Mehtab Bagh

Mehtab Bagh, the Moonlight Garden, is a Mughal garden on the north bank of the Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, directly opposite the Taj Mahal. Mehtab Bagh is traditionally said to have been first laid out by the first Mughal emperor, Babur, and was later redesigned under Shah Jahan as part of the Taj Mahal's river setting.

Excavations in the 1990s found a large octagonal pool at the southern edge of Mehtab Bagh, placed so that the Taj Mahal would reflect in it by moonlight. A popular legend says Shah Jahan planned a black marble Taj here for himself, but historians find no evidence for it. Floods from the Yamuna buried the garden for centuries, and it was restored and replanted by the Archaeological Survey of India. Mehtab Bagh now covers about 25 acres of lawns and paths, with far fewer crowds than inside the Taj.

What to see

• The river view of the Taj Mahal, lined up along the garden's central axis
• The remains of the octagonal pool and fountains on the river side
• Sandstone pavilions and boundary towers at the garden corners
• The charbagh layout, replanted with plants known from Mughal gardens
• Birds and village life along the riverbank

What to wear

Mehtab Bagh is a garden, so no dress code applies beyond modest, comfortable clothes. Bring a hat and water by day; in winter the riverside is chilly after sunset, so carry a layer. Mosquitoes come out at dusk near the river, so long sleeves or repellent help. On weekends you will see Agra families in bright saris and salwar kameez, many dressed up for photos with the Taj behind them.

Local food to try

There is little food at Mehtab Bagh itself, so eat in Agra before or after. Try bedai and aloo sabzi with jalebi for breakfast, the famous petha sweets, and Mughlai kebabs and biryani in the evening, with halal choices around Tajganj. Street chaat stalls cluster near the Taj's east gate area.

Good to know

• Best from October to March, for an hour before sunset
• Open daily, sunrise to sunset; useful on Fridays, when the Taj Mahal is closed
• Entry fee at the gate, higher for foreign visitors
• Allow 45 minutes to an hour
• About 8 km by road from the Taj's gates, over the Yamuna bridge
• Drones are not allowed; the riverbank beside the garden is fenced

Nearby places

Mehtab Bagh faces the Taj Mahal across the river, and Itmad-ud-Daula and Agra Fort are both on the same trip.