World Heritage Week is annually observed across India from 19th to 25th November to promote the conservation of the heritage and the culture of monuments. The week-long celebration aims to create awareness about the importance of culture and traditions and the need to protect them.
Background:
The World Heritage Week is a part of the promotion activities planned by the government of India to promote the conservation of the heritage sites across India.
Heritage sites in India:
i.In India, around 3691 monuments are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) and among these monuments around 143 sites and monuments are ticketed.
ii.At present, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number (745) of ASI protected monuments.
iii.40 heritage sites across India are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites which include 32 cultural, 7 Natural, and 1 Mixed site.
iv.Recently the UNESCO World Heritage Committee has inscribed the Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana and Dholavira: A Harappan City, Gujarat on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
v.At present Maharashtra has 5 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the highest among all the Indian states and UTs.
Free entry to centrally protected monuments on 19th November:
To mark the commencement of the World Heritage Week 2021, ln exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 6 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules, 1959, the Director-General(DG) of Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) directed that entry to all ticketed centrally protected historical monuments and sites specified in the 2nd schedule of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules 1959 will be free on 19th November 2021.
About Archaeological Survey of India(ASI):
ASI under the Ministry of Culture is the premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection of the cultural heritage of India.
Director-General(DG)– V Vidyavathi
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi