The Taj Mahal reopened to the public as the nation, still reeling from a disastrous second wave of the pandemic, pushes to lift restrictions in a bid to revitalise its economy.
The 17th Century white marble mausoleum, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in Agra, was closed in early April as India introduced strict lockdown measures in an effort to contain a surge in Covid-19 infections.
A 40-year-old woman from Brazil was one of the early tourists to step inside the Taj Mahal premises as the monument reopened on Wednesday.
As of now, only 650 tourists will be allowed inside the premises of the Taj Mahal at any time, said Prabhu Singh, district magistrate of Agra. The monument normally attracts 7 million to 8 million visitors annually, or over 20,000 people per day.
Published 16 June 2021, 13:08 IST