The museum was established in 1982 in the ground floor in western Naubat Khana, also known as Jal Mahal, with in the Taj Mahal complex. It is a double storied building having a quadrangle projection outside and is built on a raised platform.

The museum comprises of three galleries in addition to the main hall and has on display various exhibits relating mostly to the construction of the Taj Mahal and to the period of its builders. Totally 121 antiquities are on display, which are broadly categorized as Mughal miniature paintings, manuscripts, government decrees, specimen of calligraphy, arms, utensils, plans and drawings of Taj Complex, paintings, specimen inlay work, marble pillars, etc.

In main hall the paintings of Shah Jahan and his most favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal both on ivory, encased in ornamental wooden frame, replicas of coins minted Akbarabad (Agra) are on display.

Paintings from the famous Persian epic Shahnama of Firdausi, an interesting manuscript of Chaihl Majlis dated to 1612 AD bearing the signature of Shah Jahan under the royal seal dated 4th February 1628 and other are displayed in this gallery.

The first gallery contains plans and colour drawings showing the salient features of the architecture of Tai Mahal. The most worthwhile is a site plan, front elevation of the tomb and other details are recorded on this site plan. Copies of Shah Jahan’s farmans dated AH 1042 (August 1632) addressed to Raja Jai Singh and another farman dated 20th June 1637 addressed to Raja Jai Singh of Jaipur to ensure regular supply of the makrana marble, etc. required in the construction of the imperial building, Taj Mahal are also exhibited in the gallery.

The second gallery display some jade and porcelain objects like Quaran stand carved of Jade, a beautiful ornamented spouted vase (lota) carve of Jade, mirror mounted on stone, bowl and dishes of Celadon ware. Arms like swords, daggers and a world map showing the places from where stones were imported for inlay work of Taj Mahal along with specimens of these semiprecious stones are also in display.

In third gallery important royal farmans and documents, Waslis (specimen) of famous calligraphy of the period, two paintings of Taj Mahal by British artist Daniel in the year 1795 AD are displayed. An interesting order of General Perron of the period of Shah Alam II recording the details of the auction of fruits in the garden of the mausoleum of Taj ganj is also displayed. The royal farmans of Shah Jahan about registering a grant of land in various villages and confirming a grant of hereditary land to Shaikh Hatim is also find placed in the gallery.


Opening Hours : 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
Closed on – Friday


Entrance Fee :
Rs. 25/- per head
(Children up to 15 years free)