A 60-kg British-era copper chandelier at the main entrance of 17th century Taj Mahal crashed down recently, prompting the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to initiate a probe into the matter.
The six-feet high and <g data-gr-id="10">four-feet</g> wide chandelier, gifted by Lord Curzon and installed at the Royal Gate of Taj Mahal in 1905, fell down on Wednesday, sources said. A probe under ASI’s superintending archaeologist Bhuvan Vikram has been initiated into the matter, they said. Though there was no official word as to what caused the chandelier to fall, the sources said it probably came down due to “aging and wear and tear”. “Luckily, there was no one around or else it would have resulted in a major tragedy,” a tourist guide Ved Gautam said. On Thursday, Agra ASI chief Bhuvan Vikram Singh had said that the decision to fix the chandelier would be taken only after carefully examining its structure and its present state.
E-tickets for night visit to Taj Mahal soon
Tourists visiting the Taj Mahal at night would soon be able to buy tickets online till 3 PM of the day of their visit, instead of booking in advance. A proposal in this matter has already been cleared and an order would soon be issued, Union Minister of State for Tourism Mahesh Sharma told <g data-gr-id="31">news persons</g> here. <g data-gr-id="37">Currently</g> tickets need to be purchased manually in advance, ASI officials said adding night view is allowed between 8:30 PM to 00:30 AM and the duration of <g data-gr-id="35">visit</g> is 30 minutes. The night viewing facility is available for five nights, two before and two after the full the moon night.
Arrangements were also being made to allow night time visitors' entry to the <g data-gr-id="34">17th century</g> monument through the western gate in the compound, the minister said here on Wednesday. Presently tourists for night viewing are permitted entry from the eastern gate, which creates <g data-gr-id="33">problem</g> for the locals, whose movements gets restricted. Efforts are also being made to develop infrastructure at Mehtab Bagh opposite to the Taj <g data-gr-id="32">Mahal,</g> so that tourists can see the Taj Mahal at night according to their convenience, tourism ministry sources said.