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Jaipur’s havelis, bazaars are disappearing. Even UNESCO tag can’t protect heritage in India

When Jaipur continues to draw millions of tourists on the promise of its history, architecture, craft, and traditions, why is its heritage value being allowed to erode?

Jaipur earned a UNESCO World Heritage City tag in 2019 for its unique grid layout and living traditions. Yet, barely six years on, concerns are mounting about the future of its heritage. Prospects of placing the city on UNESCO’s ‘Danger’ list have begun to surface.

In November 2025, the World Heritage Committee flagged a risk to Jaipur’s Outstanding Universal Value, asking the Rajasthan government to submit a detailed report by December 2026 on how it intends to safeguard the city’s depleting heritage.

The concerns are rooted in rapid and irregular development, new construction projects, and expansion within and outside the walled city, which are altering Jaipur’s original grid design. Moreover, the number of historic structures in the city has decreased considerably. Over the years, around 400 historic havelis and many identified and unmonitored structures have been demolished—a process that continues even today.

This contradiction is not unique to Jaipur. Ahmedabad, India’s first World Heritage City, has faced scrutiny from UNESCO. The concerns include commercial development and housing pressures, gaps in the documentation, weak implementation of management plans, and limited technical capacity with the municipal heritage system. 

While the scale and the nature of the crisis may differ, the core issue remains the same. Why is India not able to manage its heritage sites? Who is responsible for protecting them? Between states and the Centre and policies and publicity, is there a genuine commitment to conserve, or just the desire to claim the title?

When heritage becomes a liability

Founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II, Jaipur was built according to a grid plan inspired by European architectural style and the Vastu Shastra. The streets of the city had colonnaded markets that intersected with the central square, locally known as chaupars. This type of town-planning and style was a departure from traditional medieval architectural style and city plan. It was a well-thought-out grid-iron plan which aimed at making Jaipur an economic and cultural capital.

Historically, the 18th-century city is said to have housed chhattis karkhanas (36 industries) catering to crafts such as lapidary, lac jewellery, miniature........

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