Bhuj's Smritivan Earthquake Memorial added to Unesco's most beautiful museums' list; PM Modi reacts
Bhuj's Smritivan Earthquake Memorial added to Unesco's most beautiful museums' list; PM Modi reacts
NEW DELHI: Bhuj's Smritivan Earthquake Memorial Museum has been named one of the world's seven most beautiful museums by the prestigious Prix Versailles Award for Architecture and Design, presented annually by Unesco. Smritivan is the first museum in India to receive international recognition for its adherence to local culture and environmental conservation.
Following the museum's inclusion on Unesco's list, PM Modi praised the achievement, saying, "Smritivan in Kutch is a tribute to those we lost in the tragic Earthquake of 2001. It is a reminder of human resilience and courage as well. Glad that this Museum has found a place on the World Selection for the Prix Versailles Museums 2024."
Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel also congratulated the entire team involved in the construction and management of Smritivan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Smritivan Earthquake Memorial in Gujarat on August 28, 2022, in memory of lives lost during the devastating earthquake that struck Kachchh on January 26, 2001.
Smritivan covers an area of 470 acres on Bhujio Hill in Bhuj. The site features the world's largest Miyawaki forest with 500,000 trees, 50 check dams adorned with plaques bearing the names of 12,932 victims of the earthquake, and various other amenities.
The dedicated museum, covering 11,500 sq m, provides information about earthquakes as one of the most devastating natural disasters. It also includes a special theatre that offers a realistic simulation of the 2001 earthquake experience using sound, light, and vibration, along with a 360-degree projection.
In the previous year, Gujarat's Garba was recognized globally, with Unesco designating 'Garba of Gujarat' as the 15th element on its Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity list. Additionally, Dhordo village in Gujarat's Kachchh district was awarded the title of 'Best Tourism Village' by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
The Prix Versailles Awards, announced annually at Unesco headquarters since 2015, honor exceptional architecture and design on a global scale, with categories spanning various sectors such as airports, campuses, passenger stations, sports facilities, museums, emporiums, hotels, and restaurants.
(With agency inputs)
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