This is how Jaipur celebrates World Tourism Day

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The World Tourism Day was celebrated with verve and gusto in Jaipur on 27 September. The celebrations began with a 2.5 km Heritage Walk entitled ‘A Walk around the Living Culture of Jaipur’ led by Director, Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, Ashutosh A.T. Pednekar.

The walk began from Ajmeri Gate and ended at Jantar Mantar via Kishanpol Bazaar, Rajasthan School of Arts, Aatish Market, Isar Lat and ‘Maniharon Ka Raasta’.

The Kishanpol Bazaar is a prominent market boulevard named after the gateway Kishanpol. It contains interesting havelis, public buildings, temples and shops.

The Rajasthan School of Arts was established in 1866 as an art college in the haveli which originally belonged to Pandit Shivalin, Prime Minister of Jaipur State at the time of Sawai Ram Singh II. Built in a courtyard haveli style, the building represents a unique blend of traditional and Victorian style of architecture.

Enthusiastic participation was seen in the Heritage Walk

Aatish Market or the rectangular space situated in Tripolia before independence was used as a horse stable by the royals, ministers and politicians. It was later converted to a market with shops on the periphery and named Aatish Market.

Built in the year 1749 by Sawai Ishwari Singh, Isar Lat is a seven storied minaret situated in the Tripolia Bazaar. It was built to commemorate victory over the collective armies of Mewar and Maratha.

The participants also saw some old havelis like ‘Lightwali Haveli’ and ‘Gotewali Haveli’ during the walk. The walk halted at Avaz Muhammad’s workshop where the process of lac making was explained.

The aim of the walk was to highlight the charismatic tuning of tangible and intangible while acknowledging the built and the cultural heritage within the buildings, ‘raastas’, temples and gates of the historic Pink City. The walk was jointly organized by the Department of Tourism; Department of Archaeology & Museums, Rajasthan; Jaipur Municipal Corporation as well as Dronah Foundation.

Keeping in mind the theme for this year – ‘Universal Accessibility’ – an ‘Inclusive Drive’ with the differently abled took place, after the walk concluded at Jantar Mantar. Around 20 students of Jaipur-based NGO Disha participated in the Inclusion Drive.

Two workshops and competitions – post card making for school students and photo montage for college students/ other participants also took place on the occasion of the World Tourism Day . Apart from this various other activities there was also traditional floral welcome for the tourists, Shehnai Vadan, Kacchi Ghodi Dance were also held to mark the World Tourism Day.