Conservation and Management of Indian Built Heritages: Exploring the Issues and Challenges

Heritage Tourism has emerged as a catalyst for economic growth thanks to its ability to create alternative jobs, induce developed infrastructures and increase the flow of both domestic and foreign tourists which result in regional as well as national growth. India, a country blessed with remarkable natural and manmade heritages has welcomed this niche form tourism with open arms. However, as a consequence of negligence and lack of proper management skills, the sustainability of these monuments is at cross roads. Improper heritage-awareness, lack of coordination among the stakeholders, inadequate funding as well paucity in understanding the growing demands have further contributed to the sad state. Therefore, conservation, preservation, sustainability and enhancement of these heritages remain the top most priority of the country. Based on the experiences of NGOs and review of major works in the area of heritage management and conservation, this paper puts light on the overall status of heritage sites and
monuments in India and also tries to find out the emerging challenges in heritage preservation in this country. Moreover, this paper outlines major strategic mechanisms required to overcome these constraints to preserve our cultural heritages which are nothing but the true reflection of our rich cultural past.