Culture Curry To Woo Tourists

To highlight the capital’s rich culture during Commonwealth Games, the government proposes to divide Delhi into 15 cultural zones. They will showcase heritage, greens, games venues and tourist spots. Over a lakh visitors are expected for the 2010 event

Imagine Delhi’s very own Fashion Street, on an avenue leading from Lodhi Colony to India Habitat Centre. Or a heritage walk through the monuments of Mehrauli and Hauz Khas. Flea markets that will be a tourist’s delight and the best of Indian art, not in the galleries, but out on the streets for all to admire. If all goes according to plan, Delhi government will create 15 active cultural zones in the capital to bring alive the variety the city has to offer during the fortnight that will mark the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Anywhere between 80,000 and 1, 00,000 visitors are expected to descend on the capital during the Games slated for October next year. Adding to the crowd will be around 10,000 players, coordinators and officers who will make the capital their home between October 3 and October 15, 2010.

To bring alive the culture of the capital, Delhi government is now busy exploring ways of presenting the city to the visitors. It proposes to divide Delhi into active cultural zones. Each zone will be profiled in a unique manner highlighting heritage, greens, games venues and tourist spots.

The 15 cultural zones across the city will include North Campus, the stretch from Chandni Chowk to Red Fort and Fatehpuri Masjid, Connaught Place, Lodhi Garden to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Hauz Khas, Siri Fort, Mehrauli, Shanti Path, the area between Delhi Secretariat and Old Yamuna Bridge, Ridge Road, Delhi Cantonment and Punjabi Bagh. A zone around Akshardham and India Gate is also proposed.

The location of the Games venues, places of historical importance, locations of tourist interest, availability of ample open space for setting up installations, proximity to existing and upcoming Metro stations and area of maximum movement envisaged during the Games are some of factors being taken into consideration while drawing up the cultural zones.

The common uniting factors that will make each zone culturally appealing would include performing arts shows, food courts, flea markets, exhibitions and art installations. The cultural zones will be presented in the form of active street life.

For instance, Delhi Secretariat to Yamuna Bridge is being considered as one contiguous cultural zone. The various components which make it eligible for the profile include the presence of the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Yamuna Velodrome, Ambedkar Stadium, Gandhi Darshan, the ghats, a portion of the Red Fort and the old bridge in the vicinity.

The green avenues between Lodhi Garden and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is being projected as another zone showcasing the Safdarjung Tomb, Lodhi Gardens, the urban architectural delights that are India Habitat Centre and India International Centre and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium which will host the opening and closing ceremonies.

A temporary Fashion Street may be a part of the cultural theme. An interesting zone being considered that may put West Delhi on the cultural map for the first time is likely to stretch from Shivaji Place to Punjabi Bagh Club. Moving beyond the posh south and heritage loaded Central Delhi; this zone is being seen as an attempt to project the variety in the capital. This zone includes important malls and cineplexes, the Chattrapati Shivaji Park and Shivaji Place.

Cultural Melting Pot

Delhi enjoys a very active cultural life which mirrors the rich and varied cultural heritage of India. It is not difficult to find performing arts troupes representing every nook and corner of India. This rich heritage of Delhi will be actively promoted during the Games

Participating Countries: 79
Expected no. of officials, players 8,000-10,000
Expected no. of visitors: 80,000-100,000

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/