While Delhi’s heritage sites and monuments have been opened for public, Hyderabad is still not ready to reopen Charminar and Golconda Fort yet, due to the rising number of Coronavirus infection in Telangana.
Though Charminar and Golconda Fort were reopened recently after a gap of more than 100 days, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) had to shut them down, after local police expressed their concerns about the possibility of rise in COVID-19 infections.
Reportedly, the ASI’s Hyderabad Circle authorities have closed the monuments again, as Charminar has narrow staircases, which leads to the top of the monument. Therefore, it is difficult to follow physical distancing there. Also, the Bonalu Festival is the cause of concern for the officials managing Golconda Fort, which may attract a lot of people. As per the reports, only Warangal Fort and Swayambhu Temple will be allowed to reopen in the entire Warangal district.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had recently given permission to reopen all the ASI-protected monuments from July 6. Reportedly, the ASI officials were not really vocal about reopening of these sites, and had left the decision to the state governments.
Further, as per the directives issued by the Centre, only museums and monuments located in non-containment areas can reopen. The number of visitors will be capped at each monument and heritage site. Tickets can be booked only online and digital payments will be accepted at parking lots and cafés located in the monument premises. Visitors will be allowed to enter the site only if they wear masks, and social distancing will have to be strictly observed.