Heritage in crisis: Two iconic Jaipur Sites shut for two days to tackle rat infestation

The Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) is gearing up for a significant cleanup operation at two of the Pink City’s most popular tourist destinations, the Albert Hall Museum and Ramniwas Bagh. The cleanup task was scheduled for September 30 and October 1.

If reports are to go by, the decision to launch this operation came after reports of a growing rodent population within the Ramniwas Bagh compound surfaced recently. Ramniwas Bagh houses the Albert Hall Museum, an iconic landmark, and several other structures.

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As per reports, for the operation, authorities will use a trap-and-kill method to remove the rats from the premises. The aim is to tackle the problem with minimum chemical spillovers, for which, pesticide-laced baits will be placed inside specially designed funnels, which will be inserted into known rat holes. The entire cleanup task is expected to be handled over the two-day period.

Heritage site in crisis?

Unfortunately, yes. It’s not just the nuisance of rats running around the iconic site. The presence of these rodents means structural damage to the site as well. Dug up holes, damaged the green cover at Ramniwas Bagh, and damaged parts of the historic walls of the Albert Hall Museum, are some of the problems that the site is currently facing due to this rat infestation.

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What led to the rat infestation?

The increase in the rat population has been attributed to several factors like the proximity of two nearby temples, a dargah, and the presence of numerous street food vendors. For the rats, the leftovers and waste from these vendors and facilities are a ready food source.

The current ongoing clean up project is expected to significantly reduce the rat population in the historic site. Ramniwas Bagh and Albert Hall Museum attracts hundreds of domestic as well as international tourists daily. The site is one of Jaipur’s most treasured sites.

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Albert Hall Museum is located just 8-10 minutes away (3.5 kilometres) from the famous Hawa Mahal. Jaipur’s Johri Bazar is also barely 2 kilometres away from the museum. With these popular tourist attractions located so close to each other, it’s common for tourists to include Ramniwas Bagh and Albert Hall Museum as a part of the cultural tour when in Jaipur.