Appeal to amend court ruling on Taj Mahal

JUSTICE: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh government will move the Supreme Court seeking lifting of restrictions on viewing the Taj Mahal from a distance of about 300 meters on moonlit nights.

Three hundred metres was too long a distance to allow tourists to have a clear view of the Taj in the moonlight, Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Kokab Hameed told newsmen.

At present there are restrictions in place to view the Taj from the gate in the night, which is about 300 meters.

Even in the brightest of moon the view of the spectacular monument was not clear from this distance, he said adding that as the restrictions were imposed by the Supreme Court, the State government would request it to grant some relaxations.

"We want that the night viewing should be at least from the platform of the Taj, which is about 150 meters. This would give a clearer view of the monument," he said.

There is a system of current day booking to view the Taj in the moonlight which should also be changed to attract more tourists.

"We want the bookings to be made online so that anyone can avail of the night viewing facility without any trouble," he said adding that all this could be done only after Supreme Court accepted UP's request.

(PTI)