Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur is known worldwide for its unique architectural beauty. Built three-and-a-half centuries ago by Mohammed Adil Shah, Gol Gumbaz is said to be the biggest tomb in Asia. Unfortunately, insensitive people are spoiling the beauty of the place by littering the area with trash. They seem to be under the impression that it is quite natural to throw litter anywhere and everywhere. Since conventional wisdom and advice fail to bring any change in the nasty habits of people, steps like naming and shaming such uncivil people caught in the act of defiling the area besides stiff penalties may work well with casual holidaymakers who visit this ancient heritage spot.

It also calls for concerted action by various agencies involved in the maintenance of the monument like the Archeological Survey of India, Department of Kannada and Culture, Tourism Department and, of course, enlightened public pressure groups. Sustained efforts and awareness campaigns on keeping the area of the monument clean and green may bring about a salutary change in the mindset of people.

Better management
In fact, increasing awareness and pressure from voluntary organisations has forced the government agencies to think of innovative ways of managing heritage sites better. One such initiative taken up by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) at Gol Gumbaz has set an example for others to follow.
The ASI conducted a study on tourists' casual attitude towards cleanliness and concluded that the absence of a clearly marked bay or area for tourists to relax, eat and then discard the leftovers in trash bins was the main reason for the mess-up. The ASI then decided to develop a picnic park close to the main structure, with enough space for eating and playing. This novel idea caught the fancy of ASI Delhi bosses too, who gave their approving nod a year ago.

The new, spacious picnic park with many facilities like plenty of water, trash bins, benches, play equipment for kids and parking bay for vehicles near the entrance gate of the monument has proved to be a big hit.
A seven-feet high fence around the park prevents people from sneaking into nearby gardens. With a cosy place to rest and enjoy their snacks, tourists are finding the park a convenient place to spend their time before or after visiting the ancient monument.

Relief
The ASI authorities, worried over the defilement of the Adil Shah monuments for quite some time now, look a relaxed lot with the picnic park providing the much-needed solution to the problem of litter.

According to ASI Dharwad Zone Superintending Archaeologist Dr S V Venkataseshaia, in-charge of monuments in 11 districts in the region, Gol Gumbaz attracts lakhs of tourists from all over the world every year. “Picnic park is one of the many ways through which the ASI plans to preserve the sanctity of heritage structures. Picnic parks will definitely save ancient monuments from possible ecological and environmental damage, as also give the necessary boost to the tourism sector,” he says.

This historic monument is not free from the threat of terrorists either. Hence the ASI has made it mandatory for visitors to keep their belongings in the newly constructed cloak room near the gate of the monument. “Tourists should compulsorily keep their belongings in the cloak room before entering into the Gol Gumbaz area,” says Somla Naik, senior conservator of the ASI, who supervised the implementation of the picnic park project.