In a significant step towards enhancing digital public services, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India has enabled online ticket booking for more than 170 centrally protected monuments and museums through the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). This initiative marks a major milestone in making India’s cultural heritage more accessible, transparent, and visitor-friendly for both domestic and international tourists.
By integrating ASI’s ticketing system with ONDC, the government has opened up heritage access through a fully interoperable, open digital network, allowing citizens to book tickets using multiple platforms instead of being restricted to a single portal.
What ONDC Integration Means for Visitors
The onboarding of ASI monuments and museums on the ONDC Network enables visitors to book entry tickets through various ONDC-enabled consumer applications. This significantly improves convenience, flexibility, and choice for users while ensuring a seamless digital experience.
The integration eliminates dependency on a single booking platform and strengthens the efficient and transparent delivery of public services. Tourists can now plan visits more easily, reduce waiting time, and enjoy smoother entry into India’s most iconic heritage sites.
Discount Benefits Continue for Online Bookings
Visitors booking tickets for ASI monuments through ONDC-enabled applications will continue to enjoy existing benefits:
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₹5 discount for Indian citizens
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₹50 discount for foreign nationals
These incentives further encourage online booking while promoting digital adoption among visitors.
Skip Queues and Enjoy Faster Entry
One of the biggest advantages of online ticket booking via ONDC is the ability to bypass physical ticketing queues at monuments and museums. This ensures faster entry, better crowd management, and an overall improved visitor experience, especially during peak tourist seasons.
Technology Backbone: Role of NDML
The technical enablement of this integration has been carried out by NDML (NSDL Database Management Limited). NDML has successfully onboarded ASI’s complete inventory of monuments and museums onto the ONDC Network, ensuring accurate listings, smooth transactions, and system reliability.
This collaboration highlights the growing role of digital public infrastructure in modernizing cultural and tourism services across India.
Platforms Currently Offering ASI Tickets via ONDC
Tickets for ASI monuments and museums are currently available on several ONDC-enabled platforms, including:
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Highway Delite (Web, Android, and iOS)
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Pelocal’s WhatsApp-based ticketing service, where users can initiate booking by sending “Hi” to +91 84228 89057
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Abhee by Mondee (Android and iOS)
Several other consumer-facing applications are in advanced stages of integration, and the availability of ASI tickets is expected to expand further across the ONDC ecosystem.
Boost to Tourism and Digital India Vision
The launch of ASI online ticket booking on ONDC aligns strongly with the government’s vision of Digital India, ease of doing business, and citizen-centric service delivery. By leveraging an open digital network, the initiative supports tourism growth, enhances visitor satisfaction, and showcases India’s commitment to technology-driven governance.
Conclusion
The availability of online ticket booking for ASI monuments and museums on the ONDC Network represents a transformative leap in accessing India’s rich cultural heritage. With multiple booking platforms, continued discounts, faster entry, and a transparent digital framework, this initiative promises to redefine how citizens and tourists experience India’s historic monuments and museums.
