Taj Mahal

Pachchikari artisans of Agra struggle to keep Taj Mahal's legacy alive

Once a thriving craft adorning the Taj Mahal, Pachchikari now battles low demand, poor earnings and fading interest among artisans, who seek government aid to revive the dying art

Taj Mahal tops ASI ticket revenue list for five years straight: Govt

Mughal-era mausoleum Taj Mahal was the top earning ASI-protected monument through ticket sales in the last five years, according to data shared by the government. Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared the data in a written response to a query in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. He was asked the amount that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has received from selling entry tickets to various monuments in the last five years, year-wise and monument-wise; and the monuments that have received the highest income through sale of entry tickets in the last five years. In his response, the minister shared the data in a tabular form for cycles of financial years ranging from FY19-20 to FY23-24. According to the data, Taj Mahal earned the top slot for all five years. The Mughal-era architectural wonder was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century and it is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. In FY19-20, the Agra Fort in Agra and Qutu

Taj Mahal top earning ASI monument via ticket sales from FY20 to FY24: Govt

The iconic Taj Mahal in Agra earned the "highest income" through the sale of tickets among the ASI-protected monuments from FY19-20 to FY23-24, according to data shared by the government. Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared the data in a written response to a query in Rajya Sabha. He was asked the amount that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has received from selling entry tickets to various monuments in the last five years, year-wise and monument-wise; and the monuments that have received the highest income through selling entry tickets in the last five years. In his response, the minister shared the data in a tabular form for cycles of financial years ranging from FY19-20 to FY23-24. According to the data, Taj Mahal earned the top slot for all five years. The Mughal-era architectural wonder was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jehan in the 17th century and it is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. In FY19-20, the Agra Fort in Agra

Former UK PM Rishi Sunak visits Taj Mahal along with family members

Amidst high security, former UK PM Sunak was accompanied by his wife, Akshata Murty, mother-in-law, Sudha Murty, and his daughters, Krishna and Anoushka

Instead of Taj Mahal's replica, we offer texts of Ramayan to guests: MP CM

Yadav's statement came while he was assuring saints of providing permanent space in Ujjain for the construction of Dharamshala, halls for religious gatherings

Ayodhya overtakes Taj Mahal, becomes UP's top tourist destination in 2024

Ram temple in Ayodhya attracted 135.5 million domestic visitors, overtaking the Taj Mahal as Uttar Pradesh's most visited spot in 2024

Ram Mandir workers honoured, hands of those behind Taj Mahal cut off: UP CM

He also mentioned that workers in the fine cloth industry in history also had their hands chopped off, destroying a whole tradition and legacy

Bomb threat to Taj Mahal triggers search operation, security heightened

In response to an email threat, Bomb Disposal Squads (BDS) and local police swiftly arrived at the Mughal-era monument, conducting a thorough search operation to ensure the safety of the premises

Water leakage in main dome of Taj Mahal due to rain, ASI claims no damage

The main dome of the Taj Mahal here witnessed water leakage due to incessant rain for the past three days which inundated a garden on the premises. The purported video of the submerged garden on the Taj Mahal premises went viral on Thursday and caught the tourists' attention. However, a senior official of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Agra circle, said there is leakage in the main dome due to seepage and there is no damage to it. Talking about the leakage in the main dome of the Taj Mahal, Rajkumar Patel, Superintending Chief of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Agra circle, told PTI, "Yes, we have witnessed the leakage in the main dome of the Taj Mahal. After that when we checked it was due to seepage and there was no damage to the main dome. We have checked the main dome through a drone camera." On Thursday evening, a purported video of 20 seconds went viral on the internet in which one of the gardens of the monument submerged with rain water. It caught the ..

WHC delegates explore Delhi, visit Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Qutb Minar

Taking a day off from their busy schedule, several delegates of the ongoing session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) on Sunday visited the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Qutb Minar and other cultural sites in and around Delhi. The 46th session of the WHC is being held in New Delhi from July 21 to July 31. India is hosting the key event of UNESCO for the first time. Over 2,000 international and national delegates from more than 150 countries are participating in the meeting, the Culture Ministry said in a statement on Sunday. After a week of marathon discussions and scrutinising numerous nominations in conference halls, the delegates and committee members enjoyed a day out exploring the sights, cuisine, and vibrant culture of Delhi and its neighbouring areas on Sunday. Requests were put in by some of the committee members that delegates would like to have a day off to enjoy sightseeing of heritage sites, the ministry said. To make the stay of WHC delegates memorable, the Archaeological

What is World Heritage Week? Here's all you need to know about the week

Every year World Heritage Week is celebrated from November 19 to November 25, 2023. The ASI has exempted the entry fee for preserved monuments, including the Taj Mahal on November 19

Taj Mahal not built by Shahjahan: PIL in HC demands correction of history

The plea further sought direction to the Archeological Survey of India to carry out an investigation about the age of the Taj Mahal including the existence of the palace of Raja Man Singh

Yamuna waters reach Taj Mahal, no threat to monument, says ASI

The swollen Yamuna river has reached the walls of the Taj Mahal here, a development only witnessed in 1978 and 2010, even as the Archaeological Survey of India said the increased water levels pose no threat to the iconic monument. According to officials, the water level crossed the 'medium flood level' of 499 feet. It reached 499.97 feet here on Tuesday due to which the water touched the walls of the Taj Mahal and submerged a garden behind it. An official of the ASI's Agra Circle said the main mausoleum is designed on a raised structure which stands on 'Chameli farsh' and is built on a foundation of 42 wells supported by a structure of sal woods. "The Yamuna waters touched the walls of the Taj Mahal in 2010 and prior to that in the year 1978. In the 1978 flood, water had entered rooms in the monument's basement," Prince Vajpayee, conservation assistant at Taj Mahal, told PTI. "This year as well, the water has reached the Taj Mahal, but it is not a threat to the monument. The main

Watch: Rising Yamuna reaches Taj Mahal walls for the first time in 45 years

The water has entered the outer parts of Itimad-ud-Daula's tomb and the Dussehra Ghat near the Taj Mahal

As Yamuna gets close to it, ASI says Taj Mahal's design prevents flooding

Earlier, in 1978, the water in the Yamuna had risen up to 508 feet, which marks a high flood level of the river in Agra

Godrej Security sees Rs 1,200 cr revenue by 2025, bets on landmarks, BFSI

Company's systems used at Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar and by State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank

Danish royalty makes India visit after 20 yrs, head to the Taj Mahal

Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik Andr Henrik Christian and Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth visited the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort here on Sunday. The Danish royals were accorded a grand welcome at the airport here. According to the tour guide, they exhibited interest in the architecture of the beautiful monument and its history. "They exhibited interest in the architecture of Taj Mahal, the inlay work and other arts. They also enquired about who built it and how many workers were engaged to build the Taj Mahal. The crown prince also expressed curiosity about the 'Black Taj Mahal'," tour guide Nitin Singh said. The 'Black Taj Mahal' is said to have been built across the Yamuna river in black marble, but the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has dismissed it as a myth. The Danish royals are on a four-day visit to India. It is the first visit to India from the Danish Royal family in two decades.

Argentine tourist goes missing after testing Covid positive at Taj Mahal

The contact details provided by him are wrong, CMO said

Taj Mahal on alert, no entry for tourists without Covid-19 testing

With surge in Covid cases in China and other countries, one of the most popular tourist attractions of the country Taj Mahal in Agra is put on alert, confirmed the District Health Information Officer

Loacal authorities ask ASI to pay water, property tax for Taj Mahal

The Archaeological Survey of India has been asked to pay a water tax of nearly Rs 2 crore, and a property tax of about Rs 1.5 lakh for the Taj Mahal, along with a Rs 5-crore service tax for the Agra Fort, in an apparent first-of-its-kind action by local authorities. The ASI in Agra said the monuments are exempted from such taxes, but Municipal Commissioner Nikhil Tikaram Funde said notices have been issued to several buildings and those eligible will be given the relief. The Agra Municipal Corporation's notices ask the ASI to pay a water tax of Rs 1.94 crore and a property of Rs 1.47 lakh for the Taj Mahal, and Rs 1.40 lakh as property tax for another monument, the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah. The notices were issued for the financial years 2021-22 and 2022-23, and the ASI has been asked to pay up within the next 15 days. In-addition, the Agra Cantonment Board has sent out a notice to the ASI to recover a service tax of Rs 5 crore for the Agra Fort, an official said. Agra Circle ASI .