India’s iconic Taj Mahal and Red Fort in Agra are all set to reopen on September 21, after being closed for over six months.
All centrally protected monuments closed their doors on March 17 before the nationwide lockdown and dramatic spread of Covid-19 in the country.
This was the first time after the India-Pakistan wars in 1965 and 1971 when Taj was closed to the public.
Even though Agra’s other ASI (Archeological Survey of India) protected monuments opened on September 1, Taj Mahal and Red Fort remained closed as they were closely situated to containment zones.
There will be a cap of 5,000 on the number of visitors allowed per day. “Masks are mandatory to enter the monuments and all tickets must be purchased online. Ticket counters won’t open,” said Vasant Swarnkar, Superintending Archaeologist of the Archaeological Survey of India’s Agra Circle. Tickets will be sold online or through the ASI phone app.
Visitors will be required to follow all guidelines issued by the Central Government such as social distancing and hand sanitisation.
The Taj Mahal will remain closed on Fridays and Sundays, and the Agra Fort will remain shut on Sundays.
