Pinjore Heritage Festival in Haryana from October 5

The Haryana Tourism Corporation is all set to organise the first five-day "Pinjore Heritage Festival" from October 5 at Yadavindra Gardens in Pinjore near Chandigarh to showcase the recently restored and revitalised ancient and medieval heritage of its town and gardens.

Part of Panchkula district of Haryana, Pinjore assumes added significance as it is an ancient place that derives its name from Panchpura, where the Pandavs stayed for a year during their exile.

Built in the 17th Century by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's architect and foster brother Fidai Khan, the Yadavindra Gardens have been restored to their pristine beauty and grandeur by Haryana Tourism in association with the Union Tourism Ministry and consultant M/s Cultural Resource Conservation Initiative. Extensive conservation of the gardens has been undertaken to attract domestic as well as foreign tourists.

Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, Haryana Tourism Minister Kiran Choudhry said: "We are starting the heritage festival to restore the gardens to their original beauty. As restoration work requires highly skilled masonry, we brought in masons all the way from Rajasthan. We are working on the preservation of some of the old sculptures at the ancient Bhima Devi temple. All this has been done to generate revenue, employment opportunities and make Haryana a favourite tourist destination."

A special feature of the cultural bonanza will be a wide assortment of performances. Besides a bazaar reminiscent of the Mughal era that will be created with shops and clusters of food stalls, tented pavilions and an amphitheatre that will host cultural performances by noted ghazal singer Jagjit Singh, Bharatanatyam dancer Pratibha Prahlad, classical vocal singer Begum Parween Sultana, dance ballet group of Daksha Sheth and concert by Euphoria.

Designed on the same pattern as the famous Shalimar Gardens of Kashmir, the Yadavindra Gardens are spread out at seven levels on a descending scale. The complex comprises a central water channel, three principle terraces and palaces -- Sheesh Mahal, Rang Mahal and Jal Mahal -- along the central axis.