Taj Mahal Biggest Draw For Tourists

New Delhi, (UNI) Of the 116 centrally (ASI) protected monuments that are ticketed, the Taj Mahal continues to be the biggest draw for tourists, followed by the Qutub Minar, the Red Fort at Delhi and the Agra Fort.

However, it is turning out to be a problem of plenty for the Taj, especially in view of security concerns and problem of conservation, forcing the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to draw up a plan that would restrict the number of tourists visiting the monument's main mausoleum.

Last year, a total of 25,39,471 tourists, both from within the country and abroad, visited the majestic medieval monument at Agra that was recently included in the list of New Seven Wonders. The number of foreign tourists was pegged at 4.90 lakh.

In the first six months of this year, 13.38 lakh tourists, including 2.74 lakh from abroad, visited the monument.

Compared to the Taj, the Qutub Minar attracted 21,95,743 visitors and was closely followed by the Red Fort with a figure of 21,01,662 tourists.

The ASI has planned to conduct "a scientific study" to determine the exact number of visitors who should be allowed inside the main mausoleum of the Taj Mahal.

"To work out the figure...it is very essential to carry out a study with regard to the carrying capacity of the Taj Mahal, by taking into account parameters like tourist inflow, security, conservation and ambience," the ASI said in an affidavit in response to the suggestions placed before the special environment bench of the Supreme Court recently.

The ASI said it was also considering seeking help of national and international experts for conducting the study, based on the advice of various organisations, including UNESCO.

Another idea mooted by the ASI is introduction of a radio frequency identification device (RFID) in the entry tickets to keep a track of tourists who are inside the Taj complex. This step was essentially for security considerations, it pointed out.

To regulate crowd at the Taj, it further suggested making tickets available on-line.

According to ASI figures, 13,000 tourists visit the monument during the peak season and the figure goes up to 30,000 on the occasions of Id festival and annual Urs of Mughal ruler Shahjehan, who built the grandiose monument.

Meanwhile, a Culture Ministry official said the revenue that accrued from the ticketed monuments during the last four years was Rs 43.60 crore in 2003-04, Rs 52.90 crore in 2004-05, Rs 58.07 crore in 2005-06 and Rs 63.04 crore in 2006-07.

Further, in 2006, the total number of tourists visiting the 116 monuments were 2,77,59,993, including 22,45,271 foreign tourists.

In 2005, the figures were 2,31,58,300 visitors, including 21,22,436 tourists from abroad