Jodhpur: The bid to declare Mehrangarh Fort and its surrounding landscape as India’s first UNESCO Global Geopark got a boost after Marwar’s erstwhile ruler Gaj Singh II wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking “intervention and support” for the proposal.In the letter dated Nov 7, Singh urged the Centre to “seriously consider the proposal” and help secure approvals through concerned ministries, citing the “exceptional cultural, geological and ecological significance” of Mehrangarh and adjoining areas. The letter said UNESCO Global Geopark recognition could provide “a fresh direction to the conservation, scientific research and sustainable tourism of India’s geological heritage.”India currently has no UNESCO Global Geoparks. Organisers of the initiative said there are 241 UNESCO Global Geoparks across 51 countries, and recognition for Mehrangarh would place Jodhpur on the international geoheritage map while giving Rajasthan a distinct global identity and creating a model for geoconservation and geotourism.Shiv Singh Rathore, convener of the Mehrangarh Geoheritage and Geopark Initiative, said the campaign would continue. “Mehrangarh is not merely a historic fort but also an important site for understanding the relationship between Jodhpur’s distinctive geological formations, rocks, water systems, geomorphological features and human civilisation,” Rathore said. “The geological conditions of the region have influenced its architecture, traditional water management systems, settlements, culture and lifestyle.”To spotlight the site’s geological value, organisers conducted a heritage walk last month through Mehrangarh Fort and six nearby locations, where experts explained links between local rock formations, geomorphology, traditional water sources and the fort’s architectural heritage.The letter said the proposed Global Geopark status would bring the area’s geological and cultural dimensions together by promoting conservation, research, education and sustainable tourism, while expanding international recognition of India’s geological heritage.
