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INTACH to hold lectures on Haryana’s heritage

GURGAON: The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritgae (INTACH) will be holding a series of public lectures on Haryana's heritage in Gurgaon and other parts of the state. As a part of an awareness campaign, INTACH also announced field trips to lesser known heritage sites in Narnaul, Rewari and Mewat for students and other enthusiasts.

On Sunday, the organization held first of their heritage lectures in Gurgaon on the ancient Saraswati river. There is ample evidence as to the route the river took through Haryana and passing into Rajasthan, but why did the river start to dry up at around 5,000 BC is still moot.

"The Saraswati, like all rivers, changed directions, changed paths very often. And there is a theory that around 5,000 BC, the river dried up due to volcanic activity in one of tributaries of the river," said Jayant Sanyal, convener, INTACH Mewat.

The tributary was in the Dhosi hills in Narnaul region, and even today the igneous rock formations can be seen in the area.

"People can visit the area and see how the volcano affected the river. It's simply fascinating," Sanyal said.

Places like Narnaul, Rewari, and Mewat, Sanyal said, should be of immense interest to Gurgaon residents, who are living in such proximity to ancient symbols and monuments. "Haryana, in a way, was the focal point of Indian culture and civilization, and most of us in Gurgaon have no idea what riches lie right in our backyard," said Sanyal.

Currently, renovation work by INTACH is being carried out in Tauru in Mewat, where the famous domes are being restored. "Apart from that we are working on the heritage spot, Chuhimal Talaab in the village Nuh," he said. A comprehensive list of heritage monuments, which need immediate restoration, is also being prepared.