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PMC to provide headphones to tourists on heritage walks
PMC has decided to provide headphones to tourists so that they can hear this narration better and more clearly
As traffic noise and other sounds tend to drown out the tourist guides’ narration during most heritage walks in the heart of the city, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to provide headphones to tourists so that they can hear this narration better and more clearly.
Presently, the PMC conducts a ‘Know Pune’ heritage walk every Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 7 am from Shivaji Bridge near the PMC headquarters and concluding around 9.30 am at Vishrambaug Wada. The heritage walk covers a distance of 2.5 km and passes through landmarks such as Ghorpade Ghat, Shaniwarwada, Kasba Ganpati, Lal Mahal, Nanawada, Jogeshwari, Dagdusheth Halwai temple, Bhide Wada, Bhau Rangari Mandir, Tambdi Jogeshwari temple, Pune Nagar Vachan, Tulshibaug Ram Mandir and Mahatma Phule vegetable market before culminating at Vishrambaug Wada.
Harashada Shinde, head of the PMC Heritage Cell, told Hindustan Times, “During the heritage walk, there is a lot of traffic and other sounds which cause disturbance. People cannot pay attention to the narration of the tourist guide. So, we have decided to purchase a sound system along with headphones for around 15 to 20 people so that they can listen clearly.”
“Such kind of heritage walks are held at Jadhav Gad (Saswad) fort. However, they play recorded information. At our sites, our tourist guides give information during the walks; it is not recorded,” Shinde said.
Five new theme-based heritage walks proposed
While making heritage walks friendlier, the Pune Municipal Corporation is also working on introducing five new heritage walks based on themes like temples, old British era buildings or structures located in different parts of the city.
According to Sunil Mohite, deputy engineer, PMC Heritage Cell, the civic body plans to organise a special tour of notable institutions in the city. Interested citizens will have the opportunity to explore and learn about these institutions, with the civic body arranging for transportation once the tour is established. “We are planning to launch this tour soon and we will provide vehicles to take the citizens,” Mohite said.
The proposed new heritage walks include: Shaniwar Peth – 18th century; Kasba – The Beginning, Somwar Rasta – Temple Town, Shukrawar – Earlier Suburbs, and Gothic Pune – British Era.
While Shaniwar Peth – 18th century will include sites showcasing the 18th century; Somwar Rasta – Temple Town will include temples such as the Nageshwar Temple, Trishund Mayureshwar Ganpati Temple etc.; Kasba – The Beginning will showcase old marketplaces such as Tambat Ali and Kumbhar Wada; whereas Gothic Pune – British Era will feature a lot of British era buildings.
Mohite said, “We are working on the details of the heritage walk routes. We will also check the feasibility of walking or making arrangements for vehicles at these sites for better execution. It is all at the discussion level. We are consulting with tourist guides and other agencies to improve the heritage walks.”
Last month, the PMC had launched a portal at http://heritagewalk.pmc.gov.in to enable citizens book tickets for the heritage walks.
