MP’S HERITAGE SITES EMBRACE ACCESSIBILITY
- Arnabi Mallick
- Apr 19
- 3 min read
As World Heritage Day 2025 approaches, the 'Heart of India' is pioneering inclusive tourism across its ancient treasures
Amidst the sandstone monuments of Orchha and the silent rock shelters of Bhimbetka, a quiet revolution is taking place. Madhya Pradesh, often celebrated for its extraordinary cultural legacy, is now setting a new standard in heritage conservation with a decidedly modern approach—making its historical treasures accessible to everyone.
The state's Tourism Board has launched an ambitious 'Accessibility Infrastructure and Development' project spanning four magnificent heritage destinations: Maheshwar, Mandu, Dhar, and Orchha. Far from being merely a box-ticking exercise, this initiative represents a fundamental shift in how we interact with our shared history.
“Under the guidance of Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav and the leadership of Minister of State for Tourism, Culture and Religious Trusts & Endowments, Shri Dharmendra Bhav Singh Lodhi, we are working to have more of Madhya Pradesh's iconic locations added to the UNESCO World Heritage list," explains Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary of Tourism.
“Our goal is to make these destinations not only more visited, but more inclusive. This is a step towards enabling every individual, regardless of physical ability, to experience the timeless beauty of our heritage."
A New Vision for Ancient Spaces
A closer look at the project reveals thoughtful interventions designed with genuine empathy. The regal Rani Roopmati Pavilion in Mandu—once accessible only via steep stone steps—will soon welcome visitors with mobility impairments. The mystical Bagh Caves in Dhar will incorporate tactile paths and Braille signage, inviting visually impaired visitors to experience the spiritual resonance of these Buddhist excavations dating back to the 5th-7th centuries.
At Maheshwar, where the sacred Narmada River flows past Queen Ahilyabai Holkar's magnificent fort-palace, accessible washrooms and wheelchair-friendly pathways will soon become standard features. Meanwhile, in Orchha, the soaring spires of chhatris (cenotaphs) overlooking the Betwa River will be complemented by modern audio guides providing rich context for those with visual impairments.
The project's scope extends beyond physical infrastructure to include training programmes for local guides and tourism workers, ensuring they can properly assist and enhance the experience for visitors with various disabilities.
A UNESCO Legacy Grows
This commitment to inclusive heritage comes as Madhya Pradesh continues to cement its position as a UNESCO powerhouse. The state already boasts three UNESCO World Heritage Sites—the sensuous temple complexes of Khajuraho, the prehistoric rock shelters of Bhimbetka, and the Great Stupa at Sanchi—with fifteen more sites on the tentative list.
These range from the enigmatic Chausath Yogini temples to the majestic Bundela palaces and forts in Orchha. The list also includes the striking marble formations at Bhedaghat, where the Narmada River has carved white wonders through millennia, and Gwalior Fort, one of India's most impregnable historical fortresses.
Tourism for All
What makes this accessibility initiative particularly significant is its rejection of the notion that heritage sites must remain frozen in time, unaltered even when alterations could make them more democratic spaces.
The detailed project plan, awaiting financial support from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, represents a bold reimagining of what cultural tourism can and should be. Once implemented, visitors with locomotor disabilities, visual or hearing impairments, or intellectual disabilities will no longer need to experience these magnificent sites through second-hand accounts or photographs.
As World Heritage Day 2025 approaches, Madhya Pradesh's initiative serves as a powerful reminder that the true value of our shared heritage lies not just in preserving the past, but in ensuring it remains relevant and accessible to all who wish to experience it—regardless of physical ability.
In the land where every stone tells a story, those stories will soon be available to everyone. And that might be the most valuable heritage conservation of all.
