Taj Mahal Leads ASI Earnings with ₹297 Crore in 5 Years, Reveals Government Data

The iconic Taj Mahal remains the highest revenue-generating monument under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The iconic Taj Mahal has once again emerged as India’s highest revenue-generating monument, raking in a staggering ₹297 crore over the past five years, according to government data presented in Parliament. The figures reaffirm the monument's enduring status as a cornerstone of India’s cultural tourism and a key contributor to the Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) revenue.

The Taj Mahal consistently led the charts across all five years, outpacing all other ASI-protected monuments from entry ticket sales between FY2019- 20 and FY2023 -24. In the latest fiscal year (2023-24), Delhi’s Qutub Minar and Red Fort took second and third place, generating ₹23.8 crore and ₹18.08 crore, respectively.

 Interestingly, the rankings fluctuated during the pandemic-hit year of FY2020- 21, when Tamil Nadu’s Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram and Odisha’s Sun Temple in Konark rose to prominence due to changes in travel patterns.

In FY2019 -20, Agra Fort and Qutub Minar trailed behind the Taj Mahal in revenue. Despite the pandemic's impact on tourism, the marble mausoleum’s earnings rebounded strongly in subsequent years, demonstrating its undiminished global appeal.

Commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century, the Taj Mahal continues to attract millions of visitors annually. While its financial contributions remain significant, experts and stakeholders have called for a stronger focus on conservation to ensure the monument’s preservation amid rising footfall. As the crown jewel of India's heritage tourism, the Taj Mahal’s legacy hinges not just on numbers but on the care it receives from future generations.