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Jaipur’s Jantar Mantar is now World Heritage Site
Perneet Singh/TNS

Jaipur, August 1
Tourism sector in the Pink City today received a major boost with UNESCO granting the World Heritage status to Jantar Mantar, Jaipur’s celebrated astronomical observatory built in early 18th century. The decision was taken in UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee meeting in Brasilia.

Talking to the mediapersons, Tourism Minister Bina Kak said, “I received a phone call today from state principal secretary (Tourism), Usha Sharma, from Brasilia that UNESCO has given Jantar Mantar the status of World Heritage Site. This is India’s 28th and Rajasthan’s second site (after the Keoladev National Park), which has been given this status and it is a matter of pride for us and for nation as well.” She told the media that the announcement was preceded by presentation of a management plant by a three-member panel from the desert state before the UNESCO committee, which discussed over 37 sites across the world in the meeting.

Kak said they were making efforts for the past one year to get the prestigious status for the observatory, and had submitted a management plan for the same as asked by the UNESCO committee.