Mehtab Bagh

Mehtab Bagh, or the moonlight garden, lies on the north bank of the Yamuna River at Taj Nagri in Agra, in Uttar Pradesh, directly opposite the Taj Mahal. It forms part of the series of Mughal gardens built along the river, beginning with Babur's Ram Bagh, and is aligned with the Taj Mahal across the water. The garden is thought to date to the time of Shah Jahan in the 17th century, and legend holds that he planned a black marble mausoleum for himself here, though archaeologists have found no evidence for the claim.

Over the centuries floods and silt buried the garden, and it was neglected until the Archaeological Survey of India began excavation and restoration in the early 2000s. The work uncovered the outline of a large square charbagh with a central octagonal pool, water channels, pavilions and tank foundations. The ASI replanted the site with species that appear in Mughal records, including fruit and flowering trees, and re-established the formal layout. The garden is therefore a modern restoration based on archaeological findings rather than an intact Mughal garden.

The main attraction is the view. From the riverside terrace, the Taj Mahal appears across the Yamuna, especially at sunrise and sunset, when the marble changes colour. The garden is quieter than the Taj, with wide lawns and walking paths. It is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Foreign nationals pay INR 300, and Indian nationals pay INR 25. The Yamuna flows lower in the dry season, so the foreground can be muddy or dry at times. Mehtab Bagh is reached by road across the Yamuna, a drive of about fifteen to twenty minutes from the Taj Mahal, and is a favourite for photography.