Making World Heritage Sites Accessible

1、A215Abstract for PaperMaking World Heritage Sites AccessibleMs. Abha NegiSvayamA rich heritage and diverse cultural milieu of India is a heady combination that few have been able to resist through the centuries. The legendary Indian hospitality further offers unforgettable experience to visitors. Th

2、e sites and sounds of India touch the very soul.The number of foreign tourist arrivals is 5.8 million and domestic tourists account for 526.56 million. There has been a 13.9% increase in the number of domestic tourists (as per Indian Tourism Statistics 2007, Government of India). The Ministry of Tou

3、rism is looking at increasing the inflow of foreign tourists from 3 million to 25 million in next 10 years. (as per the A C Nielsen ,ORG MARG report Dec 2007). One can well imagine the footfall at any of the world heritage sites and historical monuments all over the country. It would be wishful thin

4、king to assume that the access needs of all these tourists would be of a similar nature.Like most of the historical monuments world over unfortunately the historical monuments and tourist attraction sites in India too fail to welcome people with diverse needs. I t is a given fact that world over the

5、 physical layout and structure of historical sites and monuments were built in an age and era where much considerations was given to the grandeur that was attained either through lofty staircases or different levels that added to the height of faade without giving consideration to accessibility issu

6、es. .The medieval architecture of most of our historical monuments have long flights of steps, level differences, narrow doorways, cobbled stone pathways. Accessible or otherwise provision of toilets was a missing feature at most of these places. All this and general lack of consideration by default

7、 rendered this collective public heritage inaccessible to the elderly, children and people with reduced mobility. It is a daunting task no doubt, to make such historical monuments accessible and often they cannot be made completely accessible. The surrounding environment and conservation aspects too

8、 add to the challenges. However, one cannot compromise access on the premise of conservation as everyone has equal rights to enjoy and connect with their rich cultural heritage. Reasonable access can be incorporated with minimum intrusion keeping in mind the conservation aspects as well. The Archaeo

9、logical Survey of India has been forthcoming in their initiatives to promote and incorporate accessibility in the World heritage monuments and historical sites in a phased manner all over India. Svayam has joined hands with ASI as Access Consultants and assisted them in making the World Heritage mon

10、uments and historical sites accessible to all visitors alike. But cakewalk it wasnt. The most challenging part was the attitudinal barriers which took a considerable time to breakdown. Consistent Qutb Minar is the first fully accessible historical monument of India and an example that can be emulate

11、d in other historical monuments throughout the country.ASI and Svayam have been jointly awarded the National Award for making Qutb Minar the first accessible historical monument, by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.The paper aims to highlight the adoptable measures which can be replicate

12、d elsewhere and also shed light on a host of challenges which were overcome through consistent efforts.ReferencesIndian Tourism Statistics 2007, Government of IndiaA C Nielsen ,ORG MARG report Dec 2007無障礙世界遺產(chǎn)Ms. Abha NegiSvayam (印度)印度擁有令人興奮的豐富文化遺產(chǎn)和多元化的文化環(huán)境，這些很少能保留幾個世紀。為人稱頌的印度待客之道更為遊客帶來難忘的經(jīng)驗。印度的景點和聲音

13、觸動每個人的心靈。到訪的外國遊客共有580萬，國內(nèi)遊客佔5.2656億。國內(nèi)遊客有13.9%的增幅(據(jù)印度政府2007印度旅遊統(tǒng)計)。旅遊局正預(yù)計未來十年外國遊客由300萬增2500萬。(根據(jù)2007年12月A C Nielsen ,ORG MARG report報告)。我們可以想遍佈全國世界遺產(chǎn)和歷史遺跡的腳印。假設(shè)全部遊客都有相似的無障礙需要只會一廂情願的想法。不幸地，如大部分世界歷史遺跡一樣，印度的歷史遺跡和旅遊景點都未能滿足遊客的不同需要。事實是歷史遺跡的實際佈置和結(jié)構(gòu)興建的世紀和時代把大部分考慮放在壯麗堂皇的建築，因而在建築物表面興建高聳的樓梯和不同地層，而並無加入無障礙的考慮。我們

14、大部分中世紀建築的歷史遺跡均有很長的樓梯、樓層的差距、狹窄的入口、鵝卵石行人路和缺乏洗手間(不論是否無障礙)設(shè)施。這些普遍缺乏的考慮對長者、小孩和行動不便人士造成參觀的障礙。令這些歷史遺跡變得無障礙，無疑是艱鉅的任務(wù)，而很多時亦無法使其完全無障礙。周圍的環(huán)境和保護古蹟加深了困難。然而，我們不能用為保護古蹟而折衷無障礙，因為所有人均有平等的權(quán)利享受和與接觸豐富的文化遺產(chǎn)。在保護古蹟?shù)那疤嵯?，?yīng)可以在造成最少破壞的同時達致合理的無障礙。The Archaeological Survey of India正發(fā)表方案，在全印度的世界遺產(chǎn)和歷史遺跡分階段推動及加入無障礙。Svayam加入ASI擔(dān)任無障礙

15、顧問，協(xié)助他們令所有遊客無障礙進出世界遺產(chǎn)和歷史遺跡。但這並不容易。最困難的是改變?nèi)藗兊膽B(tài)度。古特伯高塔是印度首個完全無障礙的歷史遺跡，全國其他的歷史遺跡亦可效法這個例子。ASI 和Svayam令古特伯高塔成為首個完全無障礙的歷史遺跡，因而獲印度政府旅遊局頒發(fā)國家獎項。此論文闡述的採取措施可令其他地方仿效，並引證了透過不斷努力來克服各種困難。無障礙世界遺產(chǎn)Ms. Abha NegiSvayam (印度)印度擁有令人興奮的豐富文化遺產(chǎn)和多元化的文化環(huán)境，這些很少能保留幾個世紀。為人稱頌的印度待客之道更為游客帶來難忘的經(jīng)驗。印度的景點和聲音觸動每個人的心靈。到訪的外國游客共有580萬，國內(nèi)游客占5

16、.2656億。國內(nèi)游客有13.9%的增幅(據(jù)印度政府2007印度旅游統(tǒng)計)。旅游局正預(yù)計未來十年外國游客由300萬增2500萬。(根據(jù)2007年12月A C Nielsen ,ORG MARG report報告)。我們可以想遍布全國世界遺產(chǎn)和歷史遺跡的腳印。假設(shè)全部游客都有相似的無障礙需要只會一廂情愿的想法。不幸地，如大部分世界歷史遺跡一樣，印度的歷史遺跡和旅游景點都未能滿足游客的不同需要。事實是歷史遺跡的實際布置和結(jié)構(gòu)興建的世紀和時代把大部分考慮放在壯麗堂皇的建筑，因而在建筑物表面興建高聳的樓梯和不同地層，而并無加入無障礙的考慮。我們大部分中世紀建筑的歷史遺跡均有很長的樓梯、樓層的差距、狹窄的入口、鵝卵石行人路和缺乏洗手間(不論是否無障礙)設(shè)施。這些普遍缺乏的考慮對長者、小孩和行動不便人士造成參觀的障礙。令這些歷史遺跡變得無障礙，無疑是艱巨的任務(wù)，而很多時亦無法使其完全無障礙。周圍的環(huán)境和保護古跡加深了困難。然而，我們不能用為保護古跡而折衷無障礙，因為所有人均有平等的權(quán)利享受和與接觸豐富的文化遺產(chǎn)。在保護古跡的前提下，應(yīng)可以在造成最少破壞的同時達