Taj Mahal Ticket Prices Set to Rise: What Visitors Need to Know

Visiting the Taj Mahal might soon become more expensive, as a proposal has been put forward to increase ticket prices for both Indian and foreign tourists. Currently, Indian visitors pay ₹50 for a ticket, while foreign tourists are charged ₹1,100. However, the Agra Development Authority (ADA) has proposed raising these prices by ₹30 for Indian tourists and ₹100 for foreign tourists.

Under the current pricing structure, ₹40 of the ₹50 ticket fee paid by Indian tourists goes to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), while the remaining ₹10 goes to the ADA. The proposed change aims to equalize the revenue share between the ADA and ASI. If approved, the new ticket price for Indian tourists would be ₹80, and foreign tourists would pay ₹1,200, with the ADA receiving ₹600 from each ticket.

The proposal has been submitted to the government by ADA officials, including Vice President Anita Yadav and Chairperson Ritu Maheshwari, and is awaiting approval. Once sanctioned, the new ticket prices will be implemented.

Additionally, foreign tourists will receive a welcome kit from the ADA, which includes a 500 ml water bottle, shoe covers, and a carry bag. The ADA has justified the fee increase by emphasizing the need to enhance tourist amenities and security at the Taj Mahal.

Shraddha Shandilya, Secretary of the ADA, confirmed that the proposal has been sent to the government, and the new rates will come into effect upon approval. The current single ticket system for the Taj Mahal, which covers both the ADA and ASI, may also be extended to other sites such as Fatehpur Sikri, Etmad-ud-Daula, Sikandra, and Agra Fort, eliminating the need for separate tickets for these locations.