ASI sources say offline sales of Taj nighttime tickets will end in a day or two, once the teething issues (if any) are resolved. The Archaeological Survey of India has started issuing tickets online for nighttime viewing of the Taj Mahal from Monday. So far, tourists could only buy tickets at his ASI office counter in Agra. Also he a day ago. ASI sources say offline sales of Taj nighttime tickets will end in a day or two, once the teething issues (if any) are resolved.
In November 2022, the Supreme Court amended a 2004 order to allow online booking of tickets for a nighttime viewing of the Taj. Today, tourists can see the Taj Mahal on full moon nights two days before and two days after the new moon. This order was made after the interim application (IA) was filed.
One of his petitioners, the Agra Development Foundation (ADF), through its secretary, Agra lawyer KC Jain, has welcomed the availability of his tickets online for Night Vision.Mr Jain said: Spectators had to purchase such tickets at his ASI office at 22 Mall Road, Agra.
The gates of the Taj Mahal used to remain open all through the night till the 1980s but due to security concerns, the gates of the monument had to be closed after dark. Years later, tourist organisations sought permission for night viewing and the SC permitted viewing of Taj Mahal in restricted batches of 50 tourists each on full moon night and two nights before and after it. Eight such batches of 50 tourists were allowed in a night as such maximum 400 tourists could view the Taj in a single night.
The ADF secretary further said, “The new online system of availability of the tickets to visit Taj in moonlit nights has come as a great respite. It will increase the night stay of tourists and will also enhance the ASI revenue.
Visitors cherish seeing the Taj at night and have a unique experience. Now, they can book tickets online without having to overstay in Agra a day in advance. The new online ticket system will also avoid unpleasant experiences of tourists buying tickets at the ASI counter.”
‘The facility for online ticket viewing has begun from today (Monday), and tickets can be booked days before viewing. The ticket can also be bought the same day, subject to availability” said RK Patel, the ASI chief in Agra.
