Shoe-covering machines for foreign tourists visiting Taj Mahal

Foreign visitors to the world heritage site Taj Mahal will now get the facility to wrap their shoes using a machine before they enter the mausoleum.

Divisional Commissioner Pradeep Bhatnagar inaugurated the facility for foreign tourists in Agra on Wednesday.

These shoe-cover dispensing machines are placed at two entry points to the mausoleum -- one at 'Shilpgram' which is 500 meters from the East Gate and two machines at the Mosque on the west side of the mausoleum, ASI Conservation Assistant Syed Muazzar Ali said.

The three machines have been provided free of cost by Agra Development Authority.

The domestic tourists, however, will have to get their own shoe covers or walk barefoot on the platform to reach the mausoleum.

Earlier shoe covers were provided to all tourists or they would have to walk barefoot in the premises of the heritage site. A month ago the marble platform of the cenotaph chamber was carpeted to protect visitors from the hot marble surface.