Catalog

Guarding the Past

In a bid to boost tourism, Rajasthan’s heritage sites are being restored and public infrastructure built

By Omana Nair (onair@adb.org)
External Relations Specialist

JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN, INDIA

Rajasthan’s rich history is visible in the forts and palaces that dot the arid landscape of the harsh Thar Desert. These monuments are a microcosm of images from the past— and perhaps an indication of great things to come.

In a bid to boost tourism, historical monuments and sites are being restored in Jaipur, the picturesque capital city of Rajasthan, and in Ajmer, the former capital of Rajasthan. But that’s only part of the ambitious work plan.

Environmental degradation and lack of basic services previously frustrated the viability of tourism and related opportunities to boost local economies.

“The identified monuments and sites were generally in bad shape and in dire need of repair works,” says Manoj Sharma, Project Director for the Rajasthan Urban Infrastructure Development Project.

To make matters worse, encroachments, solid waste dumping, and poor drainage marred the surroundings.

The Urban Environmental Improvements component of the Rajasthan Urban Infrastructure Development Project, with loan assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is developing sites and improving services, including historical sites in six major cities in Rajasthan—Jaipur, Jodphur, Udaipur, Ajmer, Kota, and Bikaner. The total project cost is $362 million, of which the ADB loan component is $250 million.

Apart from restoring historical monuments and sites, other components include rehabilitating and expanding water supply; improving urban environment through improved wastewater management; and upgrading streets, bridges, and bus terminals to improve urban transportation.

“The restoration works will not only revive the glory of these structures but also the improved facilities will help boost tourism, which will have direct economic benefits to the local residents,” Mr. Sharma points out.

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage’s Jaipur Chapter and the design and construction consultants prepared detailed plans, drawings, and estimates for restoring the identified heritage buildings and sites. Bylaws were also examined as a basis for proposing necessary regulatory measures and suitable modifications for preserving the heritage character of the “walled city of Jaipur,” a unique example of an old planned city.

Opportunities Local people will soon benefit from tourism

“The development of historical sites is being done comprehensively to promote sustainable growth in tourism,” says Alex Jorgensen, ADB Principal Urban Specialist, India Resident Mission.

These monuments and their surroundings are now being renovated and given a facelift, with project officials taking great pains to ensure the work is in line with the traditional architecture of Jaipur, for which the project is providing $11 million for heritage preservation.

The Chand Pol Gate is one of the historic monuments being restored—the first major renovation for the gate and its surroundings in 275 years. Conservation works at the Chand Pol Gate include replastering and repainting the surfaces, restoring broken parts, paving the gate structure, and providing ample parking facilities and other public amenities.

“The gates and their envelopes are an integral part of the overall heritage fabric of the walled city of Jaipur. The need for the project is inherent in the attempt to establish a continuum of history to the present and the future generations, ” explains Poonam Verma, Conservation Architect for the project.

The renovation works must consider the traditional materials, design, style, and techniques and the sensitive addition of congruous materials and design to restore the monument to its former glory. “It is imperative that the renovation and conservation approach of the structure and its surroundings are carried out with minimal design and functional intervention,” explains Ms. Verma.

The project also provides opportunities for students from the local technical institute to work with expert craftspeople.

With the restoration of the monuments, Rajasthan’s rich cultural heritage will be preserved and local communities will gain in the process.

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