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Saving Srinagar's old-world charm
Published on Sat, Nov 04, 2006 at 08:09, Updated on Sat, Nov 04, 2006 at 08:25 in India section
Tags: Srinagar, Heritage Building , Srinagar
Srinagar: Heritage buildings in Kashmir are examples of a unique combination of Mughal, Persian and Kashmiri architectural influences.
However, due to poor maintenance, most such buildings in the state are losing their beauty. But that may not be the case anymore.
In the city, Jalali mansion is perhaps the only remaining example of traditional Kashmiri architecture.
Famous for its latticed windows, the building is carefully preserved in Zadibal, Srinagar.
The present owner of the building, Iftikhar Jalali, is a rich business man. But even after spending a lakh every year, Iftikhar is finding it difficult to maintain the building.
“The building is over 200 years old. The material used, the panjrakari without nails fixed, you won’t find such artisans available around us who can repair it. It’s very difficult to maintain this building now,” says Iftikhar Jalali.
The banks of Jhelum were once the hub of Kashmir's traditional lifestyle. But now concrete buildings have replaced old classical structures of wood and mud .
However, there might be some relief in the offing. After hectic lobbying from NGOs such as INTACH, the government may now pass a legislation whereby the government will provide financial aid for maintenance of buildings identified as heritage sites in the state.
“We are going to take up this matter with the government so that a proper legislation comes. We also assure the government that we will take care of all the buildings which are of heritage nature,” says the Mayor of Srinagar, Guhlam Mustafa Bhat.
The law would also prohibit any tampering with the façade of the building.
NGOs researching traditional architecture say that heritage laws should be passed without delay because 80 per cent of the ornate lattice-work in Srinagar has been destroyed since 1990.
If steps are not taken immediately, these heritage buildings may just become a thing of the past.
(With inputs from Satyarth Nayak)
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