“Cultural Activities” is one of the 29 subjects devolved to Panchayats under the Constitution of India. India possesses rich and diverse cultural heritage of immense importance. Recognizing that much of India’s invaluable cultural heritage lies in rural areas, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has conceptualized the Panchayat Dharohar Initiative.
The objective of this initiative is to identify, document, and promote “Built Heritage Sites” and “Places of Interest” located in rural areas of the country, in collaboration with the Panchayati Raj Departments of State/Union Territory Governments.
Another aim of the initiative is to bring grassroots governance at the Panchayat level into the mainstream of the process of identifying, documenting, and promoting the country’s rural cultural heritage. This will foster community ownership, pride, and sustainable preservation of rural heritage, while empowering local communities to protect and celebrate their cultural wealth. The initiative also seeks to provide information for updating the Ministry of Culture’s Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar portal.
Under this initiative, with the active and collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India, and the Panchayati Raj Departments of the respective States/Union Territories, important Built Heritage Sites” and “Places of Interest” are being identified and documented at the Gram Panchayat level, details of which are as below:
1. An illustrated book titled “Kinnaur – Where Gods Walk the Valleys” has been jointly prepared by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India, and the Panchayati Raj Department, Government of Himachal Pradesh, on the heritage sites of Kinnaur district. This book was released on 24.12.2025 at Visakhapatnam on the occasion of “Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act” (PESA) Day.