Tourists at the iconic Taj Mahal experienced an unexpected “sting operation” on Sunday afternoon when a swarm of bees launched a sudden attack near the Royal Gate, triggering panic and chaos.
As the bees descended from a hive that accidentally fell, the scene turned into complete mayhem. Women frantically covered their faces with dupattas, children climbed onto their parents’ laps for safety, and some terrified tourists even dropped to the ground, hoping to escape the angry swarm. “I came to see the beauty of the Taj, but ended up becoming a part of a National Geographic episode,” joked Ramesh Kumar, a tourist from Delhi, who narrowly escaped the bee stings.
While most tourists managed to dodge the buzzing invaders, three people, including two CISF personnel and a local tourist, weren’t as lucky. They were stung multiple times and had to be rushed to the dispensary for immediate treatment.
CISF personnel, who arrived to handle the situation, tried to secure the area but ended up becoming victims themselves. The security team eventually removed the beehive, but by then, the bees had already left their mark - quite literally.
Prince Vajpayee, Assistant Conservation Officer at the Taj Mahal, said, “The noise and movement of the crowd triggered the bees. Fortunately, the injured are stable now, and the beehive has been removed.”
However, the incident has sparked criticism of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for its negligence in maintaining the monument. “First, plants and weeds were spotted growing on the dome, and now bee attacks! The Taj Mahal is turning into a jungle safari,” quipped Shamsuddin, President of the Agra Approved Guide Association.
Local guides claim that beehives are hanging in almost every historical monument in Agra, including Agra Fort and Sikandra.
“If ASI can’t remove a beehive from above their own office near the Royal Gate, how will they ensure the safety of tourists?” questioned Prahlad Agarwal, President of the Agra Tourist Guide Welfare Association.
Following the incident at the Taj Mahal, similar videos of beehives at Akbar’s Tomb in Sikandra have also surfaced, further raising questions about ASI’s efficiency in maintaining historical monuments. The incident, captured by several tourists, quickly went viral on social media, with people dubbing the attack ‘Bee-jee ka Taj’ and ‘Taj Mahal Ka HoneyMoon.’
While the bees have returned to their hive in the sky, the tourists will likely carry the memory (and a few stings) of this “sweet and painful” visit for a long time.
