NEW DELHI: When the Union tourism ministry announced its first list of 14 Heritage sites ‘adopted’ by private groups under its ‘Adopt a Heritage’ programme on Wednesday, the Taj Mahal, it turned out, had found no takers.

The heritage monuments and sites snapped up for maintenance and upkeep by private players included Delhi’s Qutub Minar, Jantar Mantar, Purana Qila, Safdarjung’s Tomb and Agrasen ki Baoli; Odisha’s Sun Temple, Ratnagiri monuments and the Rajarani temple; the ruins of Hampi; Leh Palace; Anjanta and Ellora caves; Mattancherry Place in Kochi; Gangotri Temple premises and the Gomukh trail and Stok Kangri in Ladakh .

The tourism ministry issued letters of intent to seven private entities who adopted 14 heritage sites under the scheme.

Tourism secretary Rashmi Verma said that while the ministry had not found private entities coming forward to adopt the Taj Mahal just yet, the heritage monument would remain available for adoption in future.