| You are in: World: South Asia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Friday, 22 June, 2001, 01:57 GMT 02:57 UK Hotel group bails out Taj Mahal ![]() Tourist facilities are described as woefully inadequate By Jill McGivering in Delhi One of the world's most famous monuments - the Taj Mahal - is to start receiving direct corporate sponsorship. It is a world heritage site, described by its admirers as one of the most beautiful monuments to love. But it needs help. The monument and its gardens are badly in need of conservation and repair and, although it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, many say the tourist facilities are woefully inadequate.
The Taj Hotel Group is also funding a report into a more ambitious second stage. Plans include the design of a lighting scheme, building an international tourist centre with restaurants, shops and toilets and developing the river front. Controversy The Indian Government launched a national fund more than four years ago to raise outside cash for monuments. This is by far the most high profile result and may also prove controversial. Some critics are dubious about such a direct link between a priceless monument and the commercial sector. India's tourism minister told the BBC the Tata group would get some leverage in corporate advertising connected with the Taj Mahal, but said there would be safeguards to make sure it was appropriate. |
See also: Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top South Asia stories now: Links to more South Asia stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Links to more South Asia stories |
| ^^ Back to top News Front Page | World | UK | UK Politics | Business | Sci/Tech | Health | Education | Entertainment | Talking Point | In Depth | AudioVideo ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To BBC Sport>> | To BBC Weather>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © MMIII|News Sources|Privacy | ||