Hyderabad Heritage & Heritage Structures

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Heritage Marathon: Hyderabad to run into its past

Heritage walks, move over. Because it is time to run. On September 23, it will be a date with Hyderabad’s heritage for over 800 runners. The over 400-year-old history of the city will be covered as part of a 42.195 km long marathon.

What makes the Hyderabad heritage marathon special is that it is the only one of its kind in India. Its first edition attracted 800 runners, 60 of them foreigners. There were a significant number of amateurs interested in exploring the past on the move as well.

With a prize money of one lakh rupees each to the Indian winner and the foreign participant winner, Hyderabad Heritage Marathon promises to be a calender event.
This year too, before the crack of dawn at 5 am, when most of Hyderabad will be asleep, the marathon will start from the Chowmohalla Palace, one of the finest palaces built by the Nizam of Hyderabad and end at the Qutab Shahi tombs around noon. Enroute will be monuments that define Hyderabad – the Charminar, Mecca Masjid, City College, High court, Moazzamjahi market, Assembly building and Golconda Fort.

[Gudavalli]

Heritage tag may elude Charminar

HYDERABAD: Officials from the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) had made tall claims in July that restoration of Charminar would be complete before the Unesco delegation comes for inspection on September 26. Two months later, the Charminar and its precinct still cut a sorry picture with precious little being done to make it at least appear presentable to the delegation.

Officials from the ASI admitted that layers of lichen and moss still persisted and that the planned chemical cleaning of the structure would happen only after the visit of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (Icomos). Clearly, the purpose is lost.

Lack of coordination between ASI, GHMC and traffic police is said to be the reason for delay. Officials at ASI said that the Icomos delegates were 'unhappy with the environs of monuments' and pointed out necessary work which needed to be undertaken. An official requesting anonymity said, "On account of heavy vehicular traffic it will take more than a month to set up scaffolding for the chemical cleaning. The delay is due to the fact that the scaffolding will cover a large portion of the road."

Though the chilla and the Bhagyalakshmi temple authorities have agreed to move water tanks from the premises for the visit, heritage activists noted that this was not a permanent solution. R Krishnaiah, superintending archeologist, ASI said, "Temple authorities have agreed to move water tanks from Charminar for the visit and have asked us to provide an alternative. Further, there are a lot of flags of religious significance at both structures. The matter is delicate and needs to be dealt carefully."

According to Krishnaiah, the committee had suggested changes in signage, fencing and removal of cables. "Painting of the fence has been done along with cleaning of the old fountain. The signage will take around ten days to be installed and cables will be removed shortly. We still need cooperation from GHMC and government authorities. Perhaps this is the last chance to make it to the list," he said while maintaining that the Charminar was in a 'good state of preservation.'

Heritage activists rued that the Charminar complex was incomplete without the inclusion of the four kamaans, all of which are in deplorable condition and that the Sahr-e-Baatil kamaan to the west of Gulzar Houz was crumbling. "The roads are clogged as a result of Charminar Pedestrianisation Project. The bollards and unevenly divided roads are compounding the damage. There is very little hope that Charminar would make it to the final list," said an activist.

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Chowmahalla Palace being spruced up for CoP-11

Chowmahalla Palace, one of the greatest legacies of the Nizams, is getting ready to floor the delegates coming for the next month’s biodiversity conference. Hectic work is on to give a much needed facelift to the palace which has suffered damage in the recent rain.

The magnificent monument, which bagged the UNESCO Asia Pacific Merit award for cultural heritage preservation, is showing signs of wear and tear. The heavy downpour last month and underground seepage has chipped away the ornamental work in the picturesque Darbar Hall where the coronation of the 5, 6 and 7 Nizam took place.

However, without losing time Princess Esra, the Turkish born first wife of Mukarram Jah, has requisitioned the services of experts in the field of heritage restoration to repair the damage. Brick and Stones, a Bangalore-based organisation, comprising former employees of the Archaeological Survey of India and Intach, has been roped in to fix the damage.

About a dozen workers can be seen doing the delicate job of restoring the ornamental design on the base of the huge columns in the Darbar Hall. The decorative plaster work is being done using the paste of lime, sand, jaggery and egg.


An oven is set up at the rear of the palace to prepare the lime-sand paste. After a coat of this special material is applied, carving is done to bring back the intricate patterns. “It is a laborious job and takes four to five days to restore a column,” says Anil Kumar, civil engineer overseeing the restoration work. The grey marble finish will be given once the whole thing is restored, it is said. There are 30 columns in the Darbar Hall and at least 20 of them require repair. The restoration work involves reconstruction of the collapsed sections of the palace complex, restoration of external and internal spaces besides decorative elements and finishes.

The 50 feet parapet wall at the entrance of the Darbar Hall which fell recently has been repaired. So is the armoury gallery. However, repair work in the photo gallery and people and places gallery is on. These galleries are out of bound for the visitors temporarily. “The restoration work will be over by September end,” said Kishan Rao, director, Chowmahalla Palace.

The magnificent palace along with Charminar and Mecca Masjid is expected to be a big draw with the CoP delegates.

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Road reopens after three years

At last, the Kushai-guda - Moulali road was re-opened late on Sunday for traffic. The road with the 200-year-old ‘Moulali Kaman’ was partially blocked all these days, due to restoration work on the heritage structure. Two short walls had been constructed to restrict traffic. A suit was filed in the court to protect the heritage monument.

As per the court’s orders, the authorities took up renovation work and the traffic was curbed. The state archeological department swung into action and spent nearly Rs 12 lakh for the repair works. It was felt that the vibrations caused by the traffic would damage the historical construction. So, the Roads and Building Department constructed two short walls across the Kaman to restrict the traffic. For three years the commuters had been facing problems due to the renovation work.

The road was not opened even after completion of the works. Some people moved the court and on the orders of the court the officials made arrangements so that the Kaman is not affected. They spent Rs 2 lakh to fix iron grills on the pillars of the Kaman.

The walls were demolished on Sunday. Traffic has been restored on this route. The local people are requesting the authorities to make way for buses and ambulances by removing the iron girders.

[World8115]

Nice, hope buses are restarted on this route

[Gudavalli]

The Deccan is losing its history

“The city has lost so much of its past,” said best-selling author and historian William Dalrymple as he inaugurated the Centre of Deccan Studies at the Maulana Azad National Urdu University on Tuesday. Dalrymple, who was the chief guest and delivered the inaugural lecture on The Syncretic Civilisation of the Deccan, expressed his sadness over today’s Hyderabad.

“I was here during the ’90s when I was researching for my book White Mughals, but now I get lost when I come here. Hyderabad’s rate of conservation is the worst. Over years, beautiful buildings have been destroyed, art collections have been lost and natural fabric has been damaged. Raymond’s Tomb was bouldered, Moula Ali’s has been encroached upon,” he said during his interaction with the press. “Little has been done in the last 20 years while destruction has been ongoing. A big conservation needs to be done,” he added.

Talking about the Centre for Deccan studies, he said, “It’s absurd there’s not been a centre for Deccan Studies anywhere before. People here go on to study engineering and commerce but don’t know the history and literature of this part of the world.” On the controversial existence of the dancer Bhagmati, the love of Hyderabad founder Quli Qutub Shah’s life, in the history of Hyderabad, he didn’t take the bait, saying that he wasn’t qualified to answer that. “I am aware of the controversy, but I have never studied that period. All I can say is that one should not ignore the oral traditions. If this was to be looked as a case in the court, then one would take the word of the eyewitness over the people who have heard things weeks after,” he said.

On the Hyderabad Literature Festival, the co-founder of the Jaipur Lit Festival said, “I have not been to the lit fest so I don’t know how terrible or good it is, but three elements need to be kept in mind: there has to be 2/3 desi to 1/3 incomers (ratio), more nationalities need to be involved, raising sponsorship. What could be a USP is that the directors of the Jaipur fest are writers themselves. We are hunting in our own forests.”

Dalrymple’s next, The Return Of A King, which tells the story of a Anglo-Mughal, will be out in December.

[Gudavalli]

Run for heritage

Want to run and tour the City’s monuments at the same time? The Hyderabad Heritage Marathon on September 23 offers you the opportunity to do so. The 42km full marathon starts at Chowmahalla Palace and passes by Charminar, City College, High Court, Moazzam Jahi Market, Assembly, Taramati Baradari, Gandipet Lake, Golconda Fort and ends at the Qutub Shahi Tombs. The 21km half marathon route is the same but won’t touch Taramati Baradari and Gandipet Lake.

After your run you get a certificate with your time. Registrations are done online on www.hyderabadheritagemarathon.com. On September 22, runners will be given kits which comprise a T-shirt, timing chip, a map and serial number. Registrations end Sept 15.

[Gudavalli]

Light plays with dark

An exhibition of photographs by Pulak Halder highlights the architecture of the city

The architecture of the old buildings and structures of Hyderabad leaves everyone breathless and the effect of the same was so much deep in Pulak Haldar, that the nature photographer clicked enough in a span of two years to hold an exhibition and name it ‘Trace the Heritage’. Pulak’s 35 frames which are being shown at ICCR Art Gallery at Ravindra Bharathi, Saifabad is a play of light and dark. Captured mostly in black and white, some of the frames have been touched to give the positive negative effect and the outlines highlighted to bring out the architectural beauty. So what forced a photographer with a passion for nature click the monuments around the twin cities? “When you are surrounded with such beautiful structures and architecture it can hardly go un-noticed. I have spent more than eight years in the city and each time I visit the old city I discover some beauty in the architecture of the minarets and the dewdis,” says Pulak.

Pulak thought it would be apt to hold his exhibition now as the city was recently awarded with title of The Best Heritage City in the Country -2012. The photographer’s aim, he says is to highlight the rich cultural heritage of the city. And while doing so with his lens, he sketched the magnificent architecture. The idea he says is also to open a new type of architecture photography to capture the images of architecture as a modern visual.

As Pulak clicked with Nikon D100 using lenses like 18-35mm, 24-85mm and 70-400mm he has also kept in mind the surroundings. Instead of isolating a structure, he has clicked them as he views them — sometimes in the backdrop of moon-lit sky and sometimes against a rickety branch. At the first glance his frames look like they are decorated with string lights during a festival. “I have filtered some images and highlighted them using Photoshop,” says Pulak.

An amateur photographer, Pulak works for DRDO and he says he stole time from work and completed his frames.

“Working with my frames is like listening to music. It calms me down,” he says. Other noteworthy works of Pulak from his earlier collection include Macro images on barks of trees which he titled Nature’s Paintings. The exhibition ends on September 18.

[Gudavalli]

‘Revive planning body to save heritage’

HYDERABAD: Heritage activists have started lobbying for the reconstitution of the AP Urban Arts Commission (APUAC), a now defunct body, which would have a say in urban planning in the context of conservation of historical sites so that age-old precincts remain undisturbed by urban development projects such as the metro rail.

Drawing parallels with cities such as Delhi, social activist M Mandal has written to the chief secretary stating that Andhra Pradesh should also have a commission such as the Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) which has the powers to approve, reject or modify proposals and to 'promote and secure the development and redevelopment of areas within its jurisdiction'.

Heritage activists said it was the DUAC which recommended guidelines for the Delhi Metro Rail project such as laying underground tracks near sites of historical importance like Chandni Chowk and the Qutub Minar. Citing Bangalore as another example, activists said it was only due to the recommendations of the Urban Arts Commission in Bangalore that the lush green Cubbon Park was saved as the metro originally intended to cut through the park. Plans were later altered for the metro to go around the park.

If revived, the APUAC would have a key role in planning with respect to heritage conservation. "Its role is to ensure that the aesthetic character of city is maintained. Members of APUAC would make recommendations to the government on matters pertaining to planning, restoration, conservation of urban design and environment. Further, it has within its powers to recommend financial assistance for conservation," Mandal said.

Heritage Conservation Committee member Sajjad Shahid said the APUAC would ensure sequential development of the city so that the architecture across the city is coherent. "The UAC will comprise a panel of experts on art, culture, architecture and engineering with a proven track record who will decide how the city would look by setting guidelines for planning. Currently, it is impossible to say what style of architecture the city employs. Designs of buildings are not in sync with its character. Since Hyderabad too has an undeniable but crumbling heritage character, it is imperative that the state has an Urban Arts Commission to preserve its aesthetic value like Delhi and Bangalore," he said.

Heritage conservationists and activists said that the Andhra Pradesh Urban Areas Development Act of 1975 provides for an art commission to advise the government on restoration and conservation of architectural and artistic buildings. "The APUAC will ensure that no city in the state will fall prey to the whims and fancies of bureaucrats and politicians who have already made a mess of Hyderabad by constructing metro tracks just about anywhere and erecting statues at any crossroads," said an activist.

[Gudavalli]

Hyderabad: Heritage Run on World Tourism Week from September 22

Hyderabad: The Tourism department has decided to celebrate the World Tourism Day and tourism week from September 21 to 27. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, special chief secretary (tourism department) Chandana Khan said that several activities have been lined up for the celebration. The Sculpture Park at Shilparamam will be inaugurated by the tourism minister Vatti Vasantha Kumar. On Setember 22, the minister will also release books on biodiversity of Nallamalai and Araku at the Indira Priyadarshini Hall in Public Gardens at 11 am. On the same day, the Suranjali Foundation will organise a music programme.
A Run for heritage sites will be fagged off on September 22 from Chowmohallah palace and will culminate at Quli Qutub Shahi Tombs covering major monuments like Charmanir, High Court, Osmania Hospital, Taramati Baradari and Golconda. Governor ESL Narasimhan will present prizes at Quli Shahi Tombs at 8 am.
A food festival will also be conducted at major five star hotels in the twin cities for a week. The Tourism department will organise a vintage car rally wherein heritage vehicles will be displayed on September 26 from 11 am.

[Gudavalli]

Hyderabad gears up for a run through history

The Hyderabad Heritage Marathon on September 23, 2012 is truly a run back through history. From Chowmahalla Palace it starts and ends at the Qutub Shahi Tombs and when you finish, it will have been a crash course in all that the great city stands for. This is the route map of the full marathon.

Chowmahalla Palace or Chowmahallat (four palaces) was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty and was the official residence of the Nizams of Hyderabad. In Persian, Chahar means four and in Arabic Mahalat (plural of Mahal) means places, hence the name Chowmahallat — four places, or four palaces. All ceremonial functions and receptions for the governor-general were done at this palace. This architectural gem is said to have been modelled on the Shah of Iran’s palace in Tehran.

Mention Hyderabad to anyone from other states. Without exception, only one image comes to their minds: Charminar. On the east bank of River Musi stands tall this stately building. Charminar (four towers) was built on the orders of Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty in 1591 AD to commemorate the elimination of a plague epidemic from this city.

On the south bank of the River Musi stands one of the finest buildings in the City built in red and white stones in Saracenic style. The High Court building’s plan was drawn by Shankar Lal of Jaipur which was materialised by Mehar Ali Fazil, from the City itself. The construction started on April 15, 1915 and was completed on March 31, 1919. On April 20,1920 the High Court building was inaugurated by Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan.

The fruit market of Hyderabad was built in 1935 during the reign of the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan. It was named after his second son Moazzam Jah. There are shops around here where you get excellent dil khush and fruit biscuits.

Bagh-e-Aam, more famous as Public Gardens, is a historic park located in the heart of the City of Hyderabad. Bagh-e-Aam means People’s Park. Public Gardens is home to some major landmarks in Hyderabad like the AP Legislative Assembly, Jubilee Hall, AP State Archaeology Museum, Indira Priyadarshini Auditorium, and the Potti Sriramulu Telugu University.

Taramati Baradari was a sarai (a caravan station for traders and travellers) as part of Ibrahim Bagh, a Persian style garden built during the reign of Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah, the second Sultan of Golconda. The Baradari was constructed on the banks of the Musi river. The tourism department attributes the name to the reign of the Seventh Sultan of Golconda, Abdullah Qutb Shah who as an ode to his favourite courtesan, Taramati, is said to have named the sarai Taramati Baradari.

Osmansagar, or the Gandipet Lake, was named thus after the Mir Osman Ali Khan. It is an artificial lake created by damming the Musi River in 1920, for providing drinking water source for Hyderabad, and also saving the city from floods, on the lines of which Hyderabad suffered in 1908. A princely guest house called Sagar Mahal, overlooking the lake, now a heritage building, the summer resort of the last Nizam, offers the best view of the lake.

Golconda was the capital of ancient Kingdom of Golconda (1518–1687). The most important builder of Golconda was Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah Wali, the fourth Qutub king of the Qutub Shahi Dynasty. Everyone knows this trivia about the fort: the perfect acoustical system by which a hand clap sounded at the fort’s main gates, the grand portico, can be heard at the top of the citadel, situated on a 300-foot (91 m)-high granite hill.

The tombs of the seven Qutub Shahi rulers in the Ibrahim Bagh are located close to the Golconda Fort. The galleries of the smaller tombs are of a single storey while the larger ones are two storied. The domes were originally overlaid with blue and green tiles, of which only a few pieces now remain. The mausoleums of the Sultans of Golconda are great feats of architecture that have stood the test of time.

[Gudavalli]

HMR adopts three heritage structures

The Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) Limited has announced the adoption of three important heritage structures of the capital - Paigah Tombs, MJ Market and the State Archeological Museum.

These heritage structures are to be restored to their past glory and in the process, contribute to the government’s efforts to promote Hyderabad as an important heritage tourist destination, said Special Chief Secretary (Tourism & Culture) Chandana Khan and HMR Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy on Sunday.

They were participating in the prize distribution ceremony of the Hyderabad Heritage Marathon Run. The Speaker of the A.P. Legislative Assembly, Nadendla Manohar, who presided over the function and distributed prizes to the winners, stated that the city had immense potential to serve as an important heritage tourist destination.

BUILDING AN IMAGE

Hence, the government organisations and the corporates should work together to enhance and propagate the brand image of Hyderabad as a heritage city, he said.

He complimented HMR for adopting these three important heritage structures and advised Mr. Reddy to engage good conservation architects for their restoration. “We made an open offer to fund the heritage structures restoration works long ago but we did not get any response. So, we decided to do it ourselves,” said Mr. Reddy.

[Gudavalli]

City knocks down heritage

It is as if all the authorities and safeguards to protect heritage structures simply don’t exist. Structures deemed to be of heritage value are frequently demolished by private developers without No Objection Certificates from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority or clearance from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. The HMDA’s Heritage Committee said that Devdi Mehdi Nawaj Jung, a large site stretching across 4,000 yards in Banjara Hills, notified in 2010, was partially demolished by a private developer in the same year without permission from the concerned authorities. However, the state government has not permitted any construction on the site.

Another heritage structure, the Krishna Reddy Building, located near the Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital in Mehdipatnam, which was notified as a heritage structure in 2006, was illegally demolished by a private land owner. “There are many such incidents in recent times where private owners demolish notified sites for commercial purposes without permission, especially in the old city area. We constantly receive calls from NGOs and others about illegal activities and forward the case to the GHMC as it falls under their jurisdiction,” said an official from HMDA Heritage Committee.

GHMC city planner Srinivas said there’s no negligence on the part of the GHMC. “When such cases are reported, it is immediately attended to. We stop the demolishing work and send a letter to the state government, following which the government will issue a G.O and prevent further constructions at the site,” he said. The HMDA has recently identified 15 new sites, including St Sebastian’s Church, Regimental Bazaar and Vivel Vardhani School, Jambagh (Koti) and sent the list to the government for final notification.

[Gudavalli]

Students cycle and celebrate Gandhi Jayanthi

The Hyderabad Bicycling Club (HBC) conducted a ‘Heritage and Peace’ bicycle ride around Hussainsagar on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi on Tuesday.
Special chief secretary, tourism and culture Chandana Khan flagged off the event and managing director, Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd (HMR), NVS Reddy participated in the programme. Speaking on the occasion, Chandana Khan emphasised the importance of bicycles and heritage while NVS Reddy stated that Hyderabad Metro Rail project was being planned as a “seamless public transport facility” and bicycle stations will be set up at all metro rail stations.
“Metro rail commuters with smart cards can use these bicycles free of cost for going to nearby destinations and leave them at designated places,” he informed. The director too participated in cycling event and stated that an ultra-modern bicycle station will be set up soon by the HMR at the Hitec city MMTS station. HBC chairman V Manohar, who also present, mentioned that HBC has about 3000 active members and that they were promoting bicycling in the city with support from GHMC, HMDA, HMR and some private companies, mostly from IT sector. About 300 bike enthusiasts of all age groups, and a large student population participated in the bike ride.

[Gudavalli]

Chowmahalla thrown open for CBD delegates

The officials of the Chowmahalla Palace have sprung into action to attract the CBD delegates. Palace authorities have decided to open the premises during night time between 7.30pm to 9.30pm for the convenience of CoP delegates. This facility will come into force from October 4 and continue till October 19 till the event ends.

Ex-gratia given to families of victims

The grieving families of two young children, who had drowned in a nallah when they had gone for a swim recently and the family of a five-year-old boy who died of an electric shock in Ahmednagar, were handed over an ex gratia of Rs.1.5 lakh each and Rs.1 lakh respectively by the mayor yesterday.

Young wife sets herself on fire, dies

A newly-wed woman, A Manjula, 22, married for only seven months, allegedly immolated herself on Tuesday night at her in-laws’ house in Chilkanagar under the Uppal police station limits. She died today morning at Gandhi Hospital while undergoing treatment. A Narsing Rao, her husband, is the prime suspect, police said.

Boy dies after being hit by train near Charlapally

An intermediate student, K Kondaloo, 17, died after being hit by a train on Tuesday at the railway tracks between Charlapally and Ghatkesar railway station. Kondaloo, a resident of Ismail Khanguda was crossing the tracks with earphones on, as a result of which he did not hear the train’s whistles, the railway police said.

[Gudavalli]

Heritage conservation efforts get a boost

Unique in its architectural, artistic and religious expressions of traditional Indian culture, the ancient city of Varanasi is now part of a major heritage conservation programme jointly organised by the ministry of urban development, Government of India and the World Bank. The project, called Inclusive Heritage Resource based City Development strategy (IHCDS) will cover the three Indian cities of Varanasi, Hyderabad and Ajmer-Pushkar in its first phase. "We made a presentation on the identified heritage sites of the city at the three-day workshop on IHCDS organised by CEPT University, Ahmedabad from October 1-3," Sachchidanand Singh, the additional municipal commissioner, told TOI on Friday after returning from Ahmedabad. The main objective of the workshop was to discuss various approaches like integration of urban heritage resource management aspects with the overall city development strategy. The workshop was organised in association with World Bank, Cities Alliance and UNESCO.

"We are going to hold a city level workshop in November to discuss the preparation of a detailed project report (DPR) for this purpose," said Singh, adding that CEPT University would provide technical support for the heritage conservation and development. "This project is taking the current ongoing Varanasi Master Plan 2011-2031 in its framework, heritage being the core, as resource for sustainable planning and cultural development," said Prof Rana PB Singh, who is in the Board of expert advisors. Singh is a professor of Cultural Geography and Heritage Studies at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), and associated as a representative from India in the UNESCO Heritage and World Bank project.

The millennia old city, an important centre for religious tourism in India, is also a gateway to the Buddhist circuit. According to Singh, the city has about 3500 Hindu temples as mentioned in various scriptures out of which 1300 are identified and well described in the Puranas. Besides, there are over 1300 Muslim sacred places in the city, which include Mosques, Mazars, Imamchauk, Takiya, Idgah, Imambara and others. Singh had attempted to get the heritage properties of the city inscribed in the UNESCO Heritage List in April 1992 through a letter to the UNESCO. He made another attempt in 2002 with the cooperation of a local NGO to prepare three volumes of heritage properties' inventory covering heritage zones and sites, and riverfront and old city heritage zone. Several attempts were made later too but no proper management plans or structural designs were finalised.

The conservation of heritage sites and properties of the city has also been included in the city development plan prepared under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The heritage components in JNNURM include ghats, temples, old city, sacred kunds, and pilgrimage route.

The city's ghats are wellknown. The crescent shaped bank of Ganga houses 84 ghats on the western bank spread over a distance of 6.8 km. Several rituals and religious ceremonies are associated with these ghats and pilgrims travel from all over the country for prayers, holy dips, cremations and religious offerings. The city is also famous for its temples. Some of the important temples include Kashi Vishwanath, Sankat Mochan temple, Tulsi Manas temple,

Durga temple, Kal Bhairav temple and Maha Mritunjaya temple. Narrow lanes characterise the old city of Varanasi and its rich architectural legacy allures the travelers into the religious and cultural mosaic that forms an integral part of city's tradition. The area comprising of the ghats, the temples and the old city has been identified as a Cultural Heritage zone. The city is interspersed with sacred kunds mostly within the temple complexes or along the ghats. These kunds are associated with religious rituals having tremendous historical and religious significance. Over a period of time, due to tremendous pressure on land, some of these kunds have been steadily engulfed within the built up areas. Even today, many of these tanks face the danger of encroachments or extinction. Some of the important kunds are Lolark Kund, Durga Kund and Pittar Kund. Besides, Varanasi has five sacred territories or Khandas and each Khanda has a sacred yatra associated with it. These yatras include Chaurassikosi yatra, Panchkroshi yatra, Nagar Pradakshina, Avimukta yatra and Antargraha Yatra. Most of these yatras are concentrated in the old city area along the riverfront. According to JNNURM CDP, the heritage areas were classified in three different zones. These zones are riverfront heritage zone, core city heritage zone and Sarnath heritage zone. Most of the heritage properties in the old city belong to individual owners, and there are substantial holdings by the Vishvanatha Temple Trust, nongovernment organisations and charitable trusts. A few tangible heritage sites falling within the riverfront and old city heritage zone such as Manmandir Observatory on Dashashvamedh Ghat, and Aurangzeb's mosque have been protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).The ASI has also declared Sarnath as a Heritage zone. Some of the archeological remains that can be seen in Sarnath Heritage Zone are the Ashoka pillar and its famous lion capital, Dhamekha stupa, Dharmarajika Stupa, and ChaukhandiStupa.

[Gudavalli]

Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, Purana Quila and Charminar to turn pink on October 11

MUMBAI: Delhi's Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, Purana Quila and Hyderabad's Charminar will turn pink on October 11 to mobilize support for girls' rights and create awareness. A child rights NGO will be illuminating these monuments for the first ever 'International Day of the Girl Child.' The NGO has also released the findings of the 'State of the Girl Child in India 2012' report.

The United Nations recently declared October 11 as the 'International Day of the Girl Child.' "The illumination of landmark monuments is a symbolic nationwide call for all to join hands together to support girls' rights. A girl in India faces barriers at every stage of her life including violations of her right to get access to quality education, proper healthcare, and protection from abuse and exploitation. Our campaign 'Because I am a Girl' is committed towards galvanising action to ensure every girl is able to realize her full potential," said a statement released by the NGO.

In 2009, the NGO released the first report on the state of the girl child in India, analyzing the overall challenges faced by girls. The 2010 report focused on lives of adolescent girls in two of the fastest growing social action arenas in the world today__ the urban environment and the space of internet and mobile communications. The third report in 2011 examined the engagement of men and boys towards gender equality in India. The 2012 report focuses on building the human capital of girls through knowledge and skills, aiming to equip, enable and empower girls of all ages to acquire the assets, skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in life.

[Gudavalli]

A big moment for Hyd guys, fingers crossed!

Icomos team to visit sites on October 18

HYDERABAD: The inspection of the Charmniar, Golconda and Qutub Shahi Tombs which are in the run for Unesco World Heritage tag is expected to take place on October 18 and 19.

Experts of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, an advisory body to the World Heritage Committee on Unesco, was scheduled to inspect the monuments on September 25 and 26. But the it did not take place as one of the expert committee members had some problems with his passport.

An ASI official at Golconda informed that they had incorporated the suggestions of a sub-committee on world heritage matter which visited the sites earlier in May. "We were told to repair two arches near Rani Mahal complex besides installing signage boards and clearing the vegetation."

At the Charminar where a key suggestion was to ensure relocation of religious structures in its vicinity, ASI officials only managed to clear water tanks and other small objects. The fountain in the middle received a chemical wash but has not yet been made functional.

At the Qutub Shahi Tombs, the state archeology department has done grassing works near two tombs while also clearing vegetation at a few places. Officials are yet to clear encroachments around the tombs complex. The sub-committee suggested removal of 13 encroachments but just five have been cleared so far.

[Gudavalli]

image hosted on flickr

_MG_9816 by Surya Teja Padala, on Flickr

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_MG_9809 by Surya Teja Padala, on Flickr

[Gudavalli]

Chowmahalla to enthral visitors with ghazals, mushairas at night

HYDERABAD: Taking forward its 'Palace by Night' initiative a notch higher, the Chowmahalla Palace kick-started its Aaena-e-Hyderabad festival on Tuesday. Promising a peek into the culture of Hyderabad, the four-day programme offers not just a tour of the majestic palace by night but also ghazals, qawwalis and mushairas by eminent artistes.

`Palace by Night' is open to all visitors in the night. While the palace hosted a mushaira on Tuesday by poet Sardar Asar and others, on Wednesday, a qawwali programme by Ateeq Hussain Khan Bandanawazi is set to enthrall the audience. On October 18, the palace will pay floral tributes to ghazal maestro Mehdi Hassan followed by performances by Yateesh Acharya from Delhi. Acharya was a pupil of Mehdi Hassan. On the concluding day on October 19, ghazal singer Ustad Vithal Rao is set to regale the audience. G Kishan Rao, director, Chowmahalla Palace, said "We need to showcase our culture to people who have come to the city from across the globe."