By IANS
New Delhi : Foreign tourists will now pay the entry fee to monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the Indian currency.
A foreign traveller will pay Rs.250 (about $6) for visiting a World Heritage Site such as Qutab Minar, Taj Mahal or the Ajanta and Ellora Caves, and Rs.100 for other monuments.
India was earlier following a dual tariff system. Foreigners were paying $5 for World Heritage Sites and $2 for other protected monuments such as the Red Fort and Purana Qila.
For domestic tourists the entry fees has been fixed at Rs.10 for World Heritage monuments and Rs.5 for others.
The culture ministry had taken the decision last year that came into effect from Feb 28.
There are 3,568 protected monuments in India. Of these, only 124, including 17 World Heritage ones, have an entry fee.
These monuments are protected by the ASI, the premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation.
Visitors from the Saarc countries and BIMSTEC countries will now pay an entry fee of Rs.10 for World Heritage sites and Rs.5 for other ticketed monuments.
This decision has come into effect from March 5.