From Taj Mahal to Konark, 170+ ASI Monuments Accessible Digitally via ONDC
New Delhi: For decades, visiting India’s most celebrated monuments was as much a test of patience as a journey through history. Tourists would queue for hours under the relentless sun, clutching paper tickets, fanning themselves against the heat, and watching time slip away as crowds surged forward. Families jostled for position, students whispered in awe and fatigue, and international travelers often found themselves lost in translation, uncertain of ticketing rules or whether they would even gain entry. The very thrill of stepping into centuries-old palaces, temples, and forts sometimes gave way to frustration before the visit began. That experience, however, is now a memory of the past. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of Culture, has launched online ticket booking for over 170 centrally protected monuments and museums through the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), bringing India’s heritage literally to the fingertips of millions.
For travellers, the change is transformative. The Taj Mahal in Agra, with its glistening white marble reflecting the golden morning sun in long, serene pools, is now just a few clicks away. Visitors can linger over the delicate floral inlays, breathe in the scent of blossoming gardens, and hear the distant murmur of the Yamuna, all without the previous ordeal of hours spent in line. Delhi’s Qutub Minar, standing tall and proud, invites tourists to marvel at its intricate carvings and sculpted balconies, while the Red Fort’s massive red sandstone walls echo with centuries of Mughal power and splendor. In Odisha, the Sun Temple at Konark, shaped like a colossal chariot with sculpted wheels and horses, impresses with its scale, sun-warmed surfaces, and minute details of artistic mastery. The Ajanta and Ellora caves in Maharashtra transport visitors into a time capsule of frescoed halls, sculpted pillars, and monumental temples, where every curve and color narrates stories of Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu devotion. Meanwhile, the Elephanta Caves near Mumbai dazzle with their monumental stone carvings of Shiva, and the sprawling ruins of Hampi, the ornate temples of Khajuraho, and Fatehpur Sikri’s Mughal complex further showcase the incredible diversity of India’s ASI-managed heritage.
With ONDC-enabled ticketing, the old frustrations are gone. Tickets are now accessible via Highway Delite (web, Android, iOS), Pelocal’s WhatsApp-based service—simply send “Hi” to +91 84228 89057 to initiate booking—and Abhee by Mondee (Android, iOS). Several more consumer-facing applications are in various stages of integration, promising even broader access. Discounts remain in place, with ₹5 off for Indian visitors and ₹50 for foreign nationals, allowing travelers to enjoy convenience, value, and speed.
NSDL Database Management Limited (NDML) has enabled this transformation, integrating ASI’s entire inventory onto the ONDC Network and ensuring interoperability across multiple digital platforms. By combining heritage preservation with modern technology, the ASI is setting a standard for public service delivery that is efficient, transparent, and inclusive.
This initiative reflects a larger vision: to make India’s cultural treasures accessible to all, inviting millions of students, tourists, researchers, and heritage enthusiasts to step into history without hurdles. From the mirrored reflection pools of the Taj Mahal to the sun-baked grandeur of Konark, from the towering Qutub Minar to the painted serenity of Ajanta and Ellora, and from the historic Red Fort to the divine stone carvings of Elephanta, India’s monuments—once separated from visitors by long queues, heat, and paperwork—are now a click, a tap, or a simple message away.
Today, the feel of history is immediate: the warmth of sandstone beneath the sun, the echo of footsteps in ancient halls, the delicate fragrance of centuries-old gardens, the shimmer of marble reflecting dawn or dusk—all accessible without waiting in line. Technology has not replaced the majesty of these sites; it has made them fully available, inviting everyone to experience the sights, sounds, and stories of India’s heritage as they were meant to be experienced.
– global bihari bureau
