Israeli PM, wife visit Taj Majal (Lead)

Agra Jan 16 (IANS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara spent over an hour visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra on Tuesday.

The Israeli Prime Minister and his wife were welcomed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the Kheria airport early in the morning.

Soon after the Netanyahu couple and the delegation accompanying them drove to the Amar Vilas hotel in the Taj city and spent some time there before leaving for the Taj Mahal.

Netanyahu and his wife then drove to the Taj Mahal in electric vehicles where they spent more than an hour a district official informed IANS.

Officials said the visiting dignitary returned for lunch at the hotel with the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister before leaving for New Delhi.

The road from Kheria airport to the Taj Mahal was sealed and massive security arrangements made. Two golf carts and 15 battery buses were arranged for the visiting delegation.

Yogi Adityanath arrived in the city on Monday evening to review arrangements for the visiting dignitary.

The ivory white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna was closed for common visitors for two hours till the Israeli Prime Minister left.

No car or person was allowed to be in a periphery of 500 metres around the Taj since morning.

Guides of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) took the visiting dignitaries around the Taj Mahal and apprised them about the architecture and the love story of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.

--IANS
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