Taj Mahal and Agra Fort will re-open to the public from September 21 as part of unlock 4, Basant Kumar, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI said on Monday.
According to Kumar, only 5,000 and 2,500 visitors will be allowed in both the monuments respectively in a day.
As a precautionary measure, the ticket counters will not open and electronic tickets will be provided to the visitors.
“Taj Mahal and Agra Fort to be opened for visitors from September 21. 5,000 and 2500 visitors to be allowed in Taj Mahal and Agra Fort respectively, in a day. Electronic tickets will be provided as ticket counters will not open,” Basant Kumar .
The monuments have been closed to the public since a nationwide lockdown was imposed in March to combat the pandemic.
Here’s what you need to know if you plan to visit either of these places.
1. There will be a restricted number of visitors at the monuments
To prevent crowding and maintain social distancing, not more than 5,000 tourists will be allowed in a day at Taj Mahal. Tourists at Agra Fort will be restricted to 2,500 a day. Visitors at Taj Mahal in two slots- pre-lunch and post-lunch. In each of these slots there will be 2,500 visitors. All licensed commercial photographers permitted within Taj Mahal will not be allowed in at the same time.
For Agra Fort, it will 1300 visitors in the morning and 1200 in the afternoon.
2. Tickets will be sold online
Ticket sales will take place online. Tickets will first be sold for the first slot; once all 2,500 tickets are exhausted, then the 2,500 tickets for the second slot will be put on sale. Thus, in a day, a maximum of 5,000 visitors can visit Taj Mahal, Swarnkar said.
Tickets will be sold in a similar manner for Agra Fort.
3. The monuments will be closed to the public on certain days on the week
The Taj Mahal will remain closed on Friday (its usual weekly closure day), as well as Sunday—the weekly restriction day across the state, as imposed by the government.
Agra Fort, however, will be closed to the public only on Sunday.
4. There will be strict adherence to Covid-19 safety protocols
Safety protocols against the spread of COVID-19 will followed while allowing the tourists inside the monuments. The visitors will be thermally checked and will be asked to sanitise their hands and will be required to maintain physical distancing at all times while inside the monuments.
The monuments will be sanitised from time to time.
