Monuments, museums under ASI to reopen from June 16

As Covid-19 cases decline, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has announced that all centrally protected monuments, sites and museums would be open for visitors from Wednesday.

The ASI had shut down 3,691 monuments and sites from April 15 due to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel said the Ministry had given the go-ahead for their reopening and that visitors would have to follow Covid-19 related protocols.

The ASI said in its order that the monuments, sites and museums would be reopened “in strict compliance with the executive orders, if any, issued by State/District Disaster Management Authority”.

Tickets to the monuments will be available online and visitors will have to book slots beforehand.

While the monuments remained out of bounds for visitors since April 15, ASI carried out restoration works at key monuments including the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

The ASI had planned mud pack treatment for the main dome of the Taj Mahal, restoration work on the Royal Gate of the monument, and fortification works at the Agra Fort.