COMMON ENTRY TICKET FOR INDIAN MONUMENTS

Foreign tourists coming to India would no longer have to stand in long queues to have a glimpse of the historical monuments as the Indian Government has decided to have a common entry ticket for all the World Heritage Sites in India, except for the Taj Mahal. There will be a new entry ticket for the Taj, while a single entry ticket will also be available for other monuments that are preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

This move will surely relieve the tourists from the tension of buying tickets at every historical site, standing in queues in harsh weather. Keeping in mind the convenience for the traveler, this move was introduced by Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs, V.Narayanasami, in the Lok Sabha. The move is expected to be implemented by the end of October, 2009.

These common entry tickets are specially designed and will be made available at the booking counters of the monument or one can also buy it from the ASI headquarter itself. Hotels and travel agents can also purchase the tickets in bulk to cater to the tourists' demands.

To take care of the tourist traffic during the forthcoming Common Wealth Games in Delhi, Government has also decided to install exclusive audio guides systems at important monuments and heritage sites of the country, including Red Fort and Taj Mahal, like the one already in place in Qutub Minar. Expression of Interest have already been received by agencies specializing in the same.