Around 8 million people visit the Taj annually, nearly one million of them are from abroad.
Lucknow:
Taj Mahal finally has received its own verified Twitter handle, which, officials of the Uttar Pradesh government claimed, was a first for a historic monument.
Its first tweets read:
The official inauguration of the twitter handle took place this morning after several days of suspense -- the Agra circle of the Archaeological Survey of India had denied permission to hold the event at the Taj, citing security and environmental concerns. The launch finally took place in Lucknow.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who inaugurated the twitter handle at a programme in Lucknow, also became the first person to share his photograph.
The snapshot, taken on Valentine's Day this year (February 14), shows him at Taj Kheme, a UP tourism complex near Taj Mahal with wife Dimple and eight-year-old son Arjun.
Within a few hours of the launch, Taj had gathered more than 2000 followers.
The unique project is the brainchild of the Chief Minister and Twitter has handed over the handle to the state tourism department.
The bid is meant to boost footfall at the nearly 400-year-old mausoleum -- one of the most visited and cherished destinations of the world. Around 8 million people visit the Taj annually -- nearly one million of them are from abroad.
Its first tweets read:
There are two kinds of ppl in the world. Those who have visited me and follow me here and those who haven't seen me and yet follow me here.
- Taj Mahal (@TajMahal) August 15, 2015
Share your memories of @TajMahal with #MyTajMemory & get retweeted here.
- Taj Mahal (@TajMahal) August 15, 2015
The official inauguration of the twitter handle took place this morning after several days of suspense -- the Agra circle of the Archaeological Survey of India had denied permission to hold the event at the Taj, citing security and environmental concerns. The launch finally took place in Lucknow.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who inaugurated the twitter handle at a programme in Lucknow, also became the first person to share his photograph.
The snapshot, taken on Valentine's Day this year (February 14), shows him at Taj Kheme, a UP tourism complex near Taj Mahal with wife Dimple and eight-year-old son Arjun.
@yadavakhilesh Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, #India shares his #MyTajMemory on the official launch of @TajMahal pic.twitter.com/nt5v3BFs8T
- Taj Mahal (@TajMahal) August 15, 2015
Within a few hours of the launch, Taj had gathered more than 2000 followers.
The unique project is the brainchild of the Chief Minister and Twitter has handed over the handle to the state tourism department.
The bid is meant to boost footfall at the nearly 400-year-old mausoleum -- one of the most visited and cherished destinations of the world. Around 8 million people visit the Taj annually -- nearly one million of them are from abroad.
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