Only 5,000 tourists will be allowed each day at the Taj Mahal.
Agra:
The Taj Mahal in Agra reopened this morning with strict security guidelines against coronavirus after being closed to tourists for more than six months. Agra Fort also reopened today.
Both world heritage sites have been closed since March 17 due to the pandemic.
All safety guidelines issued by the center will need to be followed during the mausoleum and fort visit, including social distancing and hand sanitizing, said Vasant Kumar Swarnkar, superintendent archaeologist of the Archaeological Service of India (Agra circle), it’s a statement. statement to the media.
Only 5,000 tourists will be allowed each day at the Taj Mahal, 2,500 before 2pm and the rest after. At Agra Fort, 2,500 tourists will be allowed every day, he said.
“Masks are mandatory to enter the monuments and all tickets must be purchased online. Ticket counters will not be open,” Swarnkar said.
The Taj Mahal attracts seven million visitors each year with a large number of foreign tourists. Agra Fort has almost three million visitors in a year. The many monuments contribute enormously to the income of Uttar Pradesh.
“It’s amazing and historic at the same time. This is the first time Taj has been closed for six months. We are here to witness the change. The new normal must be expected and embraced for our good. I have come with my family, they queued, they got digital tickets and everything ready to see Taj, “Nishant Vasisht, a visitor, told the ANI news agency.
The move to reopen heritage sites came as further relaxations occurred after the government announced the Unblock4, even though coronavirus cases in the country are on a steep rise.
Uttar Pradesh is the fifth most affected state in the country with over 3.48 lakh of CIVID-19 cases.
(With contributions from ANI)
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