The city of Charminar bagged the Union tourism ministry’s first ever “Best Heritage City” award in New Delhi on Wednesday, drawing mixed reactions from historians and heritage activists in the city.
The National Tourism Awards for 2010-2011 were given by the ministry of tourism in several categories. Besides the award for Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh also bagged the Best Rural Tourism Spot for Srikalahasthi and Best Airport for the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.
According to some heritage experts, cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur and Mysore were more deserving of the heritage award. Questioning the selection process, they wondered whether the current status of heritage in the city warrants such an honour.
The tourism ministry officials in Delhi refused to give details about the number of entries received and the shortlisting process. They said that cities were judged on six parameters including facade control of heritage areas and cleanliness; efforts to preserve heritage with local participation; steps to promote awareness about tourism, moves for capacity building including training of guides and; existence of tourism police and security of visitors.
A noted conservation architect requesting anonymity said that Hyderabad would not have fared adequately well on all fronts. “When it comes to facade control and cleanliness, there is much to be done. Despite having a world class facility for training at National Institute and Hospitality Management, our staff are ill equipped to present Hyderabad appropriately,” he said. He also added that infrastructure development and heritage conservation activities have taken place more extensively in cities like Delhi, where the municipality has played a greater role in heritage and tourism. He hinted that sufficient entries may not have come from other cities.
Admitting that cities like Delhi have become synonymous with the term ‘heritage city’ in the country, city historian Mohammed Abdul Qaiyoom noted that Hyderabad deserved the honour. He said, “Hyderabad has heritage that is a product of secular history woven over 500 years. The structures built and the culture existent reflects this. What Delhi is to the whole of India, Hyderabad is to South India. The city certainly deserves the award.”
When contacted, officials of state tourism department who have time and again drawn ire for not doing enough for city’s heritage city, expressed delight over the outcome. Secretary, state tourism department, Chandana Khan said, “Hyderabad was always known for its heritage. The selection was made on several factors including culture. The award will be of big help for our future plans.”