H@R 290/365
Underground Archaeological Evidence at Bhadra Plaza Ahmedabad, Gujarat
The site in the walled city showcases archaeological remains of an early 15th-century buried palace at the Bhadra Fort. These remains are damaged, ignored and buried under an urban plaza. The absence of comprehensive and inclusive schemes has resulted in rampant insensitive development in historic quarters of core areas of cities.
H@R 289/365
Agra City Railway Station Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Located near Belanganj, and built around 1908 CE, it is one of the oldest railway stations in Agra. It served the Great Indian Peninsular Railway under British rule. Today, however, the station is deserted and very few trains pass through it. It is in dire need of preservation and revival.
H@R 288/365
McLeod Ganj Bazaar Shophouses McLeod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh
Largely destroyed by the 1905 earthquake, the Bazaar was rebuilt using wooden, cross-braced framed structures, with light infill walls, largely single-storeyed, with sloping corrugated GI or wooden planks/shingle roofs. It is therefore essential to conserve or adaptively reuse the few resilient examples that are still surviving.
One of the most urgent challenges is the ongoing, largely unauthorized, construction of large-scale, multistorey, poorly engineered, hazardous buildings that is rampant in all sections of this Hill Station located in Seismic Zone V, constituting a threat to the lives of residents and visitors as well being detrimental in terms of environmental quality. This situation is particularly serious in relation to the various heritage areas provided for in the notified Development Plan for Dharamshala. Most of the surviving unprotected heritage resources of Forsytheganj, McLeodganj and Upper Dharamshala are at risk of demolition and replacement by new construction.
H@R 287/365
Matingarh Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh
One of the 36 garhs (or forts) of Chhattisgarh, this fort was associated with the Pendagarh Zamindars and also belonged to the zamindari of Ratanpur. Mentioned in journey details of British Captain Blunt in 1795 as a beautiful fort on a scenic hill. The first owners of the fort were the Rajgaud, whose status was that of a Dewan. In Samwat 1699, Kalyan Singh, the son of the zamindar of Uproda Himatrai, conquered the fort. The fort is presently in a completely dilapidated and ruinous condition, and the site needs immediate preservation.
H@R 286/365
Solah Rahi Stepwell Rewari, Haryana
Solah Rahi was built in the year 1840 CE by Rao Rudr Singh as a stepped tank for serving water to the community. It is named after the sixteen flights of steps in total, located on all its sides. The tank has symmetrical steps on three sides and a ramp (for cattle) on one side. Constructed in slate, the structure showcases a vernacular hybrid form of jhalar-type stepped pond. The facades are marked with tibari i.e., triple-arched opening (as seen in the image). An old Shiva Temple is located on its banks along with two drinking water wells. The original space has been encroached upon and the structure is in a dilapidated condition. It is likely to be lost due to ownership disputes.
H@R 285/365
Abbey Mussoorie, Uttarakhand
It is one of the first residences of Mussoorie, built in the 1820s, located near the Polo Ground, Murray Pump. It functioned as the Mussoorie Junior School from 1896 to 1906. The building is in a ruinous condition and requires structural stabilisation and detailed assessment. It should be integrated while planning any development proposals for the area.
H@R 284/365
Mahamandir Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Built around 1804-05 CE, the temple is devoted to Lord Shiva. It is made up of stone pillars with intricate carvings showcasing yogic postures, along with frescoes. Despite being one of the major tourist attractions in Jodhpur, the temple is in a poor condition and requires attention.
H@R 283/365
Stepwells in Tuljapur Osmanabad District, Maharashtra
Home to the Tulja Bhavani Temple, Tuljapur is one of the pilgrim destinations of Maharashtra, located about 40km north of Solapur. The town also has several step-wells or Barav dating back to the 17th century CE. Stepwells were an outcome of the ancient ingenious water storage techniques, but today, they lie in a state of neglect and are even used as dump yards in certain places. Fortunately, initiatives like the Maharashtra Stepwells are helping document and revive the step-wells across the state, with the participation of local people.
H@R 282/365
Town Hall Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
Built in 1892 CE, and currently known as Gandhi Bhawan, the building was once also called Victoria Town Hall, as it was built to commemorate the jubilee year of Queen Victoria’s reign. The colonial structure showcases features such as recessed arches, decorative cornices, twin windows, decorative parapets as well as a clock tower. It is presently used as the district library. The building lacks proper maintenance and shows signs of decay and structural cracks in the roof, but fortunately, its original form is still intact. Excessive water seepage is accelerating the deterioration of the materials. Periodic maintenance and sensitive repairs can be carried out to save it from a fatal future.
H@R 281/365
Japanese Army Bunkers Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
The bunkers were built between 1939 to 1945 CE by the Japanese army when they invaded and occupied the islands during World War II. There are numerous bunkers scattered across the island, mainly South Andaman, out of which 75 could be accessed and were a part of the INTACH Listing. These bunkers are made up of concrete masonry and show issues such as vegetation growth, dampness, and deterioration due to negligence by authorities. They are one of the major tourist destinations in Andaman today, yet many are not well kept, and numerous lie in an advanced state of decay.
