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ASI and State-Protected Monuments
Centrally Protected Monuments
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Ministry of Culture protects monuments under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act).
In Rajasthan:
- 174 centrally protected monuments — second only to Uttar Pradesh (745) and Madhya Pradesh (294) among all states (Source: ASI Annual Report 2022-23)
- These include all 6 UNESCO-listed Hill Forts
- Three ASI Circles cover Rajasthan: Jaipur, Agra (partial overlap), and Jodhpur Circle
AMASR Act 1958 — Key Provisions
The AMASR Act, 1958, amended significantly in 2010 (AMASR Amendment and Validation Act, 2010), creates a two-zone protection system around every centrally protected monument:
| Zone | Distance | Restriction |
|---|---|---|
| Prohibited Area | 0–100 m from monument boundary | No construction of any kind; demolition orders for unauthorized structures |
| Regulated Area | 100–300 m from monument boundary | Construction requires prior permission of National Monuments Authority (NMA) |
Source: AMASR Act 1958, Sections 20A–20L (inserted by 2010 Amendment)
The National Monuments Authority (NMA) was established under the 2010 Amendment as a statutory body. Its mandate has three components:
- Prepare heritage bylaws for each protected monument
- Grant or refuse construction permits in the regulated zone
- Maintain a register of monument agents
The 2010 amendment came in response to a Supreme Court observation (Writ Petition Civil 2006) that 35 ASI monuments had unauthorized construction within prohibited zones — including several in Rajasthan.
State-Protected Monuments
The Rajasthan State Department of Archaeology and Museums maintains a separate list under the Rajasthan Monuments, Archaeological Sites and Antiquities Act, 1961. As of 2023-24, Rajasthan has over 400 state-protected monuments covering havelis, temples, stepwells, and lesser forts not under ASI jurisdiction.
Key state-protected sites include:
- Dilwara Temples (Abu Raj/Mount Abu, Sirohi): Jain marble temples, 11th–13th century CE; Vimala Vasahi (1031 CE) and Luna Vasahi (1230 CE) — under state protection, not ASI
- Ranakpur Jain Temple (Pali): 15th century; 1,444 uniquely carved marble pillars
- Shekhawati Havelis (Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Churu districts): 1,000+ painted havelis under various levels of protection
Heritage Hotels and Their Regulatory Framework
The Ministry of Tourism's Heritage Hotel Classification system creates a separate category for hotels in heritage structures:
| Category | Building Age | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Heritage Grand | 100+ years; palaces, forts | 5-star equivalent amenities |
| Heritage Classic | 75–100 years; havelis, hunting lodges | 4-star equivalent |
| Heritage Basic | 50–75 years; manor houses | 3-star equivalent |
Source: Ministry of Tourism, Guidelines for Classification of Heritage Hotels, 2020
Rajasthan has over 100 classified heritage hotels — the largest concentration in India. Major examples:
- Umaid Bhawan Palace (Jodhpur): Part-museum, part-Taj Hotels property; 347 rooms; built 1943
- Taj Lake Palace (Udaipur): 17th-century floating palace on Lake Pichola; built by Maharana Jagat Singh II, 1746
- Samode Palace (Jaipur, Chomu): 475-year-old palace; now Samode Hotels
- Neemrana Fort Palace (Alwar): 15th-century fort; pioneered India's heritage hotel concept (converted 1986)
See Topic #5 for architectural details of these structures.