4 Indian sites in endangered list,says WMF

Built in the 16th century by Balti craftsmen,the Chiktan Castle was a royal residence for centuries. “Prepared for impending attacks,Chiktan Castle was a symbol of unity,strength and community for the people of the region. The castle was attacked several times,but was not abandoned until the late 19th century,” the WMF report says. The royal abode is now in ruins.

Shimla’s civic centre,stretching from the neo-Gothic Christ Church to the Telegraph Office and including buildings like the iconic greystone Town Hall,the Gaiety Theatre and the General Post Office,is a monument to the state’s apathy.

Sitting 14,000 feet above sea level on the Western Tibet plateau,Dechen Namgyal Monastery was built under the patronage of Ladakhi King Sengge Namgyal with the assistance of Tibetan priest Stag-Tsang-ras-pa. “The interior is embellished with wall paintings and sculptures,and it is still being used as a place of worship by ten monks. The monks perform their daily rituals and maintain the building with help from local residents of Hanle,” the WMF says.

The Kothi in Qila Mahmudabad in Uttar Pradesh is an important religious and cultural centre,a traditional venue for many majlises and processions and houses one of the finest libraries of books in Urdu and Arabic languages. But the structure like the other three is crumbling.