SC allows online booking for Taj’s night viewing

AGRA: Tourists wanting to visit the iconic Taj Mahal and watch it on a moonlit night can now avail tickets online instead of physically collecting them 24 hours earlier from the Archaeological Survey of India office in Agra.

The move could be possible after the Supreme Court on Wednesday modified its 2004 order and directed authorities to start online ticketing facility for the night viewing of the 17th century monument, a UNESCO world heritage, in the moonlight.

“We are yet to receive a copy of the Supreme Court order,” said Raj Kumar Patel, superintending archaeologist for ASI’S Agra circle. “Once we receive it, the same would be forwarded to ASI headquarters in Delhi for necessary guidelines to ensure compliance of the court’s order.” On Wednesday, a bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Abhay S Oka modified the Supreme Court’s order that said tickets had to be collected physically from the ticket counters 24 hours earlier than the visit.

Batches of 50 tourists each are allowed to visit Taj Mahal, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz, on the full-moon night and two nights before and after it.