Tourism Awards: Ahmedabad, Mandu best heritage cities
Qutub Minar best monument for differently- abled
New Delhi, Sept. 27: Unesco World Heritage City Ahmedabad and Mandu were Thursday jointly declared as the “Best Heritage City’, while Qutub Minar bagged the top award in the differentlyabled friendly monument category at the National Tourism Awards here.
The awards were presented by Union tourism minister K. J. Alphons at a ceremony held at the Vigyan Bhavan.
India’s first World Heritage City Ahmedabad is well- known for IndoIslamic monumental art and architecture, intricately carved wooden havelis.
Founded by Sultan Ahmed Shah in 1411 on preexisting sites of Ashawal and Karnavati, the city was encompassed by massive brick fortification on banks of Sabarmati.
“Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation is a pioneer in people- centric urban conservation since 1996, with establishment of the first heritage cell in India. This has led to awareness creation, framing of heritage regulations, conservation and restoration of invaluable heritage buildings,” the citation for the city read.
Mandu, an ancient city in Madhya Pradesh, was also bestowed the ‘ Best Heritage City’ award. The citation described the city as a “celebration in stone of life and joy”. “Each of Mandu’s structures is an architectural gem. The glory of Mandu lives on, in its palaces and mosques in legends and songs, chronicled for posterity... Serious efforts have been consistently made by the authorities and local people to ensure conservation and cleanliness of Mandu’s vivid heritage,” it said.
ASI’s Qutub Minar won the best maintained, differentlyabled friendly monument award.
Qutbu’d- Din Aibak laid the foundation of the Minar in AD 1199, to which subsequent additions were made by his successor Iltutmish and Firoz Shah Tughlak. The 73- metre tower has five distinct storeys, each marked by a projecting balcony.
The Archaeological Survey of India at Qutub Minar has made best possible efforts to provide amenities to the differentlyabled at a World Heritage Site.