E-tickets for night visit to Taj Mahal soon

Agra, Aug 22: Tourists visiting the Taj Mahal at night would soon be able to buy tickets online till 3 PM of the day of their visit, instead of booking in advance.

A proposal in this matter has already been cleared and an order would soon be issued, Union Minister of State for Tourism Mahesh Sharma told news persons here. Currently tickets need to be purchased manually in advance, ASI officials said adding night view is allowed between 8:30 PM to 00:30 AM and the duration of visit is 30 minutes.

The night viewing facility is available for five nights, two before and two after the full the moon night. Arrangements were also being made to allow night time visitors' entry to the 17th century monument through the western gate in the compound, the minister said here on Wednesday.

Presently tourists for night viewing are permitted entry from the eastern gate, which creates problem for the locals, whose movements gets restricted.

Efforts are also being made to develop infrastructure at Mehtab Bagh opposite to the Taj Mahal, so that tourists can see the Taj Mahal at night according to their convenience, tourism ministry sources said. "A large number of tourists are denied from seeing the Taj Mahal after sunset for various reasons including security concerns," said K C Jain, president of the Agra Development Foundation, an NGO trying to promote tourism in the city.

"If the facilities are developed at Mehtab Bagh, the visitors would benefit and there would be an additional attraction in the city," he said.

PTI