The Department of Art & Culture, A&N Administration, in collaboration with INTACH, conducted the Heritage Walk ‘Kalapani Trail’ today, reaffirming its commitment to preserving the rich historical and cultural legacy of the islands while promoting heritage-based tourism. The heritage-walk commenced from the Mazar of Allama Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi, the trail concluded at the Battle of Aberdeen Memorial, traversing several important heritage landmarks, including the Lady Convicts’ Barrack, Government Press, Blessington, and Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya (JNRM).

The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from tourists, students, freelance tourist guides, empaneled guides, and members of the general public. Their active involvement reflected a shared commitment to preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The Department of Art & Culture expressed its appreciation to INTACH, all participants, heritage enthusiasts, and stakeholders for contributing to the success of the event. The Department remains committed to organizing similar heritage initiatives that celebrate the unique history of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and promote public engagement with its invaluable cultural assets.

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Jalandhar Chapter organised a “Heritage and Citizenship Workshop” at Tagore Model Senior Secondary School, Nakodar. The workshop aimed at creating awareness among students and the general public about the importance of preserving the rich cultural and historical heritage for future generations. The workshop commenced with an address by advocate Harpreet Singh, convener of the INTACH Jalandhar Chapter. Through a PowerPoint presentation, he highlighted the activities of INTACH, the significance of heritage conservation and the role of citizens in safeguarding cultural assets. He emphasised that preserving the nation’s rich heritage is a fundamental duty enshrined in the Constitution of India. He also explained the importance of both public and private heritage, as well as tangible and intangible heritage and encouraged students to actively participate in conservation efforts. The workshop commenced with an address by advocate Harpreet Singh, convener of the INTACH Jalandhar Chapter. Through a PowerPoint presentation, he highlighted the activities of INTACH, the significance of heritage conservation and the role of citizens in safeguarding cultural assets. He emphasised that preserving the nation’s rich heritage is a fundamental duty enshrined in the Constitution of India. He also explained the importance of both public and private heritage, as well as tangible and intangible heritage and encouraged students to actively participate in conservation efforts.

In a significant step towards preserving India’s cultural heritage, Bundelkhand University (BU), Jhansi, and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Jhansi Chapter, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on heritage conservation, research and capacity building. As part of the agreement, the university will establish the INTACH-BU Centre for Heritage Management and Conservation (CHMC) on its campus. The centre will focus on heritage documentation, conservation studies, research and skill development while supporting academic programmes related to archaeology and cultural heritage.

The partnership also includes the setting up of a dedicated Conservation Training, Research and Testing Laboratory, providing scientific support for the preservation of monuments and heritage structures. A key focus of the collaboration will be the identification and conservation of unprotected heritage sites and monuments across the Bundelkhand region that are not covered by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) or state archaeology departments.

The initiative aims to involve researchers, students and local communities in safeguarding the region’s rich cultural legacy. The MoU also provides for short-term courses, workshops, seminars, exhibitions and the publication of academic resources to promote awareness and professional expertise in heritage management. The agreement was signed in the presence of Prof.

Mukesh Pandey, Vice-Chancellor of Bundelkhand University, senior university officials, and representatives of INTACH, including Neelkamal Maheshwari, Governing Council Member and Chairman, Chapters Division Advisory Committee, and Rajendra Kumar Rai, Convener, INTACH Jhansi Chapter. The collaboration is expected to strengthen heritage conservation efforts in Bundelkhand while creating new opportunities for research, training and sustainable cultural tourism in the region.

With their distinctive architecture and enduring family histories, traditional Mangalorean Catholic houses are among the city’s most recognisable heritage landmarks. Capturing their architectural beauty and rich history, the Mangaluru Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) released a commemorative book, Album of the Porches: A Photographic Documentation of Mangalorean Catholic Houses at Mount Pleasant, a historic Catholic heritage home, on Saturday. The 242-page book was released by George Albuquerque Pai, managing partner of A Albuquerque & Sons, and Mona Mendonca, assistant professor and HoD of History at St Aloysius (Deemed to be University).

Introducing the project, INTACH Mangaluru chapter convener and architect Subhas Chandra Basu said the book documents a unique architectural tradition that has long distinguished Mangaluru’s Catholic community.

He observed that while many of these homes have been preserved for generations, changing lifestyles have left several underutilised. “Conservation need not always mean preserving them as residences alone. Sensitive adaptive reuse as cafés, galleries or cultural spaces can also help ensure their survival,” he said. The project was led by architect Sharvani Bhat, who coordinated the documentation, and architectphotographer Murali Abbemane. Together they documented 27 heritage homes across Mangaluru, recording their architecture, history and associated memories. Commending the initiative, George Albuquerque Pai described the book as a valuable contribution to preserving the community’s heritage.

“Maintaining these houses is both physically and financially demanding, but I hope they will continue to be preserved as an important part of Mangaluru’s cultural legacy for future generations,” he said. Mona Mendonca spoke about the challenges of documenting heritage buildings. “Gaining access to these homes can itself be difficult. Such projects demand patience, commitment and genuine enthusiasm. It is heartening to see young professionals undertaking documentation of this nature,” she observed. Project supporters journalist Vincent D’Souza, Nayana Fernandes and Sabrina Britto-Hougaard were felicitated. Sharvani Bhat and Murali Abbemane also shared their experiences of documenting the houses and interacting with their residents.

The historic Rifa-e-Aam Club will be restored and developed into a heritage conservation and research hub at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore, jointly under an MoU by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage and Lucknow Development Authority. Under the agreement, one hall in the restored building will be reserved for LDA and remaining space for conservation, research and training. Restoration work will follow the Butler Palace model, preserving the building’s original design while giving it a new use.

The restored complex will have a modern archaeological conservation laboratory and a building materials testing lab. Experts will study lime mortar, surkhi and red lead, which were widely used in old buildings and use them to restore heritage structures in Lucknow and other parts of the state. The project will include a training centre for students of history and architecture and provide practical training in heritage conservation and restoration.

LDA vice-chairperson Prathamesh Kumar said the project will give new purpose to one of Lucknow’s important heritage buildings while ensuring its long-term preservation. He said the laboratories and research facilities will also support restoration of other heritage structures by helping identify and recreate traditional building materials and construction techniques.

Landmark in Lucknow’s History Built in the 1830s by the Awadh nawabs, the Rifa-e-Aam Club was established as a venue for public gatherings and cultural events aimed at the welfare of the common people. It later came under the patronage of the Raja of Mahmudabad, who opened the club to the public at a time when many British-run clubs in Lucknow barred Indians from visiting.

Some places are remembered because kingdoms rose there. Others because monuments changed skylines. Sarnath belongs to a rarer category of transformed human thought. On the quiet plains northeast of Varanasi, where deer once roamed freely, lies Sarnath, now inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its Outstanding Universal Value.

It was here, shortly after attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya nearly 2,500 years ago, that Siddhartha Gautama delivered his first sermon to five disciples—an event known as the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, or the First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma. This pivotal moment marked the birth of the Buddhist Sangha and the beginning of Buddhism as a living tradition that would eventually spread across Asia and beyond. Now, this landscape of ancient stupas, monasteries, pillars, temples and archaeological remains has received the world’s highest heritage recognition.

During the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan, Republic of Korea, the Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath was officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming India’s 45th World Heritage Site.
A Recognition Nearly Three Decades in the Making
The inscription concludes a long journey for one of Buddhism’s most revered sites. Sarnath first appeared on UNESCO’s Tentative List in 1998, beginning a conservation process that lasted almost 28 years. India’s nomination highlighted the site’s exceptional archaeological remains, architectural continuity and global spiritual significance, eventually earning UNESCO’s recognition of its Outstanding Universal Value.

With this inscription:
• India now has 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Sarnath becomes Uttar Pradesh’s fourth UNESCO World Heritage Site
• India ranks among the countries with the largest number of World Heritage Sites globally.

More Than a Pilgrimage Site: An Architectural Chronicle of Buddhism Sarnath is an evolving archaeological landscape shaped over nearly two millennia. Its monuments reveal how Buddhist architecture developed from simple commemorative structures into monumental sacred complexes supported by successive dynasties, especially the Mauryas and Guptas.

Among its most significant architectural landmarks are the following:
Dhamek Stupa
Standing approximately 43.6 meters high, the cylindrical Dhamek Stupa marks the traditional location where Buddha delivered his first sermon. Built and enlarged over centuries, its lower sections display finely carved floral patterns, geometric ornamentation, and Gupta-era stone craftsmanship that remain among India’s finest examples of Buddhist architectural decoration.

Ashoka Pillar
Emperor Ashoka visited Sarnath in the 3rd century BCE and commissioned a polished sandstone pillar to commemorate the sacred event. Its celebrated Lion Capital, now preserved in the Sarnath Archaeological Museum, later became the National Emblem of India. At the same time, the Ashoka Chakra inspired the wheel at the centre of India’s national flag.

Chaukhandi Stupa
The Chaukhandi Stupa traditionally marks the place where Buddha first met the five ascetics before delivering his inaugural sermon. Its unusual octagonal Mughal-era tower, added centuries later, reflects how different historical periods continued to engage with Sarnath’s sacred geography.

Monasteries and Temple Ruins
Excavated remains reveal an extensive network of monasteries (viharas), shrines, assembly halls, and educational spaces that once attracted monks, scholars, and pilgrims from across Asia. Together, they illustrate Sarnath’s role as a pilgrimage destination and as one of Buddhism’s earliest intellectual centers.

UNESCO’s Recognition of Outstanding Universal Value
UNESCO recognized Sarnath as an exceptional cultural landscape directly associated with one of humanity’s most influential philosophical and religious traditions. According to UNESCO, the site preserves authentic archaeological remains that collectively illustrate the origins, spread and architectural development of Buddhism. The surviving monuments, sculptures, inscriptions and urban layout provide an extraordinary testimony to a tradition that shaped the religious, artistic and cultural history of much of Asia. The inscription also acknowledges the site’s authenticity, integrity and long-term conservation under the Archaeological Survey of India.

Layers of History Beneath Every Stone
Sarnath’s story stretches far beyond Buddha’s lifetime. Following the First Sermon, the settlement evolved into one of the ancient world’s foremost Buddhist centers. Emperor Ashoka transformed it through monumental construction, while the Gupta period witnessed remarkable artistic achievements that established the distinctive “Sarnath School of Sculpture,” celebrated for its refined Buddha images and spiritual elegance. Chinese pilgrims Faxian in the 5th century and Xuanzang in the 7th century documented magnificent monasteries, towering stupas, and thriving monastic communities that flourished here. Although many structures were later damaged during medieval invasions and gradually buried, archaeological excavations beginning in the 19th century uncovered the remains that visitors experience today.

Why This UNESCO Inscription Matters
The recognition extends beyond symbolic prestige. UNESCO status strengthens international conservation efforts, promotes sustainable heritage management, and increases global visibility for one of Buddhism’s holiest places. It is also expected to enhance cultural tourism along India’s Buddhist Circuit while encouraging continued archaeological research and preservation. For architects, historians and conservation professionals, Sarnath offers an invaluable record of Buddhist spatial planning, early masonry construction, stupa evolution and sacred landscape design spanning more than two thousand years.

A Living Heritage That Continues to Inspire
Sarnath remains an active centre of pilgrimage, reflection and international cultural exchange. Monks, scholars and travellers from around the world continue to gather where Buddha first articulated the principles that would influence millions across centuries. Its UNESCO inscription is the recognition of ancient ruins. It acknowledges a landscape where architecture, archaeology and philosophy converge, preserving the place where one of history’s most transformative ideas first entered the world