AGRA: The footfall at the
Taj Mahal on Thursday touched the cap of 5,000 for the first time ever since its reopening after the
Covid-19 lockdown. The day also marked the first day of the World Heritage Week and the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) had decided to give visitors free access to protected monuments across
Agra on Thursday.
As figures indicate, the number of tourists reached 5,800, including 800 children – there is no ticket for kids up to 15 years – on Thursday. Similarly, the footfall at the
Agra Fort also touched the cap of 2,500 on Thursday. However, the average daily footfall at the Taj and Agra Fort used to be 25,000 and 15,000 respectively, in pre-Covid days.
Superintending archaeologist, ASI (Agra circle), Vasant Swarnkar told TOI that the World Heritage Week is being celebrated from November 19 to November 25 and the number of tourists visiting the monument reached 5,000 much before the closing time. He said that all Covid-19 protocols were followed as per the health ministry’s guidelines.
A photo exhibition on the World Heritage sites in India was also organised on the occasion.
The two Mughal-era monuments had reopened for public on September 21, after a gap of 188 days with a cap on entry of 5,000 and 2,500 visitors per day in two shifts.
Usually, Indian visitors have to pay Rs 50 per ticket for visiting the Taj Mahal and visitors from the SAARC and BIMSTEC countries have to pay Rs 540 each. Visitors from all other countries are charged Rs 1,100 each to enter the monument. To visit the main mausoleum, tourists have to pay Rs 200 extra.