There are 20 monuments/ buildings of historic and architectural significance falling in the local planning area, 13 are located in Srinagar.

In a bid to preserve cultural and religious heritage of Srinagar, the draft Master Plan has urged both government and non-government bodies to protect and conserve heritage buildings, and ensure their preservation in the urban development through statutory framework.

The draft reads: “The Revised Master Plan provides information on historic buildings, gardens and also buildings and sites of cultural and religious significance, the current initiatives, of both government and non-government bodies to protect, conserve and integrate them into the urban environment and further ways of enabling the need through statutory framework of planning and guidance.”

“It is well recognised that conservation of heritage buildings and sites, and provision of improved infrastructure in historic areas promote tourism development which in turn leads to enhancement of livelihood opportunities for local communities, and hence economic development,” it further reads.

The draft says that the fundamental step towards heritage conservation and improvement of historic areas requires mapping of heritage buildings, open spaces, public/community spaces such as ghats along the rivers and gardens, and also identification of local artisans and traditional markets among other things.  

Heritage protection and conservation at the national level is undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India and at the state level by the directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums.

There are 20 nationally protected monuments/ buildings of historic and architectural significance falling in the local planning area, 13 of which are located in Srinagar. 

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