our guests who do it love it — but we always pair it with a daytime or sunrise visit, never instead of one.
Three alternatives
- Sunset from Mehtab Bagh, across the river — golden light and almost nobody else
- A rooftop restaurant near the East Gate for a view of the dome after dark
- The Taj Mahal sunrise tour — the most beautiful hour of all, every day except Friday
2 days
Delhi · Agra · Overnight
2 days Taj Mahal overnight tour
Agra at a human pace from Delhi: the Baby Taj and sunset at Mehtab Bagh on day one, the Taj Mahal at sunrise on day two, and home by evening.
1 day
Delhi · Agra · Sunrise
Taj Mahal sunrise tour from Delhi
A 3 am start from Delhi puts you at the Taj Mahal for first light, the thinnest crowds and the softest photographs — and back in Delhi by mid-afternoon.
