NEW DELHI, 18 February 2019: Newly inaugurated museums at Red Fort have opened their doors, but with higher entrance fees, Creative Travel reported in its latest post to global travel partners.
A dual pricing policy, a practice widespread in India, applies in the new museums’ entrance fees based on a notification by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Indian and SAARC* country nationals will pay Rs30 (USD0.42) in cash or Rs21 USD0.29 for cashless payments, while all other foreigners will pay Rs350 (USD4.91) or Rs320 (USD4.49).
The new museums are located at the fort’s former British barracks and showcase themes like the First War of Indian Independence 1857, Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and the INA Movement, and a collaboration between the ASI and Delhi Art Gallery.
The Red Fort Archaeological Museum contains paintings, artefacts, calligraphy, fabrics and other objects dating from the Mughal era. Its restoration was completed last December.
Meanwhile, India’s famed Taj Mahal increased its entrance fees in January for international and local tourists.
Admission has gone up from Rs50 (USD0.70) to Rs250 (USD4.49) for Indian citizens. Foreigners will now pay Rs1100 (USD15.42), with an additional RS200 (USD2.80) to visit the main mausoleum.
Children under the age of 15 can still visit for free, regardless of nationality.
The increased were justified as a measure to curb visits and reduce the impact of ‘overtourism’ while helping to deal with environmental damage and fund restoration.
Currently, the Taj Mahal welcomes around 7 million visitors per year, which has led to overcrowding and structural damage. Environmental damage from pollution is also an ongoing concern.
Last March the authorities introduced a three-hour cap on visits to the site to reduce overcrowding of the mausoleum and gardens.
*SAARC Countries
- Afghanistan.
- Bangladesh.
- Bhutan.
- India.
- Maldives.
- Nepal.
- Pakistan.
- Sri Lanka.
(Source: Creative Travel)
