Amritsar is all set to regain its lost glory. The holy city will get Rs69 crore from the Centre to conserve and preserve its heritage character. Announced by the NDA Government in its first Budget in 2014, the National Heritage Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) was launched on Wednesday by the Union Minister of Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi.
Under this ambitious scheme, aimed at preserving and rejuvenating the rich cultural heritage of the country, Amritsar — known for holding Punjab’s legacy — gets its share of Rs69 crore out of total sanctioned amount of Rs500 crore. It is among 12 cities in the country that is to be developed under the HRIDAY. Besides having a lot of heritage sites, including historical and religious, the city’s traditional cuisine, art and craft, trades will also be developed and promoted under the scheme.
“The three-yea long project has been divided into two parts. One part would focus on the heritage sites and buildings including Golden Temple, while another would include traditional cuisines, arts and crafts the city is known for,” a senior official of the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board told The Pioneer. The official said that the project would develop and at the same time promote both sets of heritage. In addition, the city’s infrastructure, cleanliness, roads, and everything would be developed to make it a “perfect heritage city”.
“Some places in Amritsar are very congested, and roads are very narrow. So, the project would give special attention to such areas, especially of the heritage sites. Also, special dedicated streets would also be developed as in to promote city’s cuisines, arts, crafts and trades,” said the official. Known for lip-smacking Amritsari delicacies, the PHTPB has already tapping on visiting food lovers by preparing a scrumptious food trail map for them by chalking out a list of famous eateries within the city.
Right from Guru Ka langar at Golden Temple, to poori-chhole with potato launji, lassi and sooji halwa at Kanha Sweets, special chai at Giani Tea Stall, battered and fried Amritsari fresh water fish at Beera Chicken Hose and Makhan Fish, crusty tikkis and golgappas at Brijwasi Chaat, perfectly crisped kulchas with soft center at Famous Kulchawale, jalebis at Gurdas Ram Jalebian Wale, and not to forget flat gulab jamuns at Sharma Sweets Shop — the PHTPB’s food trail map is covering almost the entire authentic Amritsari food, rightly known as “food heaven”.
Besides its “old, traditional, and popular” flavours, Amritsar’s phulkari, galeecha (carpets), silver jewellery and other products, engraved metal products like brass doors, kalash (vessel), among other things are also trademark of this ancient city. “Now, there are very few left who are engaged in these businesses. Though we are making efforts to save Punjab's art and craft, but the low profitability and fewer returns are driving away the people,” said the official, adding that the scheme is expected to give a new lease of life to the dying art. The project would be completed in 2018, and the cities under the scheme would be awarded with ‘heritage city status’.