Delhi: ASI’s night tourism initiative struggles to attract visitors

Delhi: The Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) initiative to promote night tourism at Delhi’s historic monuments has yet to see significant success, as recent data indicates a persistently low turnout with a marginal increase in visitors.

An RTI inquiry on night tourism in Delhi reveals that the number of visitors exploring monuments after dark remains minimal compared to daytime footfall.

ASI’s Delhi Circle has been working to popularise night tourism at iconic landmarks such as the Red Fort and Qutub Minar. Data from January to December 2024 shows that 4,310 visitors toured the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Safdarjung Tomb, and Humayun’s Tomb at night—of which 3,994 were Indian visitors and 326 were foreigners. This year marked the inclusion of Humayun’s Tomb in the programme, with extended visiting hours from 6 PM to 9 PM, allowing visitors to appreciate its architectural grandeur under the evening sky.

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In 2023, the number of night visitors stood at 3,546, including 3,257 Indians and 289 foreign tourists. In 2022, only 2,923 visitors explored the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and Safdarjung Tomb at night—2,736 were Indian visitors and 187 were foreigners.

Daytime tourism dominates

Despite an increase in night visitors, the numbers remain abysmal compared to daytime tourism, raising questions about the effectiveness of ASI’s night tourism initiative.

In 2024, approximately 4.4 million visitors (both domestic and international) visited the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Safdarjung Tomb, and Humayun’s Tomb during the daytime. This figure was slightly lower than in 2023, when the number reached 4.8 million, while in 2022, around 4.3 million visitors explored these monuments during the day.

Enhancing night tourism

ASI has undertaken several initiatives to boost night tourism, including light-and-sound shows at the Red Fort and Qutub Minar, a restaurant at the Red Fort, extended visiting hours at Humayun’s Tomb, restoration of the waterbody at Tughlaqabad Fort, new cafeterias, modern elevators, and cultural events at Safdarjung Tomb.

Several other monuments in Delhi have also been illuminated to create an enchanting nighttime ambience, including Shish Gumbad and Bada Gumbad in Lodhi Garden, Adam Khan’s Tomb, and Chaumukha Darwaza in the Qutub Minar complex. However, despite Delhi housing 173 protected monuments, only nine are both ticketed and illuminated.

Safety remains a challenge

Historians and visitors, while speaking to Patriot, have raised concerns about safety at night, particularly for women. Many argue that merely illuminating monuments is insufficient to attract visitors— ensuring security is crucial.

“Night tourism won’t succeed unless security is ensured— especially for women. Illumination alone won’t be enough to attract crowds,” historian S Irfan Habib had told Patriot earlier.

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‘Adopt a heritage 2.0’ initiative

ASI has also introduced the ‘Adopt a Heritage 2.0’ programme, enabling private organisations to maintain and upgrade monuments.

The Sabhyata Foundation has taken responsibility for several monuments in Delhi, aiming to improve visitor facilities. “We are working to enhance the experience for nighttime visitors, allowing them to enjoy the beauty and history of Delhi’s monuments after dark,” a foundation official stated.

Meanwhile, an ASI official from the Delhi Circle reaffirmed their commitment to promoting night tourism. “We are actively working to provide better facilities at the monuments to attract more visitors at night,” he said.