A lot has been said about the Taj Mahal. I won’t elaborate on it since no words can truly describe this masterpiece of architecture upon seeing it - only evoking feelings of passion, love and awe. It is THAT beautiful. Instead, here are excerpts from a magazine article I have written before on How To Photograph the Taj Mahal.
Getting Prepared. The Taj Mahal is the most visited site in India therefore it gets very crowded during the day. The key is to wake up really early and head to the site at dawn while the expected hordes of tourists are still in slumber. We were one of the first visitors to arrive at 5 AM. By the time the ticket counter opened an hour later, people have already started to pour in.
The System. You will have to line up twice, first to buy tickets and the next to enter the gates. This is where having a companion makes all the difference in the world. Take note that there’s a separate line for men and women to enter the gate, so work out a plan ahead in case you have a companion.
Security. It is very strict. So bring only what you need. The whole process of lining up and getting through security took us about an hour and a half to complete. As for those who insist on bringing their backpacks, camera bags, tripods and prohibited items (see next hop) expect another half hour of waiting, as you have to queue again to deposit them for safe keeping.
