The iconic Taj Mahal in Agra earned the ”highest income” through the sale of tickets among the ASI-protected monuments from FY19-20 to FY23-24, according to data shared by the government.Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared the data in a written response to a query in Rajya Sabha.He was asked the amount that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has received from selling entry tickets to various monuments in the last five years, year-wise and monument-wise; and the monuments that have received the highest income through selling entry tickets in the last five years.
In his response, the minister shared the data in a tabular form for cycles of financial years ranging from FY19-20 to FY23-24.According to the data, Taj Mahal earned the top slot for all five years.The Mughal-era architectural wonder was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jehan in the 17th century and it is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.In FY19-20, the Agra Fort in Agra and Qutub Minar in Delhi were in the second and third positions.In FY20-21, the Group of Monuments Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu and Sun Temple, Konark were in the second and third positions. In FY23-24, Qutub Minar and Red Fort of Delhi were in the second and third positions.
