"CWG athletes and officials visiting the Taj Mahal have not been excused from buying entrance tickets,

CWG athletes have to pay entry fee to Taj Mahal
Sunday, October 3, 2010, 15:43 [IST]




Agra, Oct 3: Uttar Pradesh tourism department has decided not to permit any Commonwealth Games athletes and officials inside the gate of Taj Mahal at Agra, without entry fee.

"CWG athletes and officials visiting the Taj Mahal have not been excused from buying entrance tickets, an official said.

The railways catering corporation has made the arrangements for CWG athletes to buy the tickets in advance.

Shamshuddin, president of the Agra Guides Association, said, "visitors from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation nations (SAARC) will have to pay Rs 550 while other foreign tourists will have to pay Rs 750."

"The eastern gate of the Taj Mahal has been reserved for the CWG visitors while general public will have to use the western and southern entrance gates," an Archaeological Survey of India official said.

Uttar Pradesh tourism department has hired 30 guides to accompany the visitors to the Taj Mahal, which is one of the most recognizable structures in the world, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.