11.5.13

Somewhere in Rajasthan....


Six hill forts of Rajasthan have been included in Unesco’s World Heritage list. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which evaluates cultural properties for Unesco, has recommended the inclusion of Chittorgarh Fort (Chittorgarh), Kumbhalgarh Fort (Rajsamand), Ranthambore Fort (Sawai Madhopur), Jaisalmer Fort (Jaisalmer), Amber Fort (Jaipur) and Gagron Fort (Jhalawar) in the Unesco list.
The hill forts are located in the Aravalli mountain range and are excellent examples of Rajput military hill architecture, which are found in palaces, temples, memorials and even in villages. Built between the eighth and 19th centuries, these forts are unique to this region and creatively use the landscape to increase protection and are exceptional examples of centres of Rajput power and control, reflections of courtly culture and patronage of arts and music.
The structural remains or ruins comprise multi-gated approaches through massive and high fortification walls, palaces, temples, memorials and water reservoirs. These have extensive fortifications up to 20 km in circumference and exploit the contours of the hills and specifically the river at Gagron, the dense forest at Ranthambore and the desert in Jaisalmer.
The five Rajasthan forts were nominated last year too but Unesco rejected them. This year, the government added Jaisalmer fort, reworked the documents and re-nominated the five. A two-member ICOMOS advisory mission, consisting of Susan Denyor and Giles Tillotson, visited Jaipur in November last year and held a meeting with officials of Archaeological Survey of India and Rajasthan government. The ICOMOS in its report recommended that the hill forts be inscribed on the World Heritage list.
India had also sent the nomination for inclusion of the Great Himalayan National Park in Himachal Pradesh in World Heritage Sites this year, under the cultural properties category, but its candidature was put on hold for want of some documents. The national park, spread over 75,400 hectares, is located in the western part of the Himalayan mountains in Kullu district.

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