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Gujarat could be the next international tourist hotspot if plans of Golden Heritage Fund and the state government bear fruit.
The US funding agency is planning to invest in this $ 3.2 million project for a "one of its kind" museum on the Indus Valley Civilisation.
Jeff Morgan, executive director of the agency, said the Indus Valley, despite being one of the oldest civlisations, has not been conserved properly, "Cairo has a national museum. The Mexicans have one on the Mayas. In contrast, the Indus Valley section at the national Museum in New Delhi is very small. That's why w are focusing on this," said Morgan.
"I had a look at the Lothal site and it's not good. Dholvaira is too remote for the project. Vadodara or Ahmedabad are good options with their good connectivity," he said, after meeting senior officials of the tourism and culture departments. He also met State Tourism Minister Anil Patel.
Gold Heritage Fund will also donate $30,000 as challenge grant to Vadodara's Heritage Trust for the Champaner site.
After a five-day visit of the state, Morgan felt that Gujarat's tourism potential has not been exploited. "With its mountains, beaches, places and bio-diversity, Gujarat is hopelessly under-marketed . there is no reason why it should be behind Kerala or Rajasthan. When a small country like Cambodia gets 40 percent of its GNP from tourism centered around the Angkorvat temples, why not India," he asked.
The fund, however, would assist only in conservation and interpretation of exhibits related to the Indus Valley at the proposed museum.
"We might also help in building relationships with all those international museums that have Indus Valley exhibits. Funds for construction would have come from the local government and corporates here, though Charles Correa has consented to design the structure," said Morgan.
Culture Secretary Varun Maira said the government would first sign a MoU with Golden Heritage Fund. "We are very serious about this project. Besides, the World Heritage Site status for Champaner, this project would boost tourism in the state.
"We have had detailed discussions and it's a great idea to work on. We would need to thrash on linkages between various agencies as the Government of India would have to be involved," Maira said.
The proposed museum would be a virtual reality campus, seeking to recreate historical, social, architectural and archaeological aspects of the Indus Valley Civilsation.
"It would be of international standards.
At some stage, we would need to involve Pakistan too, as two of the
most import sites, Harappa and Mohanjodaro are there, " Maira said.
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