New Delhi: While the legacy of the capitals of the Mughals, the Lodis, the Tughlaqs right up to the Delhi Sultanate period forms much of the shared heritage of the
city, very little is talked about of the heritage aspect of British capital of New Delhi.
As it completes 100 years of being the capital, heritage experts want to bring New Delhi to the centre of the public consciousness by introducing the concept of heritage walks in Lutyens zone.
Heritage conservation group INTACH has been prolific in using the tool of heritage walks, and has conducted guided tours in past months in and around the heritage-rich areas of Lodi gardens, Sultan Garhi, and Mehrauli, among others.
Now, its Delhi chapter is planning to take the concept to the New Delhi, the last capital in present-day Delhi which has been home to seven major capital cities, dating back 3,000 years to the time of Indraprastha.
In a city which dates back to at least three millenia, 100 years is hardly history. Nevertheless, the youngest capital zone of Delhi, does make for a remarkable heritage in itself.
"As 100 years is hardly considered history, no one has looked at New Delhi from the perspective of a heritage area," AGK Menon, convener of Intach`s Delhi Chapter says.
"New Delhi is now just nearing the 100-year age mark and we need to focus on it as a centre of rich heritage," he told a news agency.
Commensurate to this need, the experts associated with INTACH are preparing the contours of heritage walks in New Delhi.
The British capital, the foundation of which was laid in December, 1911, was planned by two leading 20th century British architects -- Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker – who embedded it with Victorian style grandeur.
PTI
