Qutub Minar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Delhi, has once again surpassed other ticketed monuments by attracting more visitors followed by the Red Fort in the 2011-12 financial year.Qutub Minar is open at night as well as in the day which has attracted many visitors.
According to Archaeological Survey of India’s data, the night entry alone had received a footfall of over a lakh of Indian visitors and 9,500 foreign visitors in 2011-12 compared to over a lakh visitors in 2010-11. Rise in footfall
During the day, Qutub Minar witnessed a footfall of nearly 27.9 lakh visitors. ASI has earned a revenue of about Rs 11.8 crore in 2011-12 compared to approximately Rs 10 crore in the previous financial year. “ASI has 10 ticketed monuments looked after by the Delhi Circle. Till five years ago we used to get more visitors in the Red Fort situated in Delhi and Agra. But more visitors have started pouring in at Qutub Minar and Jantar Mantar because of movie promotions and students researching on them,” said Dr D N Dimri, superintending archaeologist, ASI Delhi Circle. Red Fort is the second most visited monument in the city with nearly 26.8 lakh Indian and 1.6 lakh foreign visitors in 2011-12. It earned a revenue of Rs 6.8 crore during the same year. The third most popular monument is Purana Qila with over 7.5 lakh Indian and over 25,000 foreign visitors in the same year, earning a revenue of Rs 48.7 lakh. ASI officials added that they have seen a large number of school and college children visiting the monuments for research. “On national holidays we provide free entry to all. And children below the age of 15 years are not charged any entry fee throughout the year,” added Dimri.
Among other ticketed monuments Humayun’s Tomb has lately gained popularity with 7.9 lakh visitors followed by Jantar Mantar with over five lakh visitors in 2011-12. Monuments which are not visited much are Safdarjung Tomb, Kotla Feroz Shah, Khan-i-Khana Tomb, Sultanghari Tomb, Kotla Feroz Shah and Tughlaqabad.