No heritage status for Chandigarh or its buildings, says Union govt in Lok Sabha
The statement from the Union Ministry of Culture comes at a time when protests are taking place in Chandigarh over the demolition of a wall at the iconic Rock Garden
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The Capitol Complex designed by Le Corbusier is inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List as a part of the transnational serial inscription ‘The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement’. (Express File Image)No monument in Chandigarh has been designated as a monument of national importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, the Union Ministry of Culture clarified in the Lok Sabha Monday, in a written reply to an unstarred question by MP Manish Tewari.
The city, which is not listed as a heritage city, has also not received any state-level heritage designations under the Punjab Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1964.
The government’s statement comes at a time when protests are underway in Chandigarh over the demolition of a wall at the iconic Rock Garden, a site synonymous with the city’s artistic and cultural identity. The demolition, reportedly carried out under the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, has drawn criticism from heritage activists and local residents, who argue that the Rock Garden—created by artist Nek Chand—is an integral part of Chandigarh’s cultural fabric and deserves official heritage recognition.
The ministry’s response noted that Chandigarh served as the capital of the erstwhile joint Punjab until 1966, yet no local monuments, archaeological sites, or ancient remains in the Union Territory have been conferred protected status under state laws.
This comes despite the city’s reputation for its modernist architectural heritage, notably the Capitol Complex designed by Le Corbusier, which holds a niche UNESCO recognition but does not fall under any statutory protection framework in India. “Only the Capitol Complex has a non-statutory status in a niche UNESCO genre dealing with the works of Le Corbusier,” the statement said.
Tewari’s question sought to ascertain the reasons for the absence of any legal heritage designation in Chandigarh. In response, the government reiterated that while Chandigarh’s architectural legacy is widely acknowledged, no formal legal measures have been taken to designate monuments of either national or state importance within the city’s boundaries.
The MP asked whether the government and administration were misleading the public by promoting Chandigarh’s heritage status without any legal backing.
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