Union Minister for Culture Chandresh Kumari Katoch yesterday unveiled the World Heritage Plaque at the Chittaurgarh Fort in Rajasthan and released brochures on the fort in Hindi and English.
Chittaurgarh Fort is one of the six hill forts of Rajasthan recently inscribed in the World Heritage List by the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The selection was approved in June 2013 in the 37th Session of the committee.
Union Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Girija Vyas was also present on the occasion.
Both the Ministers also jointly inaugurated the restored topkhana and a photo exhibition in Kumbha Palace on the occasion.
Ms Katoch said the hill forts of Rajasthan were a serial nomination consisting of six sites located on rocky outcrops of the Aravalli mountain range. They represent Rajput military hill architecture, which are exceptional examples of centres of Rajput power and control, are reflections of courtly culture and patronage of arts and music, their mercantile business, and so on.
The structural remains/ruins range from 8th to 19th century A.D. and comprise multi-gated approaches through massive and high fortification walls, palaces, temples, memorials and water reservoirs. The extensive fortifications – up to 20 kilometres in circumference – exploit the contours of the hills, and specifically the river at Gagron, the dense forest at Ranthambhore, and the desert at Jaisalmer.
Ms Katoch lauded the people of Rajasthan for preserving the rich cultural heritage of the country for centuries and said both international and domestic tourists always list Rajasthan as their preferred destination.
src: netindian.in/news/2013/09/17/00026013/katoch-unveils-world-heritage-plaque-chitaurgarh-fort-rajasthan