Taj Mahal : The Dollar lost its value at Taj
admin January 6th, 2008
Due to the declining value of the United States dollar, tourism officals in India have decided to no longer accept the American currency at the site of the Taj Mahal and 120 other Indian historical sites.
In a sign of how the once mighty U.S. dollar has fallen, India’s tourism minister said yesterday U.S. currency will no longer be accepted at heritage tourist sites, including the Taj Mahal.
For years the U.S. buck was worth about 50 rupees and tourists visiting most sites in India were charged either $5 or 250 rupees.
For years tourists visiting most sites in India were charged either $5, or 250 rupees.
After falling 11 percent in 2007, hitting nine-year lows to hoover around 39 rupees, the dollar is out.
Charging only rupees now seems more practical and will save tourists money because “the dollar was weaker against the rupee,” Tourism Minister Ambika Soni told the CNN-IBN news channel.
“Before the dollar lost its value, there was a demand to have (admission tickets) just in rupees,” he added.
The Taj Mahal, India’s famed white marble monument to love, began refusing dollars in November.
It means just one more place where American tourists will have to shell out more money — now nearly $20.
And it’s likely to get worse in booming India.
The dollar has fallen against most major currencies, and it has lost ground against the rupee due to an influx of foreign capital.
Good time. And ,