Agra: Commonwealth Games athletes and officials visiting the Taj Mahal here have not been exempted from buying entrance tickets, an official said.
"The railways catering corporation has made the arrangements. They will buy the tickets in advance and give these to the visitors. Visitors from SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) nations will have to pay Rs 550 while other foreign tourists will have to pay Rs 750," Shamshuddin, president of the Agra Guides Association, said.
The Uttar Pradesh tourism department has hired 30 guides to accompany the visitors to the Taj - a mausoleum Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built in 1653 in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
"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 (ASI) official said.
IANS
First Published: Sunday, October 03, 2010, 14:45