Bhopal, Apr 18: In the scenario of changing world, there are some heritage places which remind us even today the age of Raja-Maharaja and Nawabs. There are several heritage buildings in Bhopal city. The good old buildings are still existing here but with a difference. Earlier they were the Mahals of the Nawabs. Now they have changed into two big star heritage hotels - Hotel Jehan Numa Palace and Hotel Noor-us-Sabah.

Earlier, Bhopal, the city of lakes and hills, was a town of Nawabs. We have inherited some heritage buildings from the Nawabs. These buildings have been maintained and acquired a new look. Gouhar Mahal, Islam Nagar, Noor-us-Sabah, Hotel Jehan Numa Palace, Sadar Manzil are some of the main heritage buildings. Bhopal is known for the Nawabi culture, tradition and recognised by these heritage buildings.

The Bhopal Today Team reached some of these places on the World Heritage Day and talked with important persons there to know what they think of the heritage places and buildings.

They said:

Manoj Mishra is an architect. He said he had come to the place to look at the paintings by children on the World Heritage Day. I liked the children's paintings on the heritage buildings. About the heritage places and buildings, I would say that these priceless heritages should be maintained at all cost. The archaeological department should ensure safety of these buildings, he added.

Ms Savita Raje, architect opined that all the heritage buildings should be maintained properly to ensure its identity. On this World Heritage Day, we have organised an exhibition of paintings by the children. Several children participated in the exhibition and the winners has been given prizes too.

Manish Barua is the Front Executive Officer of Noor-us-Sabah Heritage Hotel. He said that the hotel is one of the recognised Heritage Hotels in the country. The hotel building was the Nawab's Mahal. Every day we have tourists here. On World Heritage Day, we used to organise several programmes in the hotel, he said.

Mohamed Anjum, Front Office Manager in Jehan Numa Palace Heritage Hotel, said during the days of the Nawab, the present hotel building was a palace. At present the palace is famous as Jehan Numa Palace Hotel. The pictures and paintings exhibited here explains the history of the palace. He added that on this World Heritage Day, several foreign tourists were staying at the hotel.