20 protected heritage sites to be restored, beautified in state

The state government will renovate and beautify 20 Centrally and state-protected historic sites across eight districts. These sites will also be developed as tourist destinations to help both domestic and international visitors connect with the region’s rich cultural legacy. A total budget of Rs 95 crore would be spent on the project.

Nine sites are located in Mahendragarh district. These are Mirza Alijan’s 'baoli', Islampur Fort, Chatta Rai Balmukund Das, Chor Gumbad, Shobha Sarovar, Tripolia Gateway, tomb and mosque of Peer Turkman, 'baoli' at polytechnic, and Mukundpura 'baoli'. A sum of Rs 47 crore will be spent on their preservation.

Other sites slated for restoration include brick 'baoli' (Kaithal), Zafargarh and Safidon Forts (Jind), Loharu Fort (Bhiwani), Lal Gumbad at Sohna, Badshahpur 'baoli' and Sheesh Mahal at Farrukhnagar (Gurugram), Rani ki Chhatri and 'talab' at Ballabhgarh (Faridabad), Gumbad Complex at Tauru and Dehra Temple at Firozpur Jhirka (Nuh), Kesuriya Kheda at Manpur (Palwal).

Tourism and Cooperative Minister Arvind Sharma inaugurated the restoration work project at Narnaul here on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion, he said, “For the first time in the history of the state, such a huge amount is being spent on conservation and promotion of state-protected sites. The initiative will be considered a mark of respect to our past, a responsibility towards the present, and an opportunity for future generations,” he said.

Haryana’s land had always been a witness to history, he said. “Its stepwells, forts, palaces, ancient temples, and havelis are not just stone structures, but symbols of culture, identity and pride. With this project, Haryana will establish itself as a culturally vibrant and tourist-friendly state. The objective is to understand the architectural heritage of monuments, provide visitors with better experiences, and improve accessibility and facilities at tourist sites,” he added.

The minister also announced that from Friday, various competitions would be organised at 75 heritage sites of the state, along with a cleanliness campaign at 33 monuments and 42 tourist complexes. In the coming days, workshops and heritage tours would also be organised to involve the public, especially the youth, so that they could realise their responsibility in the mission of heritage protection.