Some did try to catch up with the monument a day earlier. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) sources said more than 75 tourists saw the Taj late Thursday evening when the moon shone bright.

 "After the rains, Sharad Purnima is the first full moon night. The Taj dazzles and sparkles while the cool and soft rays of the moon dance on its surface. It is an unforgettable experience," says photographer Vishal.

 Many tourists Friday night had a glimpse of the Taj either from Mehtab Bagh across the river or from Dussehra Ghat, adjacent to the monument. Others watched it from the hotel Taj Khema mound.

"Before 1985, there were no restrictions and almost the whole city- youngsters particularly- used to turn up at the Taj on Sharad Purnima night for the 'Chamki Mela'. Each marble piece sparkled when the moon rays struck its surface at a certain angle- and people would burst into joyous ecstasy and shout 'chamki'," old timer Surendra Sharma, a hotelier, recalled.

But the Taj was closed for night viewing following former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination and a spurt in terrorist activities.