Historical Monuments In Agra To Open From September 1; Taj Mahal To Remain Closed

Historical monuments which were closed due to the pandemic is all set to reopen from September 1. The iconic Taj Mahal will remain shut.

Taj Mahal/ PTI image

New Delhi: Tourists may soon be able to visit historical monuments in Agra as the state government has decided to begin tourism in phases from September. Starting with small historical monuments, places such as Fatehpur Sikri, Sikandara, Etmauddaulabs tom, Ram Bagh, Mehtab Bagh monuments will reopen from September 1st, announced Agra administration on Thursday. But Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort will not be included in the list. The Agra District Magistrate (DM) informed about the decision via a tweet, "By modifying the pre-determined "buffer zone" orders, except weekly detention (Saturday / Sunday), abiding by COVID-19 norms, all monuments except Taj Mahal/Agra Fort (Agra Quila) in Agra to be opened from September 1."

पूर्व निर्धारित “बफर जोन” के आदेशों को संशोधित कर, साप्ताहिक बंदी(शनिवार/रविवार) को छोड़कर #Covid19 के सुरक्षा मानक(मास्क/सोशल डिस्टेंसिंग) के साथ #Agra में ताजमहल/आगरा किला को छोड़कर अन्य समस्त स्मारक पूर्व निर्धारित समयानुसार दि0 01-09-20 से खोले जाएंगे।@UPGovt @PrabhuNs_ pic.twitter.com/mvKGE36GEh

— District Magistrate Agra (@OfficeOfDMAgra) August 20, 2020

The main source of earning of Agra is through tourism and all the other businesses circle around it, so when the pandemic began, it cut Agra’s main source of income. Tourism was hit hard when the Covid-19 pandemic started, and all monuments were shut down in the last week of March this year, it is after five months they will reopen to the public but with certain conditions. The Covid-19 guidelines, including social distancing and use of masks, will be strictly implemented after the monuments are reopened for visitors. This has also geared city hoteliers to restart their business for the next tourist season starting mid-September, although, restaurants around the city have opened up. According to an IANS report, "Though mobility remains restricted indications are that from September onwards, life would start limping back to normalcy," said Surendra Sharma, founder president of the Agra Hotels and Restaurants Association. The administration did clarify, that no educational institute will be opening up in September. Tourism and travel came to a sudden halt due to the global pandemic While flights and destinations are slowly starting to open, people are still apprehensive to venture out.