Six hill forts of Rajasthan, including Amber fort in Jaipur, may soon find a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
The International Council in Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which evaluates the cultural properties for UNESCO, has made a recommendation for inclusion of Chittaurgarh fort in Chittaurgarh district, Kumbhalgarh fort in Rajsamand, Ranthambhore fort in Sawai Madhopur, Jaisalmer fort in Jaisalmer, Amber fort in Jaipur, and Gagron fort in Jhalawar in the UNESCO list, Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch told media.
ICOMOS inspected the sites last year. The hill forts are located on the Aravalli mountain range and are excellent example of Rajput military hill architecture, which are found in palaces, temples, memorials and even in villages.
Built between 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, their mercantile business.
The structural remains or ruins comprises multi-gated approaches through massive and high fortification walls, palaces, temples, memorials and water reservoirs.
These have extensive fortifications up to 20 kms in circumference and exploits the contours of the hills and specifically the river at Gagron, the dense forest at Ranthambhore, and the desert at Jaisalmer.
The nomination dossier on hill forts of Rajasthan comprising five forts namely Chittaurgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambhore, Amber and Gagron fort was prepared by the state government and was sent to World Heritage Centre in January 2011.
The five Rajasthan forts were nominated last year too, but UNESCO rejected them. This year, the government added the Jaisalmer fort, reworked the documents and renominated 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 the officials of Archaeological Survey of India and Rajasthan government.
The ICOMOS in its report has recommended that the Hill Forts of Rajasthan be inscribed on the World Heritage List.
The International Council in Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which evaluates the cultural properties for UNESCO, has made a recommendation for inclusion of Chittaurgarh fort in Chittaurgarh district, Kumbhalgarh fort in Rajsamand, Ranthambhore fort in Sawai Madhopur, Jaisalmer fort in Jaisalmer, Amber fort in Jaipur, and Gagron fort in Jhalawar in the UNESCO list, Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch told media.
ICOMOS inspected the sites last year. The hill forts are located on the Aravalli mountain range and are excellent example of Rajput military hill architecture, which are found in palaces, temples, memorials and even in villages.
Built between 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, their mercantile business.
The structural remains or ruins comprises multi-gated approaches through massive and high fortification walls, palaces, temples, memorials and water reservoirs.
These have extensive fortifications up to 20 kms in circumference and exploits the contours of the hills and specifically the river at Gagron, the dense forest at Ranthambhore, and the desert at Jaisalmer.
The nomination dossier on hill forts of Rajasthan comprising five forts namely Chittaurgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambhore, Amber and Gagron fort was prepared by the state government and was sent to World Heritage Centre in January 2011.
The five Rajasthan forts were nominated last year too, but UNESCO rejected them. This year, the government added the Jaisalmer fort, reworked the documents and renominated 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 the officials of Archaeological Survey of India and Rajasthan government.
The ICOMOS in its report has recommended that the Hill Forts of Rajasthan be inscribed on the World Heritage List.