The historical monuments in and around Aurangabad received a good flow of visitors on Thursday, when the sites were opened for public after nearly nine months.

Earlier this week, the district authorities allowed for opening of five monuments around Aurangabad. It immediately prompted opportunities for several small businesses.

On Thursday, a total of 1,250 tourists, including a foreign national, visited the five monuments. Cabs, taxis had lined up outside these places, apart from stalls selling artefacts, semi-precious stones, paintings and snacks.

Authorities said that the total number of tourists that visited on Thursday have been amongst the lowest number visitors to visit each of these sites in past few decades.

As per the figures obtained from the Archaeological Survey of India’s Aurangabad circle office, Ajanta caves were visited by 86 tourists, Ellora caves by 359 domestic tourists and one foreign tourist, Daulatabad fort were visited by 170 tourists, Aurangabad caves by 94 tourists and 540 tourists visited Bibi-Ka-Maqbara.

To encourage people to visit tourism places, revenue minister of state Abdul Sattar personally visited to Ellora caves and appealed people to visit the places while following all the covid-19 related safety norms.

Authorities have decided to issue online tickets. Moreover, 2,000 tourists per day have been allowed for now at each of the tourist places, out of which 1,000 would be allowed in the first half of the day, followed by the remaining in the second half of the day.

However, 17th century marvel ‘Panchakki’ or the watermill was not opened by the authorities .

Source : https://travel.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/destination/states/over-1000-visit-aurangabad-monuments-on-the-first-day-of-reopening/79679814

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