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US dollar no longer accepted at Taj Mahal and other Indian historical sites
Indian tourism officials have stopped accepting US dollars at the Taj Mahal and 120 other historical sites, citing the currency's declining value. American tourists must now pay in rupees.
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Friday, January 4, 2008 Due to the declining value of the United States dollar, tourism officials in India have decided to no longer accept the American currency at the site of the Taj Mahal and 120 other Indian historical sites. The monument has refused to take dollars since November, as such, any American tourist wishing to visit the white domed marble mausoleum of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal will pay over 500 Indian rupees (US$ 12.80 at the current exchange rate) to be allowed in and additionally receive a free bottle of water. The decision came as a result as part of the continuing decline of the American dollar, falling 11 percent in 2007 and now valued around 39 rupees. Tourism Minister Ambika Soni told CNN-IBN that it seemed more practical and will save tourists money because "the dollar was weaker against the rupee," Soni added "Before the dollar lost its value, there was a demand to have (admission tickets) just in rupees." Sources Larry McShane. U.S. dollar's no good at the Taj Mahal — New York Daily News, January 4, 2008 Mike Carney. Greenbacks are no good at the Taj Mahal — USA Today, January 3, 2008 Another blow for the greenback; your money no good at the Taj Mahal if it's from the US — Associated Press, January 3, 2008
Source: US dollar no longer accepted at Taj Mahal and other Indian historical sites — originally published on Wikinews™ and summarized/modified via AI. Licensed under CC BY 2.5.
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12 headlines filed
Rupee or Not Rupee, That is No Longer the Question
7.2JudgeAmericans Now Must Curry Favor at the Taj, Rupees Only
7.2JudgeNan Longer Taking Dollars at the Taj
7.2JudgeUS Dollar Has Been Caste Away
7.2JudgeIndian Gov is Modi About the Use of Dollars
6.8JudgeIndia Says Take Your Green Back
6.8JudgeIndia Tourism Bureau Declares US Dollar value equivalent to Wampum
6.2JudgeNo Dollars, No Sense: Dubious Ban of US Currency at Indian Tourist Sites
5.2JudgeRu-pees Currency Race: US dollar dragging
5.2JudgeIndia: Sacred Bulls, Bullish Currency
5.2JudgeU.S. visitors to India required to pay in rupees, affecting absolutely nobody because its 2026 and we use credit cards
4.8JudgeIndia Rupees on US Currency
2.5Judge