Upvote:3
It has been a few years but when I visited the Taj Mahal I can remember that I just walked on a path to the right of the taj mahal complex to the river. From there I took a picture. I didn't ask for permission, so I don't know it is legal...
If I remember correctly there is also a a boat there that can take you to the other bank for a small amount. I didn't try it.
Upvote:5
Saying that you "need permission" is a common thing for Indian officials to say even though technically may or may not need it. It's public monument after all, although I don't quite understand where you're trying to take the picture from. Is it from the bank across the Yamuna? I don't remember whether it's fenced off. If it is, then yes you'll need to ask whoever is the owner of that (probably the Archaelogical Survey of India) and it's not going to be easy if you aren't a professional journalist (there's a different visa procedure for journalists to get a visa too). There's no defined procedure as such to apply for permission to take photography anywhere.
As an alternative, I would suggest paying a boatsman to take you down the Yamuna and take a picture from the boat. You will be able to get a similar angle.