Delhi heritage glows in Games glory

For heritage lovers in Delhi, the Commonwealth Games have brought along the golden opportunity to revisit its world-famous monuments, especially after sundown. Nivedita Khandekar reports.

For heritage lovers in Delhi, the Commonwealth Games have brought along the golden opportunity to revisit its world-famous monuments, especially after sundown.

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About 17 monuments under Delhi government's Department of Archaeology and another 11, protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), have been illuminated in time for the Commonwealth Games.

The Delhi Archaeology Department completed work on 17 monuments earlier this week, including several lesser-known structures like Bara Lao Ka Gumbad in Vasant Vihar.

After much delay, the India Tourism Development Corporation finally completed lighting in the remaining ASI monuments, with Minister for Tourism Kumari Selja presiding over the inaugura1 function at the Khan-e-Khanan tomb at Bhogal, Nizamuddin.

"As the night progresses, the lighting makes the illumination sharper," said Ravi Pandit, ITDC vice-president (Engineering).

However, as against the promised 'entry at night' to view monuments from the inside, the ASI would not be opening up any of its monuments to visitors during night.

Surekha Narain, who leads Heritage Walks in Delhi, pointed out: "They close down the monuments at sunset. How do we access the insides?"

Director General (ASI) Dr Gautam Sengupta said: "In view of the directions from the Delhi Police and keeping in view security concerns, we are not allowing visitors inside the monuments during the Games. The decision on timings after the Games would be taken later."