The Ferozepur Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) proudly represented Punjab at the 16th Capacity Building Workshop, held at the Indian Heritage Academy in New Delhi. The three-day national workshop brought together 56 delegates from INTACH chapters across India. Designed to enhance the operational effectiveness of local chapters, the workshop focused on heritage conservation strategies, documentation techniques, and community engagement practices. It also served as a collaborative platform for sharing success stories, challenges, and innovative approaches to preserving India’s cultural legacy.

The Ferozepur Chapter highlighted its impactful work in heritage awareness, school outreach programs, and advocacy for the conservation of historical sites in the region. Their presentation received appreciation for its grassroots efforts and strong youth engagement. Dr. Anirudh Gupta, Convener of Ferozepur Chapter, said that representing Punjab, Ferozepur Chapter presented the heritage conservation, awareness programs in schools and public participation efforts for preservation of historical sites. The model presented by the Ferozepur Chapter was hailed as an impressive work at the grassroots level. Speaking on the occasion, Deepak Sharma and Gurbhej Tibbi of the Ferozepur Chapter said, “It was an honor to represent Punjab on such a prestigious platform. This workshop has strengthened our resolve and opened new avenues for collaboration with fellow INTACH members nationwide.” The 16th Capacity Building Workshop reaffirmed INTACH’s commitment to empowering its chapters with the skills, knowledge, and partnerships essential for safeguarding India’s diverse cultural heritage.

https://www.babushahi.com/full-news.php?id=203272, May 1, 2025

The government has tied up with INTACH, which is now finetuning the proposal. The group of monuments at Lakkundi, and temples from surrounding places, dating from the early the 10th to 12th centuries CE and built during the period of Kalyana Chaluykas or Western Chalukyas, are in the process of being finalised for inclusion in the UNESCO’s tentative list of World Heritage Sites. The State which has already announced its intent to give the proposal a push, tied up with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) which was fine tuning the proposal.

Focus on key temples
The INTACH has zeroed in on key temples and stepped tanks constructed during the period of Kalyana Chalukyas in Lakkundi, the Doddabasappa temple and Japada Bavi at Dambal, the Trikuteshwara temple at Gadag, the Mahadeva temple at Itagi, the Sri Mallikarjuna temple at Kuruvatti, the Someshwara temple at Lakshmeshwara in Gadag, and the Tarakeshwara temple at Hangal. The Lakkundi group of monuments include the 11th century Kasi Visvesvara temple, the Manikesvara temple, the Nanneswara temple, the Brahma Jinalaya [the oldest temple in Lakkundi and dated to 1007 CE], and Musukina Bavi. But Pankaj Modi, conservation architect from INTACH, said the list may be pruned or expanded based on further discussions with experts from the Department of Archaeology Museums and Heritage based on feedback from other stakeholders. The monuments listed under “Architectural Ensembles of Kalyana Chalukyas” fulfil two of the six criteria which should be met for inclusion in the UNESCO tentative and final list. One of the criteria states that the monuments should exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, two planning or design. The other criteria which the monuments should meet is that they should represent an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates a significant stage or stages in human history; and the Kalyana Chalykya group of monuments meet both the criteria.

Hybrid temples
To underscore this aspect, the INTACH has pointed out that the temples built in northern Karnataka in the period of Kalyana Chalukyas, are vesara temples or hybrid temples that not only combine various elements of the Nagara, the Dravida, and the Bhumija styles, but create a distinctive temple form. In support of fulfilling the second criteria, the proposal points out the temples built in the Kalyana Chalukya regions between the Tungabhadra and the Malaprabha, represent an important phase in temple architecture. Another important element of the Kalyana Chalukya temple complexes are large stepwells which were integral to the complex and the shrine, and some stepwells are larger than the temples to which they are attached to, according to INTACH.



The next step
Once approved, and on completion of an year under the tentative list, the State will be eligible to prepare a detailed nomination dossier for full World Heritage inscription. The other heritage sites already under the tentative list include monuments and forts of the Deccan Sultanate, monuments of Srirangapatana island town, Hire Benkal megalithic site, and Badami and Aihole group of monuments.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/lakkundi-temples-set-to-be-finalised-for-unesco-tentative-listing-as-world-heritage-sites/article69521699.ece, May 2, 2025

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has sought immediate intervention of the state government to preserve the historic Jagatjit Palace, which houses Sainik School, Kapurthala. The INTACH has cited rapid deterioration of the palace structure and artefacts. Constructed in 1908 by Maharaja Jagatjit Singh, the palace was modelled on the Palace of Versailles and stands as a testament to Punjab’s regal past. The site holds immense architectural and cultural significance, with ornate wall paintings, sculptures and historical relics reflecting the opulence and heritage of the former princely state.

The Punjab chapter of INTACH has expressed concerns that the neglect and lack of maintenance have caused severe damage to the building and its artefacts housed in it. Wall paintings have either faded or coming off. Several rare artefacts are decaying due to years of exposure and inadequate care. In a letter addressed to the state government, Maj Gen Balwinder Singh (retd), Punjab State Convener of INTACH, called for an urgent action. “Despite conducting three to four assessments in the past, no significant steps have been taken to allocate funds for the restoration work,” he wrote. “We must immediately reassess the damage and begin the process of restoring cultural treasures before these are lost forever,” he said.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/lakkundi-temples-set-to-be-finalised-for-unesco-tentative-listing-as-world-heritage-sites/article69521699.ece, May 2, 2025