AGRA: The famous seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal was continued to remain closed for over a year for night viewing. Now, new orders are issued where the Taj Mahal will open from August 21 for visitors who want to explore the marble monument under the moonlight, officials said on Friday.

Night viewing of the monument had closed on March 17, 2020, during a pandemic. In a recent statement, ASI Superintending Archaeologist Vasant Kumar Swarnkar told that night viewing will be allowed on August 21, 23, and 24 as the monument is closed every week on Friday and the lockdown is in effect on Sunday. He said there are three time slots for visitors. From 8:30-9:00 pm, 9:00-9:30 pm and from 9:30-10:00 pm.

He further added, "In every slot, 50 tourists would be allowed as per guidelines of the Supreme Court. The tickets can be booked a day in advance from the ASI office's counter on 22 Mall Road in Agra. Meanwhile, Rajeev Saxena, vice-president of the Tourism Guild of Agra, said it was a good step, but it would not attract weekend travelers until the restriction of lockdown on Sunday and curfew after 10 pm was not lifted. A government-approved tour guide, Monika Sharma, appreciated the move and said it was a ray of hope for the revival of Agra's tourism sector.

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