We will be spending 3 weeks touring N. India and planning, of course, to take many photos. In this regard I read yesterday on a photo site that using a tripod on the grounds of the Taj Mahal and other governmental historical sites is prohibited? Does anyone know anything about this?
Thanks, Bob

You are correct BY a tripod is definately prohibited in the Taj. In fact there are a lot of things you cannot take into the Taj (food etc) but as far as photo equipment a tripod is a definate no. (at least it was in Feb of this year). We actually never got the one we took with us out of our bag!

Does anyone know if this is a "taking up space" or a "potential weapon" issue? In other words, could one take in a monopod?

From Time magazine. Monopods wouldn't make the cut.

<i> After lining up for tickets ($20 for foreigners, 40[cents] for Indians), there's a second line, longer and sometimes more costly. Security guards on watch for terrorists frisk bags and bodies at two separate checkpoints, confiscating anything from a long list of banned items, including tripods, mobile phones and video cameras.
And if the guards don't get your equipment, the thieves might: pickpockets work the lines.</i>
http://link-url.com/48J

And, yes Bob, this is all government historical sites, not just the Taj. I got great shots with my handheld however, it is hard to take a bad picture in India.

One of the things with the Taj is they do not want things in there that can potentially damage some of the marble flooring on the platform around the Taj. For that same reason you are not allowed pens etc. I saw them taking pens out of some people bags as they were searched. So skib no monopod either.

When we were there in Feb video cameras were not banned but.... you could only take them just inside the main gate (the area where yo get the "classic" view)& use them there. After that you had to give put them in a locker area that is inside that gate.