Rajasthan to Preserve Stepwells & Havelis, Mandawa Set as Model; Air Connectivity to Boost Tourism

Jaipur, January 2026: A review meeting of pending projects under the Department of Tourism, Art & Culture was held on Thursday at the Tourism Bhawan, chaired by Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism & Art and Culture Minister Diya Kumari, with the presence of Tourism Commissioner Rukmani Riyad.

During the meeting, Deputy CM Diya Kumari reviewed the progress of key initiatives including the Tourism Phone App, Amer Master Plan, digitization of archives, media buying, Pratap Tourist Circuit, Pushkar Corridor, JKK tender, renovation of Rabindra Rangmanch, RTICE Board, land allocation for MICE centers, and the Albert Hall tender. She directed that these projects be implemented at an accelerated pace according to established timelines.

She also assessed the conservation efforts of Shekhawati havelis and instructed officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan to develop Mandawa as a model for heritage preservation. In addition, she emphasized preparing a holistic plan for the conservation of the state’s stepwells, encouraging the adoption of best practices from successful projects elsewhere.

The meeting included discussions with representatives of the hotel industry in the presence of officials from the UD & LSG departments. The Deputy CM stressed that easier land allotment, licensing, fire NOCs, and other approvals for establishing new hotel units would enable the hospitality sector to contribute more effectively to Rajasthan’s tourism development. Single-window clearances were highlighted as a priority for expediting approvals.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Diya Kumari said that Rajasthan has already undertaken significant work on the conservation of several stepwells, some of which are completed. She stated that detailed documentation is being prepared to identify additional stepwells for future conservation efforts.

She also noted that work on manuscripts and other heritage assets is ongoing and necessary instructions have been issued. The Deputy CM highlighted that the state is focused on developing comprehensive tourism facilities, improving road and rail connectivity, and enhancing infrastructure at tourist sites.

Emphasizing air connectivity, Diya Kumari said that expanding air routes will make it easier for domestic and international tourists to visit Rajasthan, which will further boost tourist arrivals. She added that measures are being taken to ensure sufficient hospitality units, including increasing room inventory in three- and four-star hotels, to accommodate peak tourist season demand without inconvenience.