India is high on my last of countries to visit. I’m hoping to get there in the not so distant future.

One of the country’s most popular sites is the Taj Mahal. That will definitely be at the top of my list of things to do but I won’t be able to spend as much time as I’d like while there.

You’re probably wondering why?

Lonely Planet reports that as of last week, “visitors to the iconic white mausoleum in the city of Agra will have a maximum of three hours to take in the splendor of the monument or face a penalty charge.”

I don’t really know how much times is recommended for a visit so I’d guess that three hours seem fair. However, maybe you’d like to really soak it in and take your time while visiting the Taj Mahal? If that’s what you’d like to do, you’ll pay!

Besides the three hour time limit, visitors who don’t show up at the specific time on their tickets won’t be let into the UNESO World Heritage Site.

Lonely Planet mentions that these rules were implemented so “visitor numbers, which can reach as high as 50,000 per day, remain sustainable.”

The fine for staying past three hours will be equal to the amount of the ticket price. The extra fee will get paid at the exit gate.

The cost to enter the Taj Mahal is 1100 rupees which comes to a little under $16US. Admission to the site’s main mausoleum costs an additional 200 rupees, around $3US.

Final Thoughts:

While the extra fee or fine is definitely annoying, it isn’t like the fee to enter the Taj Majal is overly pricey to being with.

If I wasn’t happy with the amount of time for my visit, I’d shell out the extra $16 to make sure my time at the Taj Mahal felt sufficient.

Find out more from Lonely Planet here.