Around 12.88 lakh domestic and foreign tourists visited Gujarat’s four World Heritage Sites in 2024. Out of these, more than 7.15 lakh tourists visited the heritage city of Ahmedabad while more than 3.64 lakh tourists called upon Rani ki Vav stepwell in Patan.
Besides, more than 1.60 lakh tourists visited Dholavira and over 47,000 visitors saw Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park in Panchmahal district, according to data from the state government’s tourism department. In all, a total of 18 heritage sites – including the four global ones – in Gujarat were visited by more than 36.95 lakh domestic and foreign tourists last year, according to the data.
The sites have gained heritage status owing to architecture, history, water management, art, and urban planning. Earlier, the central government had announced plans to create several infrastructure facilities in Dholavira by including it under Swadesh Darshan 2.0. “The Government of India has selected the UNESCO World Heritage Site Dholavira for holistic development under Swadesh Darshan 2.0. A total of 50 such places in India have been selected by the Government of India under Swadesh Darshan 2.0. Among these, two places of Gujarat, Dholavira and Dwarka, have been selected,” the statement issued by the state government on Thursday said.
According to the Union Ministry of Tourism’s website, with the mantra of ‘vocal for local’, the revamped scheme namely Swadesh Darshan 2.0 seeks to attain “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” by realising India’s full potential as a tourism destination. The state government had earlier announced “Heritage Tourism Policy-2020-25” under which it adopted an approach to open ancient heritage buildings, palaces of royal princely states, minarets and forts, which are dormant in small villages and towns of Gujarat, to tourists. As part of this, facilities will be set up for visitors and incentives will be given to the heritage places concerned.
The four World Heritage Sites in Gujarat
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park: It is a mythological-historical city in Panchmahal district and was awarded the status of ‘World Heritage Site’ by UNESCO in 2004. Among the Shaktipeeths in Gujarat, the Kalika Mata temple located in Pavagadh is the third one founded in the 8th century by King Vanraj Chavda. The park comprises Hindu and Jain temples and several mosques, along with citadels, a palace, military structures and water installations.
Rani ki Vav, Patan: Located in the city of Patan in North Gujarat, the stepwell attained World Heritage Site status in 2014. This historic Vav was built by Udaymati, the daughter of Raja Ra’Khengar of Junagadh and the daughter of Raja Mulraj Solanki of what was known as Anhilwad Patan, in the late 11th century. The seven-storey stepwell structure is also seen on the Rs 100 currency note issued by the Reserve Bank of India in 2018.
Ahmedabad City: In 2017, the over 600-year-old walled city of Ahmedabad was declared India’s first World Heritage City. Being a thriving centre for trade since 15th century, an architectural blend of Hindu-Muslim culture, the centre for Gandhi’s freedom struggle, and its opposition to European interference in shaping cityscape are some of the criteria which made the city eligible for the title.
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Dholavira, Kutch: Dholavira is a village located in Khadir Bet of Bhachau taluka of Kutch district. Locals call it ‘Kotdo’ or ‘Kotda Timbo’. An ancient city of the Harappan civilisation was discovered near this village. It was inscribed on the UNESCO list of world heritage sites in 2021, making it the first site of Indus Valley Civilisation in India to be included in the coveted list.
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