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Punjab to convert palaces into
heritage sites
WSN Network
Some of the proposed sites
Sheesh Mahal and Quila Mubarak at Patiala, Aam Khas Bagh at Sirhind,
Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s summer palace at Amritsar, Dewan Khana and
Marble Baradari at Sangrur, Mughal serais at Shambhu and Doraha, the
tombs of Ustaad and Shagird at village Talania in Fatehgarh Sahib
District, Dera Mian Meer at Sirhind, Masjid Bhagat Sadna Qasai at
Sirhind, the Moorish Masjid, Kapurthala, the ancestral home of Lala
Lajpat Rai at Jagraon and Shaheed Bhagat Singh at Khatkar Kalan.
Chandigarh: In an attempt not just to boost
tourism but retain the rich cultural heritage of Punjab, the old
palaces and forts in the state are on their way to resurrection. The
Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board has identified palaces
and havelis’ across the state that would be restored and run on a
public-private partnership mode. The Tourism Department, Punjab, has
requested the respective departments in possession of the heritage
monuments to vacate the premises so that they can be restored,
maintained and thrown open to the NRIs’ and the younger generations
to get a feel or the erstwhile rich legacy.
While the Punjab government has already signed an agreement with the
Neemrana Hotels Private Ltd for the Rajendra Kothi, Patiala, that is
likely to be thrown open to the public by mid-2008, others too are
following suit. “Among the palaces and old heritage monuments, some
over 400 years old the ones at Malerkotla, Ludhiana, Jalandhar,
Kapurthala, Faridkot, Bathinda and Sangrur have already been
identified to be converted into heritage hotels,” said Jagjit Puri,
secretary, Information and Public Relations, and director, Tourism,
Punjab.
About 200 kms from Chandigarh, the Punjab Tourism department plans
to pioneer the move with the capital of the erstwhile Jind State,
Sangrur. Founded in the 17th century Sangrur remained the capital of
the former independent state of Jind for over a century. Built by
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, the Hermitage (Heritage
monument) at the moment is with the Health Department, Punjab,
running a TB Sanatorium. “The response from the health department is
awaited and the 44 acres at Hermitage will be developed under the
PPP mode,” said Puri. The Punjab government has in a communication
written to the Health Department, Punjab, its intention to restore
the Hermitage to be used to promote tourism in Punjab the reply for
which is yet awaited.
Most of the heritage buildings in Punjab some in dilapidated
conditions are being used by various departments to house their
offices. The over 100-year-old Ladda Kothi, Sangrur, renovated by
Punjab government is presently being used by the police department
for training.
The Tourism Department, Punjab, will also request owners of private
havelis’ to partner the Heritage Board in promoting tourism. “We
plan to join hands with owners of heritage buildings and havelis’ to
restore their properties. These can be converted to two star hotel
accommodation for the budget tourist visiting Punjab,” said Puri. As
an incentive to the owners the Punjab government has plans to work
out the same on 80-20 profit sharing. While the 80 per cent of the
revenue will go to the private owners the balance 20 will be go to
the Punjab Heritage Board towards running costs.
25
April, 2007
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