A powerful storm has toppled two minarets at the entry gates of the Taj Mahal in northern India, an official said.

The damage was minor and will be repaired by experts, said Bhubanesh Kumar, from the Archaeological Survey of India.

No damage was done to the white marble monument.

Winds during the storm on Wednesday night reached 130 kilometres per hour, he said.

One of the damaged minarets was a three-metre metal pillar at the main gate.

The other was a smaller pillar at the southern gate used by visitors to reach the monument.

The 17th century Taj Mahal attracts more than seven million visitors a year.

It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.