News Highlight
The Anang Tal lake in South Delhi has been declared a monument of national importance through a gazette notification by the Ministry of Culture.
Key Takeaway
- The Union Minister of State for Culture and Parliamentary Affairs visited the mini lake Anang Tal, which is located at Mehrauli, New Delhi.
- It was created in 1052 A.D. by the founder king of Delhi, Maharaja Anang Pal Tomar.
Anang Tal Lake
- The lake is situated in Mehrauli, Delhi and is claimed to have been created by the Tomar King, Anangpal II, in 1060 AD.
- He is known to have established and populated Delhi in the 11th century.
- Anang Tal has a strong Rajasthan connection as Maharaja Anangpal is known as the nana (maternal grandfather) of Prithviraj Chauhan.
- Anangpal II:
- Anangpal II belonged to the Tomar dynasty, popularly known as Anangpal Tomar.
- He was the founder of Dhillika Puri, which eventually became Delhi.
- Anangpal Tomar II was succeeded by his grandson, Prithviraj Chauhan
- Tomar dynasty:
- The Tomara dynasty ruled parts of present-day Delhi and Haryana in India during the 8th-12th centuries.
- The Tomars were the feudatories of the Pratiharas.
- They founded the city of Delhi in 736 A.D.
- MahipalaTomar captured Thaneshwar, Hansi and Nagarkot in 1043 A.D.
- Chauhans captured Delhi in the middle of the 12th century, and the Tomars became their feudatories.
The Monuments of National Importance
- National ancient monuments are defined under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
- The Act defines “antique monument” as any structure, monument, cave, rock sculpture, or inscription of historical or archaeological interest.
- The Central Government is authorised to maintain, protect, and promote the monuments.
- The National Monuments Authority (NMA) under the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, has been set up as per provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites.
- The National Monuments Authority has been mandated to categorise all the protected monuments and protected areas declared as of national importance.
- There are several monuments of national importance, and some historical monuments declared as monuments of national importance recently are:
- Old High Court Building in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
- Haveli of Agha Khan in Agra.
- Haveli of Hathi Khana in Agra.
- Neemrana Baori is in Rajasthan’s Alwar district.
- Group of Temples at Ranipur Jharial in Odisha’s Bolangir district.
- Vishnu Temple in Kotali, Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
- ASI, under the Ministry of Culture, is the premier organisation for the archaeological research and protection of the nation’s cultural heritage.
- Its activities include surveying ancient remains, excavating archaeological sites, conserving and maintaining protected monuments, etc.
- It was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham– the first Director-General of ASI.
- Alexander Cunningham is also known as the “Father of Indian Archaeology”.
Pic Courtesy: Indian Express
Content Source: The Hindu