Himachal State Museum, Shimla in collaboration with Himalayan Institute of Digital Arts has oraganised a Shimla Heritage photo walk on the occasion of World Heritage Day. Heritage walk begin from important heritage building Christ Church, the prominent landmark of Shimla town was built in 1857 and after that covered all the important monuments of the town including gaiety theatre, town hall, post office, Bantony Castle, State Bank of India, Railway Board building, Gortan Castle, Railway Station, Cleremont building, Sanatorium, Cecil hotel, Indian Institute of Advance Study formerly Rashtrapati Niwas and finally end at Inverarm, Himachal State Museum. In this heritage walk every section of society participated including tourists, students, local residents, senior citizens, art connoisseur and were enlighten with the rich cultural legacy of Shimla town by the tour guide.
At Himachal State Museum discussion on the aims and importance of World Heritage Day was held in which Dr. Purnima Chauhan, retired administrator , Dr. O.C. Handa, eminent Historian, Dr. Hari Chauhan, Curator, State Museum, Shimla, Sumit Raj Vashist, founder of Shimla Heritage Walk, senior photo journalist Dr. Amit Kumar, tourist and students took part. Purnima Chauhan briefed about the historical and cultural heritage of the town while O.C. Handa highlighted the importance of built up heritage of the state and role and responsibility of society to preserve and conserve it for the posterity.
Curator State Museum Hari Chauhan told that every year, the world observes April 18 as the World Heritage Day since 1983. It is also known as the International Monuments and site day. It is an internationally recognised day to increase awareness about preserving the history, diversity, and vulnerability of world heritage sites and monuments. The idea behind celebrating this day is to encourage local communities and individuals to consider the importance of cultural heritage in our lives and to promote awareness about the efforts required to protect and conserve it.
He told that there are 1155 world heritage sites spread over in 167 state parties. Italy has 58 world protected sites which is the highest while India stands in sixth place with 40 world protected sites.
