When's The Best Time To See The Taj Mahal?

Outside of the busy tourist season, if you can.

But most importantly go early in the day.  The entire mausoleum site is in fine white marble.  In the middle of the day it shines a brilliant white.  This is both magnificent, and too much.  It also means that you don't get to appreciate the fine details of the detailed artwork or architecture, because of the overwhelming glare.

Go early and you will also not have to deal with the worst of the crowds.  Starting from dawn, the colours of the marble change from grey to golden to cream to white, and you'll get to savour them all.

Middle of the day is a good time to escape to the nearby town of Taj Ganj (just outside the main gates), once home to the many artisans who helped create the Taj.  This has become a backpacker's paradise, with many cheap places to stay as well as a good restaurant (roof of the Shanti Lodge) with excellent views of the Taj.