Taj Mahal rakes in Rs.19 crore revenue from ticket sales

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The seventh wonder of the world, the Taj Mahal, is the top draw in terms of tourism revenue, logging a gate entry income of Rs.19,89,49,560 for the fiscal 2010-2011, the ministry of culture said on Thursday.

This is the third consecutive year that the 16th century monument to love built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in Agra has topped gate ticket sales.

The finest example of Mughal architecture, the Taj Mahal was completed around 1653. In 2008-2009, the monument generated Rs.15,36,49,810, and in 2009-2010 it raked in Rs.17,24,49,110.

The Taj Mahal gate revenue was followed by the Agra Fort with Rs.10,42,05,580, Fatehpur Sikri with Rs.5,73,15,990, and Akbar's tomb at Sikandra with Rs.1,00,70,945 in the Agra circle, the ministry said in a statement.

In the Delhi circle, the Qutab Minar generated Rs.10,05,31,280 from gate tickets while Humayun's tomb earned Rs.6,15,14,900. It was followed by the Red Fort at Rs.5,90,87,850.

The Khajuraho group of temples in Madhya Pradesh raked in a revenue of Rs.2,58,99,180.

The ministry said the revenue for major archaeological sites across the country has shown steady increase since 2009, indicating a sharp increase in heritage tourism in the domestic circuits.

"Gate ticket sales make up bulk of the archaeological revenue," a ministry official said.