World Heritage Week: Telangana hosts Old City walks, exhibitions, cultural events

Hyderabad: The World Heritage Week is being celebrated in Telangana to raise awareness, preserve cultural identity and encourage communities to engage with their heritage.

The Department of Heritage, Telangana, began organising the World Heritage Week Celebrations 2025, in collaboration with INTACH Hyderabad Chapter and Deccan Heritage Academy Trust from November 19 to 25. The events are being held at Bhagavan Mahaveer Auditorium, State Museum and Public Gardens.

Events celebrating the State’s heritage

The week features a series of events including talks, competitions, exhibitions and heritage walks, with a focus on both tangible and intangible heritage.

The celebrations commenced with a heritage walk from Charminar to Chowmahalla Palace for government school students, aimed at introducing them to the Old City’s architectural and historical legacy.

Notable highlights

The week’s activities included a talk on museum reforms by A Nagender Reddy on November 20, followed by a session on World Heritage and case studies from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh by Surya Narayana Murthy on November 21.

A quiz and essay competition for students is scheduled for November 22, and a painting competition and heritage walk at the Centenary Heritage Museum will take place on November 24.

Museum revamp

The Telangana State Archaeology Museum at Public Gardens, Nampally, is set for a major facelift with Rs 30 lakh sanctioned for revamp works, including improved lighting, labels and galleries. The renovation is following a report from an expert team in Delhi. The government aims to bring the museum up to global standards.

Exhibitions and book launch

An exhibition showcasing artefacts from recent excavations at Phanigiri and Chada was inaugurated by Tourism Special Chief Secretary Jayesh Ranjan.

He also launched a book titled ‘Techniques of Temple Construction during the Kakatiya period in Telangana’, which details the engineering methods used in constructing Kakatiya temples.

Heritage walks

A heritage walk at the Qutb Shahi Tombs is scheduled for November 21, providing insights into the historical significance and conservation efforts of the 106-acre necropolis.

Telangana’s observance shows its unwavering commitment to safeguarding historical sites, traditional practices and cultural expressions for future generations.

Organised across iconic heritage sites in Hyderabad, the initiative aims to deepen public engagement, foster heritage education among youth and highlight emerging opportunities in heritage-based cultural tourism.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the events for the week:

Day 1 - Wednesday, November 19: A heritage walk from Charminar to Chowmahalla Palace, specially curated for government school children to inspire early appreciation for Telangana’s architectural and historical treasures.

There was also a well-received talk by Dr D Raja Reddy, Chairman, Numismatic Society of India, on ‘Why study ancient Indian coins. What was their contribution to Indian history.’

Following this was the inauguration of World Heritage Week celebrations and the inauguration of the Special Exhibition of Artefacts from recent excavations at Phanigiri and Chada by the Chief Guest, Jayesh Ranjan, IAS. The book on ‘Techniques of Temple Construction during the Kakatiya period in Telangana (12th–13th centuries CE),’ was released. A talk by Dr D Raja Reddy, Chairman, Numismatic Society of India, on ‘Why study ancient Indian coins; what was their contribution to Indian history.’

Day 2 - Thursday, November 20: There was a state-wide poster competition, challenging schools and colleges across Telangana with a creative challenge centred on the region’s heritage and a talk by Dr A Nagender Reddy, Director (Retired.) Salar Jung Museum, on ‘Museum Reforms.’

Day 3 - Friday, November 21: There will be a water walk at Bansilapet Stepwell, Secunderabad, featuring interactive learning games to engage government school children in understanding the significance of traditional water systems. Following this will be a talk by Prof. GSV Surya Narayana Murthy, Conservation Architect, Kshetra and JBR College of Architecture, Hyderabad, on ‘World Heritage – Concept – Cases of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the context of India.’

Day 4 - Saturday, November 22: A culinary heritage walk is scheduled around Charminar to showcase Hyderabad’s unique food traditions. There will be a quiz and an essay writing competition for School, College and University Students on ‘Monuments of Telangana.’

All the events held so far were well attended. Students who are the future of our state attended in large numbers and were happy to be part of these celebrations.