Yet another boost for the Indian tourism industry! NDTV, in association with the Union Tourism Ministry, launched a program on Monday to showcase new landmarks and historical monuments all over the country. This initiative is a part of the ‘Incredible India’ campaign. The campaign, titled ‘7 Wonders of India’, aims to explore the seven best man-made and natural wonders in a bid to tap their tourism potential. The year-long campaign is expected to cover all the states. The Tourism Ministry of the Government of India feels that the campaign will be useful in view of the necessity for safeguarding the heritage properties of the country.

            This is surely good news for the rapidly growing Indian tourism industry.

There are quite a lot unprotected monuments in Delhi, most of them moving forward to see their ruins in near future. Surprisingly enough, the government is not taking any active part in preserving these historical treasures. According to the heritage experts and conservationists, the government lacks the required interest in protecting the monuments almost in ruins. 

The hidden tomb set in the lane behind South Delhi’s  Lady Shri Ram College is completely in a dilapidated condition. Even famous historians have failed to trace the founder of this tomb. But the wonderful architecture seems to have been established sometime during the 15th century. If you move further, you will find a similar tomb, also in ruins. Sad enough to inform you that this partially broken tomb is now used for dumping garbages.

The Department of Archeology, Delhi is also ignorant about the deplorable condition of Lal Mahal behind  Nizamuddin police station. Established by Ghiyasuddin Balban, the 13th century architecture is simply a huge garbage pile now. Sources say that  the structure has been taken over by a private party and will be demolished soon.

Only ray of hope is that the department of archaeology promised to make a list of the monuments in ruins. The list will be a compilation of significant landmarks lifted from the Zafar Hasan list of Delhi heritage buildings and the  INTACH listing.