Photos: With heritage city status, Ahmedabad races to save icons | Hindustan Times
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Photos: With heritage city status, Ahmedabad races to save icons

Updated On Nov 19, 2017 02:57 PM IST

The crumbling, 600-year-old mosques, traditional markets and ornate homes of Ahmedabad have been named India's first UNESCO city. But Ahmedabad is one of the world’s most polluted cities and despite the fanfare, the old city is decaying under neglect, traffic and trash as the pressures of modern India tarnish its historic legacy.

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The entrance gate of the nearly 200 year old Swaminarayan Kalupur Temple in Ahmedabad. Conservation experts warn Ahmedabad, one of the world’s most polluted cities, faces a mammoth task defending its newly won UNESCO status --its 600-year-old enclave was named India’s first ‘World Heritage City’ in July- as its fragile cultural icons decay under neglect, traffic and trash. (Sam Panthaky / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 19, 2017 02:57 PM IST

The entrance gate of the nearly 200 year old Swaminarayan Kalupur Temple in Ahmedabad. Conservation experts warn Ahmedabad, one of the world’s most polluted cities, faces a mammoth task defending its newly won UNESCO status --its 600-year-old enclave was named India’s first ‘World Heritage City’ in July- as its fragile cultural icons decay under neglect, traffic and trash. (Sam Panthaky / AFP)

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Devotees at the nearly 200 years old Swaminarayan Kalupur Temple in Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad hosts the towering Bhadra fort, the legendary stone latticework of the 16th-century Sidi Saiyyed mosque, and countless relics fusing Hindu and Muslim architectural styles of its conquerors. The heritage tag came despite warnings from some of UNESCO’s own experts that it lacked a convincing plan for protecting its ancient citadels, mosques and tombs. (Sam Panthaky / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 19, 2017 02:57 PM IST

Devotees at the nearly 200 years old Swaminarayan Kalupur Temple in Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad hosts the towering Bhadra fort, the legendary stone latticework of the 16th-century Sidi Saiyyed mosque, and countless relics fusing Hindu and Muslim architectural styles of its conquerors. The heritage tag came despite warnings from some of UNESCO’s own experts that it lacked a convincing plan for protecting its ancient citadels, mosques and tombs. (Sam Panthaky / AFP)

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The ruins of the 15th century 'Tombs of the Queens' building at the Sarkhej Roza complex in Ahmedabad. The pressures of modern Ahmedabad are rapidly eroding its cultural capital. The cramped heritage district was never built for cars, yet today thousands of trucks and rickshaws are diverted through its narrow lanes, streaking stone-carved monuments with black exhaust stains. (Sam Panthaky / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 19, 2017 02:57 PM IST

The ruins of the 15th century 'Tombs of the Queens' building at the Sarkhej Roza complex in Ahmedabad. The pressures of modern Ahmedabad are rapidly eroding its cultural capital. The cramped heritage district was never built for cars, yet today thousands of trucks and rickshaws are diverted through its narrow lanes, streaking stone-carved monuments with black exhaust stains. (Sam Panthaky / AFP)

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A Gujarati language warning notice related to a structurally damaged old heritage building seen in Ahmedabad. Authorities hope recognition from the UN’s cultural body will restore community pride in the but many families that once fastidiously tended to ornate wooden homes in the old city are leaving in droves for the comforts of the modern city outside, tired of shabby living conditions. (Sam Panthaky / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 19, 2017 02:57 PM IST

A Gujarati language warning notice related to a structurally damaged old heritage building seen in Ahmedabad. Authorities hope recognition from the UN’s cultural body will restore community pride in the but many families that once fastidiously tended to ornate wooden homes in the old city are leaving in droves for the comforts of the modern city outside, tired of shabby living conditions. (Sam Panthaky / AFP)

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A heritage home in crowded in by more recent buildings in an overbuilt urban locale of Ahmedabad. Once grand havelis --beautiful multi-level wooden mansions-- are being rented out to migrants and businesses looking for warehouse space. (Sam Panthaky / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 19, 2017 02:57 PM IST

A heritage home in crowded in by more recent buildings in an overbuilt urban locale of Ahmedabad. Once grand havelis --beautiful multi-level wooden mansions-- are being rented out to migrants and businesses looking for warehouse space. (Sam Panthaky / AFP)

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A stray dog sits outside the construction site of an old heritage building under renovation in Ahmedabad. Some long-neglected quarters, sealed off from the outside world by labyrinthine alleys, are well beyond restoration. Many traditional ‘pols’ -- clusters of settlements identified by UNESCO as bearing “enormous” historical value are all but abandoned, the iconic wooden homes collapsing from neglect. (Sam Panthaky / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 19, 2017 02:57 PM IST

A stray dog sits outside the construction site of an old heritage building under renovation in Ahmedabad. Some long-neglected quarters, sealed off from the outside world by labyrinthine alleys, are well beyond restoration. Many traditional ‘pols’ -- clusters of settlements identified by UNESCO as bearing “enormous” historical value are all but abandoned, the iconic wooden homes collapsing from neglect. (Sam Panthaky / AFP)

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A view of the parking lot next to the Swaminarayan Kalupur Temple in Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad’s conservation committee has three years to document close to 3,000 buildings of heritage value to strict UNESCO standards. UNESCO could revoke or downgrade Ahmedabad’s listing to “heritage in danger” should the deadline be missed and the committee fail to show it has slowed the decline and destruction of the old city. (Sam Panthaky / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 19, 2017 02:57 PM IST

A view of the parking lot next to the Swaminarayan Kalupur Temple in Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad’s conservation committee has three years to document close to 3,000 buildings of heritage value to strict UNESCO standards. UNESCO could revoke or downgrade Ahmedabad’s listing to “heritage in danger” should the deadline be missed and the committee fail to show it has slowed the decline and destruction of the old city. (Sam Panthaky / AFP)

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