However, Indian authorities are contemplating a new rule according to which visits to the Taj Mahal would be restricted to three to four hours per person.
According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which maintains the world heritage site, more than 400,000 tourists visit Taj Mahal every weekend. Most of them buy tickets in the morning and spend the entire day in the precincts.
The monument built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in the 17th century is also called the epitome of love and is a popular destination for local love birds. The popularity of the Taj Mahal means that large crowds are becoming ever more frequent. Of late, there also has been rising concern about the upkeep of the monument, which, according to scientists is fast losing its charm due to exposure to harmful chemicals in the air.
The proposed restriction on tourist times is related to a court case filed by environmentalist M C Mehta in 1984. It was in response to this case that the ASI proposed to issue differently colored tickets to "limit the duration of stay to a maximum of three-four hours."
