President Pranab Mukherjee is likely to visit a 150-year-old painstakingly restored 'haveli' in Old Delhi, an event that will send out an important message for heritage preservation in the country.
Union Minister and heritage connoisseur Vijay Goel, owner of the iconic 'Haveli Dharampura' in the Walled City, on Friday said he has "extended an invite" to the president, who has "shown interest" in visiting the place.
Nestled in a narrow by-lane of the city, the three- storied mansion in Gali Guliyan, a stone's throw from the historic Jama Masjid, underwent six years of painstaking restoration that ended in January 2016. It is now a heritage hotel.
"If he (president) visits the place, it will not just send out a message about preserving our architectural heritage in Delhi, but in the entire country," Goel told reporters during a press interaction here.
The Union Minister, who is author of 'Delhi, the Emperor's City: Rediscovering Chandni Chowk and Its Environs', and is known for his penchant for heritage, said, if he had to choose between politics and heritage, he would pick the latter.
"We had sent the invitation to the president sometime back, and he did accept our invite. He was to come on June 20, but the date fell during the Ramzaan period. His (president's) office wrote to us, saying his visit during the festive period could affect movement of people in the area, so it was decided to change the plan," he said.