Balvinder SINGH and Gunjan DHIMAN
There are more than 3000 historic towns and cities in India. These can be classified into different categories such as historic, religious & princely capitals. Many of them still possess both Tangible and Intangible components of heritage. Tangible components and Intangible components have close relation. In other words, Intangible components such as values, life styles, way of life, traditional culture and so on, are the result of the tangible heritage i.e. the traditional areas and towns especially of the medieval period.
This importance has been realized at the international level, which is evident, if we go through the conservation movement at the international level in terms of various characters. How the shift from individual buildings to site and then to urban areas and historic towns is the evidence of increasing awareness and relevance at area level?
But the situation is still not bright in case of Indian historic towns and cities. Most of the towns either do not have master plans or the plans lack conservation aspect. This paper will identify the various categories of such towns, existing legislation from conservation angle on the one hand. On the other hand, it will evaluate a case of such a town or a city and its master plan in terms of Integrated Conservation and Management Planning.