Indians travelling with foreigners to monuments/attractions

Madhu10

One of my cousins took his American wife to see the Taj. He took out money for two tickets for Foreigners...the ticket seller gave him the Indian rate. My cousin insisted that he pay the foreigner fee. He was actually mad that he was discriminated. Humm what can I say I have strange cousins.

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karuna

Bravo your cousin!



EDIT: assuming he was just being honest rather than being offended about being called a resident Indian. Man these things are complicated. OR should that be woman? Oh dear...

costaguana

My two cents:

The behavior of individual ticket sellers has me convinced that the ASI’s policy of charging “non-Indians” more than “foreigners” has to be changed. I'm not against charging foreign tourists more in theory (in fact, to a certain extent, I applaud the pragmatism of the ASI) but I feel it is a policy that is too open to abuse to actively promote. I have encountered the practice of charging foreigners more for entrance into monuments and national parks elsewhere in the world (most notably in Costa Rica) as well as at non-ASI sites in India (DakshinaChitra, outside of Madras, for example) but the production of residency papers in both situations was sufficient proof to be considered a resident.

With the case of the ASI, I believe that change has to occur at the macro-level, because on a case-by-case basis it is not worth it for individuals like myself to fight with every single ticket seller for our “right” to be grouped as Indians and not foreigners. I have long since abandoned the the moral high ground approach, as I have discovered it leads to a lot of heart burn and few results, but I do see the need for some relief. Foreigners’ fees are pretty steep for most Indian residents (especially families), no matter their skin color. During a day trip to Agra a few years back I ended up forking over 10% of my monthly rupee salary (at the time) for "foreigners" entrance fees. Over the past few years I have "donated" thousands of rupees to the ASI, which I joke should give me a chair on the board, or at the very least a monthly newsletter.

Anyway, the point is, take the power of discrimination away from the individual ticket sellers and the issue becomes a moot point. I’m not optimistic this is going to happen anytime soon, but hopefully the system changes before my future children begin to take an interest in Indian history. And you thought South Bombay property was expensive…

capt_mahajan

Agree completely.

I did try to look at the ASI site yesterday for a definition of foreigner.. like everything else with this subject, that is up in the air there too. Undefined.

navinkurian2002

I think the reason it is undefined is to justify the Hindi phrase sab chalte hai

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nomad

i am against different rates for people from different country.
its unfare (not a typo)

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Nick-H

It is more than my wife and I spend on lunch out.

Manmohan Singh, apparently, does not agree with dual pricing (a news item I read some time back, perhaps shortly after he became the current PM), but I guess he never got Sonia's permission to do anything about it.

As to India not being able to afford to maintain the monuments: Rubbish (err... maybe I could have put that more politely ).

India can afford to develop missiles, nuclear warheads, all kinds of stuff. India is not a poor country.

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crvlvr

Nick, you've lived in india long enough to know that the govt budget runs at a deficit. Obviously, making the entrance fee policy more egalatarian is not high on the govt's list.

I don't want to start rehashing the same old discussion about how almost every govt out there has some kind of policy to discriminate against foreigners -- whether it be college tuition aid, or social security or the like. US for exaple collects social decurity taxes from foreigners and does not pay them any befite -- that's like collecting admission money for the Taj and not allowing you to see it. India's policy is just more obvious becuase it affects tourists.

Two wrongs don't make a right. But, then Rome was not built in a day -- so things may not change anytime soon. My advice to visitors is to not let this policy of the India govt ruin your trip. Is the the Taj worth $20, compared to having to pay $14 (LA prices) to see a (probably crappy) hollywood movie? IMHO, for most of us, its the fact that an Indian can get away with paying less that ticks us off. What's the bog deal? Heck even Universal Studios has discounted prices for locals.

LunavadaLad

I think the duel system is a great idea. Funds going to the upkeep of India’s monuments making sure future visitors see great sites. The problem I have is that only a very small proportion of the money collected is used for that purpose.

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edwardseco

Long delayed by work:

“The law is whatever the officer you are talking to at that moment thinks it is.”

So true Nick.

“This is the beauty of India, everyone has the right to make and break laws.”

A sharp and accurate wit ISN.

“Rs.180 is not trivial to me.

Well, it is, but Mrs N is trying hard to mend my extravagant ways”

My spouse is trying to just the opposite!

“Funds going to the upkeep of India’s”

Now where do the funds really go if the politicians are spending so much to get into office.?

glolly1

I had an odd experience on a related matter. When I was at the Taj, I was accompanied by an Indian friend (Rajeev, who was carrying ID on him). We went on our own little discovery trip on the premises. Rajeev explained stuff about Indian history to me and filled me in on the ancient past of the country and its rulers (I mean Maharajas not measuring instruments...).

Then some security-guys stopped us and checked us out. Suddenly a problem arose with Rajeev, even though he could prove his nationality. The problem was that he is not an "accredited tour guide"! Can you imagine. What's he supposed to do? Accompany me and remain silent about the history of his homeland?

We promised the guys to leave the Taj (we were through with our tour anyway).

Weird (and I swear we were not trespassing anywhere we weren't allowed to enter).

G.

nayan

Same thing happened with me in Hampi.
I was accompanying my non Indian friend(colleague). I was explaining to her the stories behind the tablets in the hazara rama temple when the temple guard asked me to stop and that only a recognised tour guide can explain things to a non indian.

I paid him no attention and continued my explanations to my friend. He went on following us and telling the same thing. I asked him to call his supervisor. A supervisory looking man approached us after 2 mins and started the same dialouge(a bit more politely and in english). I showed him my office ID card and said very very snootily that I was not a tourist guide and this is my friend from office and can he please leave us alone.

He was all apologies and asked me to continue whatever i was doing and have a nice trip etc etc.....

Both my friend and I found the incident hilarious.

federica

safari vala

this year i paid local price sometimes i.e at badami caves and a few other places , but mostly full price other times at pattaddakkal,upstairs at Char minar , or Firoz shah kotla etc. , and with a bit of arguing my case in fluent urdu or Hindi I had local entry fee at the renovated palaces at chow mahal, Hyderabad.It varies on who you are dealing with, how you dress, how you look[ I look Pathan/kashmiri/fair Punjabi/afghan ish] and
and how good your urdu,Hindi , Bangla or tamil is.

safari vala

no wait a minte I was let into the upper level at local price at the char minar. They all fel for my Kashmiri story.In H.P. I passed as local always.