Rajasthan’s fading glory: heritage, museums and monuments slowly crumble amid neglect

Jaipur: On the eve of International Museum Day on Sunday, Congress chief whip and Adarsh Nagar MLA Rafeek Khan wrote a strongly worded letter to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, raising serious concerns over the condition of Rajasthan’s museums, monuments and archaeological heritage.

In the letter, Khan accused the BJP-led Govt of Rajasthan of ignoring the state’s cultural and historical assets, alleging that no formal inspection of museums was conducted by senior officials in the last four months.

He said that while Rajasthan’s royal heritage is heavily promoted through tourism campaigns and international branding exercises, the reality at many museums and heritage sites reflects neglect, poor maintenance and administrative indifference.

He claimed officers and custodians rarely visit sites under their supervision, while maintenance remains irregular. Many museums continue to suffer from poor visitor facilities and shortage of trained guides.

Rajasthan currently has 24 museums and art galleries under the dept. At the same time, the department is responsible for protecting 345 monuments and 43 archaeological sites across the state.

Khan alleged that announcements related to conservation and renovation rarely translate into actual work on the ground. According to him, funds were allocated during 2024-25 for renovation and upgradation of Albert Hall Museum, but even after two years, in several cases tenders have not yet been floated. “The situation of other museums in Jhalawar, Viratnagar, Kota and Ajmer is no different,” said Khan.