heritage-conservation-india-jaipur
Jaipur Architecture, Jaipur Heritage

Why Do We Need To Conserve Heritage in Jaipur?

Every year we celebrate World Heritage Week and World Heritage Day; a thought that keeps lingering in my mind is do people value heritage? What is the importance of heritage and why is it important to preserve our heritage? But first we need to understand the meaning of heritage. Heritage is an all-encompassing word and includes many things – built heritage like monuments and buildings, culture, and traditions. For the last few years as I went around exploring Jaipur and its heritage, I was shocked to find that almost 90-95% of our built heritage is in urgent need of attention and repair. The attitude towards the built heritage in Jaipur and architecture requires a huge change. Given the sheer quantum of Jaipur heritage, especially buildings, it requires massive efforts and funds. I’m sure this holds true for other old cities and sites across India. Read more to know why the attitude of people towards our heritage needs a big change after these pictures. My focus in this post is the heritage of Jaipur.

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Dying its own death! Heritage in danger
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Jaipur Stepwell is under restoration

Jaipur Heritage: Importance of Heritage & Conservation

Preserving Jaipur heritage and architecture is important. What is the importance of heritage and why should we preserve heritage structures? There are good reasons for preserving heritage, especially the built heritage in Jaipur. The challenges of heritage conservation in India are immense. Although heritage buildings have been documented in Jaipur by many agencies, we are yet to witness the benefits of the same.

1. Our heritage is a link to our past

The buildings and monuments are an important indicator of our beliefs, practices, customs, and ways of life. Heritage provides a path to understanding anthropology. It provides us with an easy way to study how we have evolved as a society. With the presence of so many temples in the walled city of Jaipur, it is easy to understand why religion and religious customs are still very strong in Jaipur. Therefore, we need to protect the built heritage.

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Kanak Vrindavan Temple Complex in Kanak Ghati, Jaipur.

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2. Heritage provides us with a platform to study our history.

Cenotaph like the one in Jaipur – Royal Gaitore speaks a lot about the attitude of the rulers towards art and religion. Some buildings are ornate whereas others are simple. Many structures are made of white marble or sandstone. And then there are the ones that blend marble & sandstone beautifully. Historians can decipher many aspects by simply analyzing buildings. The pyramids in Egypt provide a clue to the prevalent customs and religion of its period. It is because of the presence of these heritage structures we can continue to study human customs etc

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A simple structure in Gaitore, Jaipur
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Ornate & beautiful structure at Gaitore, Jaipur

3. Preserving heritage is profitable & helps in increasing tourism

European towns have shown that heritage conservation of buildings and culture is a way forward to bolster tourism and wealth. Small towns in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and many other countries attract many tourists because of their heritage buildings. This is the only source of income in these places. In stark contrast, there are many heritage sites, monuments, and buildings spread across India, if restored and preserved, these can open new opportunities for government and people.

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Tourists at Ganesh Pol, Amer Fort, Jaipur

4. Our heritage makes us unique.

In a globalized world, buildings are similar everywhere whether it is Bangalore, Hong Kong, or London. It is all glass and concrete facade. The old buildings have stories to tell. They have unique design elements. You will not find buildings like Hawa Mahal anywhere else in the world!

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Haveli style architecture of Jaipur
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The architecture of Hawa Mahal is one of its kind in the entire world

5. Heritage inspires travel

Distinct cultures, customs, and buildings are great travel attractions. Everyone wants to experience something new. People won’t travel thousands of miles to witness or experience things they can find in their backyard. The Kremlin in Moscow, the Louvre in Paris, Amer Fort in Jaipur, and the Taj Mahal in Agra are great travel attractions. Similarly, Diwali in India, Songkran in Thailand, and Bullfighting in Spain are a big draw among travelers & tourists.

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In my opinion, the following attitudes need to change.

Jaipur Heritage Conservation Challenges

Among the many challenges we face in heritage conservation in Jaipur, here are a few:

Mindset of people About Jaipur Heritage

There are many challenges in heritage conservation in Jaipur. The most common being that the old buildings are all about bygone days. Most residents in Jaipur feel that old buildings and customs have no place in current times. They link old buildings and customs with the bygone era. This is one reason Jaipur is losing old Havelis and buildings at a fast pace. Old buildings in the walled city area are being grazed down to make way for commercial spaces despite a government ban. The documentation of heritage buildings in Jaipur was done a couple of years ago. Despite this, the authorities have not taken any concrete steps to preserve old buildings in the walled city of Jaipur. This is when the walled city has been accorded the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site 

Jaipur Heritage and Governance

The state of affairs during the previous government and chief minister’s reign has been terrible for Jaipur heritage conservation. The authorities failed to maintain the basic sanitization of the Walled City of Jaipur. The Havelis gave way to the modern complexes at a very fast pace. Often, such practices were in collusion with the authorities. The municipal corporation was split into two to retain control over it, leading to the failure of the municipal corporation in its functioning. The result was that the by-lanes of the walled city were full of garbage.

Jaipur Heritage Conservation is vital for the city. The city is known for its built heritage. Without heritage, Jaipur will lose its identity.

Read the in-depth write-up on Jaipur Havelis – The Vanishing Havelis of Jaipur

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The beautiful heritage Haveli marred by lack of repair and commercialization.

Collusion with government officials allows people to circumnavigate this ban. One of the great reasons for converting old buildings into commercial ones is the lure of money.

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Unauthorized commercial conversion of buildings. Johari Bazaar, Jaipur

The Future of Jaipur Heritage

I’m afraid in the next couple of years, Jaipur may end up losing 50-60 percent of old buildings in the walled city area. Bikaner city has already experienced this phenomenon where people sold off beautiful & ornate Jalis and windows from the Haveli façade. Here is a picture of a beautiful facade of the Rampuria Havelis in Bikaner.

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All these parts of the building facade are modular & can be taken off before razing down the structure. Making quick money in the antique market was a big lure for people to do so. But prompt action from authorities has now made it impossible for people to do so.

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A beautiful hand-painted door in Jaipur

Cases where the heritage of Jaipur needs to be conserved

  • The Great Wall of Amer

The government and authorities need to change their attitude too. They have only been doing what is necessary. For example, the areas which are visible to the tourists visiting Amer Fort are in excellent condition but the ones which are not visible to the tourists are crumbling down. Authorities are not interested in repairing & restoring parts of Amer Fort’s defense. What is apparent is that the government only wants to optimize the money spent on heritage.

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Amer Fort, Jaipur

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Part of Amer Fort’s defense system, slowly crumbling away.

Sections of Amer Fort, which once used to be the entry point to Amer town, are decaying & crumbling due to lack of repair. Read: Why is the loss of the Great Wall of Amer inevitable?

  • Mariam Mahal

I would like to mention Mariam Mahal in Jaipur. Jagat Singh, son of Mirza Man Singh of Amer, built a palace for his lover Mariam located far away from the famous Amer Fort. It was called Mariam Mahal.

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Jagat Singh died at an early age around 32-34 due to the habit of excessive drinking is one of the popular opinions, while the other one is that he died fighting in a battle Mariam continued to live in this place till her death. The palace is almost extinct; unfortunately, the authorities have not conserved this important heritage of Jaipur. Here are a few pictures of Mariam Mahal.

Read the complete post: The Elusive Mariam Mahal

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  • Structures and old buildings in the Walled City of Jaipur

During my visit to a heritage temple in Jaipur, a priest confessed that he would like to get the temple repairs carried out using ancient techniques. He was forced to use modern techniques because of the lack of skilled people and whooping costs. Traditional construction techniques involve lime plaster and stone. Popular repair techniques, on the other hand, rely on bricks, cement, and concrete which are easily available.

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Ain’t that cement repair patchwork an eyesore? Old City Area, Jaipur

Everything is not bad, we also have many heritage sites that are being maintained beautifully and are great tourist attractions like Amer Fort, Hawa Mahal, and the Nahargarh Fort to name a few. This post merely highlights the attitude towards heritage.

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Restoration work at Sanganeri Gate, Johari Bazar, Jaipur

You might want to read this post about heritage conservation in Jaipur – The unknown face behind heritage conservation in Jaipur. This post shares information about people who are engaged in heritage conservation in Jaipur.

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The way forward for the conservation of Jaipur’s heritage

Unless the government provides techniques, trained manpower, and financial help to owners of heritage buildings, it is impossible to use ancient techniques in restoration. Repairs carried out using modern methods in heritage buildings are neither effective nor lasting. They only inflict further damage to structures. Moreover, it is an eyesore.

Heritage preservation cannot be done unless both the government and the public make an effort. It seems that even authorities have become insensitive to the changing façade in old bazaars. The inability to enforce law, populism, corruption, and vote banks is taking a toll on our heritage. The introduction of the underground metro in the old bazaars of Jaipur against public opinion needs a lot of mulling over and thought. Here is a picture of Badi Chaupar and Hawa Mahal in the background with Jaipur Metro work in the foreground.

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Underground metro construction work has caused damage to heritage structures. Authorities are building a metro project in the name of development. We may likely lose much of our built heritage in the next decade or two since neither the public nor authorities have any inclination to save our heritage. Meanwhile, I have been mulling over a thought that will attract tourists to Jaipur? Metro? Malls? Glitzy modern buildings? Uninspiring architecture? or shopping in old bazaars? I failed to come up with the answer.

Let me show you this picture from Amer Fort which depicts the attitude of our countrymen toward our heritage. It is self-explanatory. This picture captures the Janani Deori section or the residential unit of Queens. I have written a separate post on this issue –Stop doing this to our heritage!

Read the Jaipur Then And Now series which describes each tourist attraction or famous site in detail with old and new pictures.

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Queen’s Quarter at Amer Fort

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154 thoughts on “Why Do We Need To Conserve Heritage in Jaipur?”

  1. This is a very important post. I completely support the ideology that we do not know how to take care of our things. Our temples, forts, palaces are all being neglected. I do not know if it can be easily dusted off our hands and conveniently blame the government for lack of preservation. In most cases, we spoil our heritage by spitting, throwing trash, writing on the walls not to mention other obnoxious things. Of course metro rail seems to have caused untold damage to heritage in many cities in India. It saddens me when it seems that we have the richest wealth in terms of heritage and the poorest sense to preserve it. Sometimes I think we simply don’t deserve it.

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  2. Can’t agree more. The plight of heritage site all over India is such blatantly neglected that it’s a shame! In Mumbai, there are hutments around the forts and garrisons. There is an urgent need to educate the masses about their importance. I think it’s more of our fault (as citizens) than the government.

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    1. I really feel sorry looking at how we as a nation and society have come to be. If we don’t value our heritage and culture…then who will? I fail to understand why it has become a custom for youth to leave an imprint of their failed love stories on heritage sites? Aamir Khan was roped in for an advertisement that made an appeal to the public for not doing such things. Looks like it was all waste.

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      1. We need to begin with young minds. I think schools kids (primary+secondary) should be taken to the heritage buildings and teach them the local history, heritage, legends and the purpose. Once they get interested in local history and heritage, they would start caring for these monuments, buildings and artefacts. Actually, people don’t relate themselves to the local history and so they don’t realise the values due to lack of awareness.
        Your post and views are very much appreciated.

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  4. Not just metro construction, even underground drainage projects are causing havoc wherever they are undertaken by causing weakening of all structures and causing flooding of neighbourhoods during the monsoons.These are funded by World Bank and I seriously feel these projects are just not right for conditions in India.
    There is nothing comparable with the wisdom/science of our forefathers in everything from the selection of sites for construction of temples and forts to the methods they used in building them.

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    1. You are right. Do you know that when roads were dug up for metro, they found underground water channel for public distribution. The problem is that most of these modern systems have been imported from countries which didn’t have similar system or climatic conditions. Are ancient temples in TN also facing some issues? Very little we all can do about it. I appreciate your input on this issue.

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      1. Ancient temples in Tamilnadu are renovated once in twelve years.and when this is done ancient time worn stone slabs are dug up and replaced with modern user friendly polished granite and tiles, cement replaces the traditional building materials which often were ones that were easily available in a given area. I find that it is in those temples that have not been disturbed in the name of renovation for want of funds that I feel the antiquity and a sense of connecting across hundreds of years. There was one instance in Tholur village where a 2000 year old Siva temple was razed to the ground overnight using a JCB. It created a furore amid heritage enthusiasts and there is a case pending in the Madras High Court. I read recently that there is a thriving market abroad for Tamilnadu temple pillars, doors, sculptures in the name of antiques.

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  5. An excellent post that draws the attention to a vital subject. There are people in every country that will state that the past is over and we should move on to newer and better things. This is certainly true with modern technology and such like, but our old buildings hold the evidence of our past and how things have developed. You have shown some fabulous buildings around Jaipur, Arv, and I can understand how you feel about many of them being demolished over the next few years. In the UK we have societies like English Heritage and the National Trust who deal with conservation and preservation of our old buildings. Other buildings are still owned by private individuals who pay for their maintenance. Most repairs are financed by entrance fees to these sites. I imagine the cost of restoration is a big drawback in Jaipur, and elsewhere in India, but it is so sad to think of such fabulous buildings being left to decompose or be demolished.
    The architecture of Hawa Mahal looks amazing!

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    1. Millie, I know how much you love heritage and old buildings. I have been following your posts on heritage sites across UK. We too have boards that deal with restoration but given the sheer number of sites it is too less. And then there are authorties that entrusted with maintenance of palace and forts. They also chose to pick and choose parts of the heritage sites, as I have highlighted. The entrance fee in India at most heritage site is quite affordable. Only foreign tourists have to pay more. I’m sure these agencies can do a better job. A major change that’s needed is outlook of public. Unless we change this it is a tough act! Thanks for sharing your views, Millie!

      Did you read the entire post on Hawa Mahal? You will love it. Should I provide you link?

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      1. Yes, a link would be great! Thank you!
        I agree, Arv, you have SO many old buildings to be cared for, and I do understand the predicament out there. I can’t help imagining how awesome they would all look if they were restored. I also agree, that changing public opinion of the value of preservation will be the hardest part.

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  6. While your post on the importance of preserving our monuments and buildings of the past was written with the focus on your hometown Jaipur, it has universal relevance for the entire world. Here in Western Canada a lot of the old building and landmarks have been destroyed in order to make room for the modern structures in glass and steel. You made a valuable contribution to raising our awareness of the need to take action to keep and maintain those buildings that are left. Thank you, Arv!

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    1. Happy to get that input from Canada. I had no idea about this. Thank You. It is actually sad to hear this. Allowing history and heritage to fade is not great for us. Yes, we need to move with times and change but preserving our heritage should also be taken care of. Thank you for sharing your views, appreciate it.

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      1. Attitudes are beginning to change. In 1954, the famous and quite luxurious sternwheeler has been pulled out into the middle of the lake and set on fire. The Lord Minto has been plying the waters and transporting goods and early pioneers for almost 50 years. This would never happen any more, as people are beginning to realize the value of their cultural heritage.

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      3. Oh yes, there are. Of course, some may scoff at buildings that are a mere 100 years old. But the buildings of the mining and railroad era and the many ghost towns that still exist are nevertheless heritage sites. Luckily attempts are made to restore some of these sites. Thank you, Arv, for seeking clarification in this matter!

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  7. We are lucky in the UK to have the National Trust who look after many historic buildings. Admittedly they charge people to visit but that pays for the upkeep. It’s a shame that the building is damaged in such a way by graffiti, Arv, I hate to see that.

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    1. Me too, Mike. This from a very popular tourist attraction – Amer Fort which is also part of UNESCO World heritage site. The entire fort is being maintained quite well. Unfortunately, public especially youth really doesn’t understand their actions. A top actor from India undertook a drive by way of video appeal to stop doing this….but seems to have very little impact. We also have ASI and State Archeology dept. taking care of many sites but I think the sheer number of heritage sites we have is mind boggling. I think I need to mention that we have few heritage sites being maintained in a great condition. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Mike!

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    1. I feel modernization can co-exist with heritage structures. Many countries have been able to do this. I feel it is attitude of people that needs a shift. Reminds me of a poor person with a heap of coal and lots of diamonds hidden underneath crying foul for his destiny! We need to understand and value what we have and how it can enrich our lives.

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  9. All your reasons for conserving heritage are sound, Arv, and I’m sure the reasons you suggest it may not happen very well in India are good ones, but I’d like to suggest one more: India has so many ancient monuments, such an amazing wealth of old, beautiful and important buildings, that it might seem to many people that losing a few here and there just doesn’t matter.

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    1. Quite possibly yes. But then the in charge of all these sites is not same. some are owned by state govt. while others are owned by a central agency or central govt. And then there are privately owned forts and palaces too. I think funds is a very big issue here in India along with attitude and mindset. If some marketing person can prepare action plan with finances, we might see a big change. Neemrana fort is one such fort which was bought by a businessman and is now one of the top heritage hotel chains.

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      2. I think it is better than ruins. I haven’t been there so I can’t really comment. It really doesn’t fit in my idea of a holiday, Mick. That’s a personal choice though. What did you notice about this place?

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  10. You haven’t left any point that I could elaborate on! I simply don’t understand why Govt would let this happen in cities like Jaipur, which are so much connected with our past – 1000 temples is no small a number!

    It is very difficult to overcome corruption in India, somebody at some level in the public sector much be making money off of that commercialization.

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    1. Alok every government wants some election agenda to talk about. Saying that one has introduced metro and brought development to the state is a big point. You are right that corruption has seeped in the system in a manner which is difficult to comprehend. Anything is possible with money around. Sad state.

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      2. NGO’s don’t have much role to play here in India because they don’t have voice. There is an informal group – heritage saviors, they created lot of pressure but it did nothing. Even local newspaper went all out against the move but couldn’t achieve anything.

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  11. I think heritage and modern structures can coexist, if there is a will. The best example is Chandni chowk in Delhi. Walking in the narrow bylanes of this Mughal settlement, a swanky Haldiram restaurant exists alongside very old buildings. I do think that chandni chowk needs a bit of a makeover, if nothing else, atleast the drainage is in need of repair. What’s unbelievable is that the construction of the Delhi metro eight underneath has had zero impact on the structures above. We lament the absence of E Sreedharan. What an amazing project manager. Today, the construction of the newer metro stations causes traffic snarls like crazy, but people didn’t face such inconveniences during the construction of the Chandni chowk station – in a much more congested area.

    I hope Jaipur, and other cities with such rich heritage too get better visionaries.

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    1. I agree with you, Kasturika. It depends on some specific situations too. The entire facade of Jaipur market have similar look so anything that looks different won’t blend in. With metro construction we have seen levels of ground giving away and in some places the roof also was damaged. Jaipur has lots of sand as a base, so may be that’s the reason.

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    1. Let’s hope so, Cheryl! It is a loss for mankind. We have seen deliberate attempts at Palmyra and Bamian. This on the other hand is turning your back towards our culture & heritage.

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  13. The buildings are indeed stunning, regardless of their state of repair. I fear its the same throughout the world; Syria; Egypt ; Iraq; Iran Beautiful buildings just neglected or torn down. Very sad. We wont recaputure it again if we wait too long to restore

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      1. Not as many as I would have liked. Iran/Persia, of course …Egypt. St Catherine’s Monastery is amazing. We see a lot of ruined monuments on the news, especially around Syria – very sad

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      5. Oh no you are so wrong! Almaty is very cosmopolitan. Its everything – Russian – Asian and European. Even a metro running through the city. Forget the ” Borat” film. Almaty is very chi chi and some of the streets are like Parisian boulevards. Added to that its super for winter sports. Take another look – you will be surprised. I adore it

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  14. A very very important article in today’s era where our heritage is dying a slow death. I am so glad you wrote this and this needs to be shared as much as possible. I always feel super sad when heritage is neglected, frescos are peeling, and the past is buried in the garb of development. Abroad, even tiny, minuscule pieces of heritage are preserved with great zest and marketed like anything. Here the locals itself take their past for granted!

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    1. Exactly. This mindset -tutta futa is khandhar needs to be done away with. We need to look at it from fresh perspective. People don’t realize that we are sitting on a goldmine. I feel bad when people give so much importance to glitzy and shiny new buildings ignoring the heritage we have. I have so many pictures of buildings in ruins and shambles which want to share and draw attention of people. Unfortunately, the people who live around these buildings are mostly illiterate or with limited exposure so digital mediums are limiting! I’m sure you must have experienced similar things during your travel across country.

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    1. It is not just the case with Jaipur, as you rightly mentioned. Since we have large number of heritage sites, many go unnoticed. I wish there was some agency to restore and market it well. I’m sure we will be better off in every way. It also takes away too much pressure on some tourist attractions as they don’t have enough infrastructure to handle too much tourist flow. Thanks for sharing your views and following my blog. 🙂

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      2. You are right. Intach not very active in Jaipur. We also have department of archaeology which is a state body. There’s a much bigger issue with privately owned building, temples and other buildings too. Also the small fortifications Which had military usage are the worst of all as they don’t have any options to use them. Do you have any experience in heritage conservation?

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  19. Great post! You are right, we certainly need to change our attitude towards our heritage sights and make every possible arrangement to conserve them for our future generations.

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