The Archaeological Survey of India has decided to close all centrally protected monuments in its Delhi, Chennai, Trichy, Patna, Calcutta and Raiganj circles from Thursday in view of the steep increase in Covid cases.

The Bangalore, Hampi and Dharwad circles will remain closed only on weekends, that is on January 8-9 and January 15-16. For the Calcutta and Raiganj circles, the closure is till January 15. For the Chennai circle, the monuments will be closed on January 9 only

as of now. However, Tamil Nadu’s famous Mahabalipuram temple and the Tiger Headed Caves in Saluvankuppam will remain shut from January 7 to 9.

In Delhi, all ASI monuments will remain closed from Thursday till January 20 or till restrictions are lifted by the local authorities, officials said. The circle has 174 monuments, including the Qutub Minar, Red Fort and the Humayun’s Tomb.