“All the ticketed monuments and all other museums have been directed to be closed until March 31, 2020,” he wrote.
While the announcement was sudden, the news shouldn’t come as a complete surprise.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India stands at 114, including two deaths.
The Taj Mahal is India’s most-visited attraction.
Victor Cheng
The Taj Mahal, which is the country’s most-visited attraction, was mentioned as being a particular concern by Vardhan, who said there was a “containment plan” in the works for Agra, the city that is home to the structure.
Commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century, the Taj Mahal is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its name means “crown of palaces” in both Urdu and Persian.
The enormously popular marble monument often sees 50,000 visitors passing through a day. Almost 6.5 million people visited the Taj Mahal in 2018, according to statistics from the Indian Ministry of Tourism.
It is also popular with celebrities and foreign dignitaries.