Walled City of Jaipur might likely be the next World Heritage Site

The Walled City of Jaipur might soon mark its presence on the world map as Union Minister for Culture Mahesh Sharma recently announced that the city is the next proposed site for UNESCO World Heritage recognition.
Referring to this development, Mahesh Sharma said that UNESCO World Heritage recognition is a matter of pride, which directly impacts the local economy and boosts domestic and international tourism. This eventually leads to building of world-class infrastructure and augments the sale of handlooms, local handicrafts, and heritage memorabilia.

It was in 2015 when the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) submitted a proposal to UNESCO to grant Jaipur the heritage status. Since then, it has been in the list; hope this time it gets lucky.
Jaipur boasts of rich heritage and majestic splendour, and has a blend of history and culture that makes it a very interesting destination for discerning travellers. The planning of the city has also been on the lines of Lahore, Tunis, and Cairo; the unique layout of streets flanked by colourful shops makes for a commendable show of intriguing town planning.
At present, India boasts of having 37 World Heritage sites. Apart from the proposed site, the state of Rajasthan also boasts of having other sites that are already in that list of 37. And those sites are Chittorgarh Fort, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore Fort, Gagron Fort, Amber Fort, Jaisalmer Fort, Jantar Mantar and Keoladeo National Park. So a new addition to the list will definitely augment the list and add to the pride of country.

As per UNESCO’s Operation Guidelines 2017, only one site can be proposed or nominated each year, and this year, it is the Walled City of Jaipur.