The proposal covers historic havelis and heritage properties spread across 14 towns of the Shekhawati region, Alsisar, Bissau, Chirawa, Churu, Dundlod, Fatehpur, Jhunjhunu, Khetri, Laxmangarh, Mandawa, Mahansar, Nawalgarh, Ramgarh and Sikar.
The Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ms. Diya Kumari said that the inclusion was an important milestone in the state’s efforts to secure international recognition for Shekhawati’s architectural and cultural heritage.
“The inclusion of Shekhawati’s historic havelis in the UNESCO Tentative List is a matter of pride for Rajasthan. It strengthens our efforts to preserve this extraordinary heritage and present it to the world, while also creating new opportunities for heritage tourism and local communities,” she said.
Kumari said the Rajasthan government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma and with the support of Union Culture and Tourism Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, has been working towards the conservation, restoration and international promotion of cultural heritage of the state.
Located in northeastern Rajasthan, the Shekhawati region is known for its large concentration of elaborately painted havelis built mainly by merchant families. The buildings are characterized by ornate façades, courtyards, gateways and interiors decorated with detailed frescoes.
The murals provide a visual record of social and cultural history of the region and cover subjects ranging from religious and mythological themes to portraits, everyday life, flora and fauna and traditional motifs.
Several paintings also reflect technological and cultural changes that reached the region during the 19th and early 20th centuries, documenting new forms of transport, changing lifestyles and outside influences.
The scale, concentration and diversity of the painted mansions have given Shekhawati a distinct identity within the architectural landscape of Rajasthan and made towns such as Mandawa, Nawalgarh and Fatehpur important destinations on the heritage tourism circuit of the state.
Inclusion on UNESCO Tentative List is a preliminary stage in the process for securing World Heritage status. Countries are required to place properties on their tentative lists before they can be considered for formal nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The development is expected to give further impetus to the documentation, conservation, restoration and sustainable management of historic buildings in Shekhawati.
It will also strengthen the positioning of the region in the international heritage tourism market by drawing attention to its painted mansions, traditional streetscapes and historic settlements.
The Government of Rajasthan is looking to use the recognition to promote heritage conservation alongside sustainable tourism development and generate greater economic opportunities for local communities associated with tourism, crafts and heritage-related services.
The inclusion of the Shekhawati havelis in the Tentative List also adds to Rajasthan’s efforts to expand global recognition of its built and cultural heritage beyond its already established forts, palaces and historic cities.
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