Polishing the past in cities of glass

Known for glitzy shopping malls and towering skyscrapers, Gurugram and Faridabad are now set to rediscover their heritage. Under a recent ambitious plan of Haryana Cooperation, Heritage and Tourism Minister Arvind Sharma, various heritage monuments lying in obscurity will be revived and renovated, and opened to tourists.

Sharma said the state would work towards the preservation of its heritage. After restoration and beautification, Centrally and state-protected historical sites in Haryana will be developed as tourist destinations in a bid to ensure that domestic and foreign visitors connect with the state’s rich cultural legacy.

“Haryana will be developed on lines of Delhi and Agra: these sites will be made into tourism spots, which will not only ensure their conservation, but also revenue generation for the state,” Sharma said.

As per the plan, in Gurugram, Rs 6.77 crore will be used for the revival of the Lal Gumbad (red dome) in Sohna; and Rs 4.25 crore for Badshahpur Baoli. The Lal Gumbad is 400-year-old tomb in the west of the city. It is located in the vicinity of Ansal’s Orchid Estate, and is made entirely of stone. The structure houses a ‘barakhamba’ (12-pillared) hall. It also houses a main tomb, which exhibits hybrid architectural styles from Tughlaq and Lodhi periods.

The Badshahpur Baoli is a 1905 stepwell built by Lala Mohanlal for social welfare — to provide water to the community, and animals, in the arid region. Once a crucial water source, it fell into disuse after tap water became readily available, becoming neglected and a dumping ground until an NGO partnered with the Haryana Archaeology Department for its conservation and restoration.

In Farrukhnagar, Rs 4.54 crore will be spent on the Sheesh Mahal, an 18th-century palace built by Faujdar Khan in 1733, known for its sandstone structure and the ‘Diwan-e-Aam’ hall, which was once adorned with mirrors.

It features surviving painted floral decorations, and a memorial of the 1857 revolt.

In Faridabad, Rs 1.32 crore will be spent on Rani ki Chhatri, an early 19th-century cenotaph located in Ballabgarh. It was built by the widow of Raja Anrudh Singh of Ballabgarh in the memory of her husband.

The well-preserved structure features a central pillared ‘chhatri’ (cenotaph), a stepped tank, and a blend of Indo-Islamic and Rajput architectural styles. In Nuh, Rs 5.32 crore will be spent on the Dehra Temple and Rs 1.50 crore on the Gumbad Complex in Taoru.

Situated in Bhond village, Nuh district, the Dehra Temple, a Jain religious site, was possibly constructed in 1451 CE, as can be inferred from an inscription fixed on the upper portion of the entrance of the ‘Sabhamandapa’ (pillared hall) of the temple. It houses three sancta sanctorum for the three Jain Tirthankars. The Gumbad Complex comprises tombs with walled enclosures, an ‘idgah’ (open-air enclosed space) and a dargah on an uneven, undulating land of about three and half acre. The architectural features of these tombs, which belonged to the local ‘khanzaday’, indicate strong Tuglaq and Lodhi influence.

In Palwal, Rs 2.16 crore will be spent on Kesuria Khera at Manpur village, an ancient archaeological mound. Recent excavations have uncovered artefacts confirming the site’s historical significance, with evidence of human settlement dating back to over 3,000 years.

The minister said the state was spending around Rs 95 crore for the restoration and beautification of 20 state-protected heritage sites in Narnaul, Mahendragarh, Kaithal, Jind and Bhiwani as well.