Taj Mahal for example, is 750rs for us, and 20rs for them. I understand that many Indians, especially the rural ones, have very little disposable income and would be unable to visit if things were more expensive. But this theory is patchy for a number of reasons.
Namely, that at the 5 or 6 sites I have visited so far, where I have paid 250rs for entry and opposed to 10rs for locals, that I have seen VERY few poor Indians, and its mostly been tour groups of elderly foreigners or middle class families - both of which have rather more money than me.
I dont know how it would be possible to make the system fairer, but as it stands, it seems like a tax on tourists, and one that will be very expensive for me while I travel around India.
It has therefore fixed for me my policy on beggers. I wont give anything (in most instances), as the money that I COULD have given is being given to the Indian Archaeological Survey instead. I am putting the burden of feeding the Indian poor then, on the Indian middle class, whose enjoyment of Indian history is being subsidised by myself.
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