The Taj Mahal continues to reign as India's most-visited ticketed monument, drawing an impressive 6.9 million tourists in 2024-25. This figure includes six lakh foreign tourists, highlighting the monument's enduring global appeal. The Taj Mahal's popularity accounts for nearly 12% of all tourist entries at the 145 ticketed monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The Taj Mahal, an ivory-white marble mausoleum located on the right bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, was commissioned in 1631 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It also houses Shah Jahan's tomb. The 17-hectare (42-acre) complex includes a mosque, a guest house, and formal gardens enclosed by a crenellated wall. Construction of the mausoleum was completed in 1648, with additional work continuing on the project for another five years. The entire complex was believed to have been completed in 1653, costing an estimated ₹32 million at the time, which is approximately ₹52.8 billion (US$827 million) in 2015.
The Taj Mahal has been the top revenue-generating and most visited monument for over a decade. The Ministry of Tourism reports that other popular sites for domestic visitors include the 13th-century Sun Temple at Konark (35.7 lakh) and the Qutub Minar in Delhi (32 lakh). Agra Fort received 2.24 lakh visitors, placing it second among historical buildings, followed by Qutub Minar with 2.20 lakh visitors. Other sites with high domestic visitor numbers in 2024–25 include Delhi's Red Fort (28.84 lakh), the Tomb of Rabia Durrani in Aurangabad (20.04 lakh), the Ellora Caves in Aurangabad (17.39 lakh), and Golkonda Fort in Hyderabad (15.63 lakh).
Humayun's Tomb in Delhi (1.58 lakh), Baori at Abhaneri in Rajasthan (1.16 lakh), and Fatehpur Sikri (97,000) are among the top sites frequented by foreign tourists. In 2024-25, the footfall at other ticketed monuments was 2.93 crore, including 6.21 lakh foreign visitors. In total, ASI-protected sites received 5.66 crore visitors, with 24.15 lakh from abroad.
The ASI maintains statistics on visitor numbers based on ticket sales to both Indian and foreign nationals. There are 3,697 ancient monuments, archaeological sites, and remains under the ASI's protection.
The Taj Mahal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, recognized as "the jewel of Islamic art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". It is considered one of the best examples of Mughal architecture and a symbol of Indian history. In 2007, it was declared a winner of the New 7 Wonders of the World initiative.
The Taj Mahal attracts from 7 to 8 million visitors annually, with more than 0.8 million from overseas. October, November, and February are the most popular months to visit. To reduce pollution, traffic is restricted near the complex, and visitors must walk from parking lots or use electric buses.
The Taj Mahal earned ₹297 crore (US$35 million) over five years, making it the highest-earning ASI monument. This reinforces its role as a symbol of love and a significant contributor to India's cultural and economic heritage.
India's tourism sector is experiencing substantial growth. In 2024, international visitor spending reached ₹3.1 trillion, a 12.7% increase over 2023. Domestic tourist spending amounted to ₹15.5 trillion, approximately five times the international total. In 2024, India received 9.66 million international tourists, a 4.7% increase over 2023, though still 11.6% below the 2019 peak. The travel and tourism sector contributed ₹20.9 trillion (US $249.3 billion) to India's GDP in 2024, representing 6.6% of the national economy and supporting 46.5 million jobs. The sector is expected to reach over ₹22 trillion in 2025 and support more than 48 million jobs.
