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Photos: Taj Mahal reopens to the public amid surging Covid-19 cases

The Taj Mahal in Agra reopened its doors to tourists after being shut for nearly six months on September 21. The Taj Mahal along with the Agra Fort fell in a coronavirus containment zone, and hence was shut during the erstwhile reopening of Indian monuments on July 6. As India is seeing a rampant rise of Covid-19 cases, footfalls remained drastically low on day one. However, those who came to visit the monument did so amid strict social distancing measures and under a strict watch by the security personnel who did not let anybody touch the marble.

Updated on: Sep 22, 2020 11:49 AM IST

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The Taj Mahal reopened to visitors on September 21 in a symbolic business-as-usual gesture even as India looks set to overtake the US as the global leader in coronavirus infections. The monument was closed on March 17 after all heritage monuments protected under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) stopped public admission under the union ministry of culture’s directives. (Sajjad Hussain / AFP)

Updated on Sep 22, 2020 11:49 AM

The Taj Mahal reopened to visitors on September 21 in a symbolic business-as-usual gesture even as India looks set to overtake the US as the global leader in coronavirus infections. The monument was closed on March 17 after all heritage monuments protected under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) stopped public admission under the union ministry of culture’s directives. (Sajjad Hussain / AFP)

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A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal early morning in Agra on September 21. Among 3691 monuments across India under the ASI, many were opened for the public since July 6, except Taj Mahal and Agra fort as both fell in coronavirus containment zones. (Pawan Sharma / AP)

Updated on Sep 22, 2020 11:49 AM

A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal early morning in Agra on September 21. Among 3691 monuments across India under the ASI, many were opened for the public since July 6, except Taj Mahal and Agra fort as both fell in coronavirus containment zones. (Pawan Sharma / AP)

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Tourists stand in a queue to buy tickets at the Taj Mahal in Agra on September 21. The authorities have capped the visitors’ number at 5,000 which was an average of 20,000 before coronavirus hit the country. According to Reuters’ report, tickets are only being sold online and fewer than 300 tickets were sold on the first day. (ANI)

Updated on Sep 22, 2020 11:49 AM

Tourists stand in a queue to buy tickets at the Taj Mahal in Agra on September 21. The authorities have capped the visitors’ number at 5,000 which was an average of 20,000 before coronavirus hit the country. According to Reuters’ report, tickets are only being sold online and fewer than 300 tickets were sold on the first day. (ANI)

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Women security personnel check the bags of tourists before entering the Taj Mahal after it reopened for public in Agra on September 21. Since India has not yet opened its doors to international tourists, only a few foreign nationals (some of whom were already living in the country) came to visit the monument. (ANI)

Updated on Sep 22, 2020 11:49 AM

Women security personnel check the bags of tourists before entering the Taj Mahal after it reopened for public in Agra on September 21. Since India has not yet opened its doors to international tourists, only a few foreign nationals (some of whom were already living in the country) came to visit the monument. (ANI)

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A man gets his photograph taken in front of Taj Mahal in Agra on September 21. Reopening of the Taj Mahal has also come as a huge relief to the photographers whose livelihood depends on the monument. According to ANI’s report, over 450 licensed photographers have been divided into two groups that will function on alternate and in two shifts - one from morning till noon and the other from 12.30pm until sunset. (Alasdair Pal / Reuters)

Updated on Sep 22, 2020 11:49 AM

A man gets his photograph taken in front of Taj Mahal in Agra on September 21. Reopening of the Taj Mahal has also come as a huge relief to the photographers whose livelihood depends on the monument. According to ANI’s report, over 450 licensed photographers have been divided into two groups that will function on alternate and in two shifts - one from morning till noon and the other from 12.30pm until sunset. (Alasdair Pal / Reuters)

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Security personnel patrol the premises of the Taj Mahal after it reopened to the public in Agra on September 21. ASI officials have also placed security personnel on the monument campus to ensure social distancing rules are met and visitors do not touch the marble. (PTI)

Updated on Sep 22, 2020 11:49 AM

Security personnel patrol the premises of the Taj Mahal after it reopened to the public in Agra on September 21. ASI officials have also placed security personnel on the monument campus to ensure social distancing rules are met and visitors do not touch the marble. (PTI)

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A family takes a selfie in front of the Taj Mahal after it reopened to the general public in Agra on September 21. Amid other safety measures prescribed, visitors can only take off their masks for a photo and the famous bench where people usually sit to have their picture taken has been laminated in plastic, to help cleaning between every photo opportunity. (ANI)

Updated on Sep 22, 2020 11:49 AM

A family takes a selfie in front of the Taj Mahal after it reopened to the general public in Agra on September 21. Amid other safety measures prescribed, visitors can only take off their masks for a photo and the famous bench where people usually sit to have their picture taken has been laminated in plastic, to help cleaning between every photo opportunity. (ANI)

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