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India is a land of great diversity - in culture, people and languages. The history of India, which can be traced back to the ancient times, is rich and stimulating. A large number of heritage monuments from past centuries still stand tall, as testimony to our glorious past.
With the objective of protecting, preserving and promoting this glorious past, IndianOil, in the year 2000, created a non-profit trust, the IndianOil Foundation (IOF), in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the National Culture Fund of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Exclusively funded by IndianOil, the Foundation aims to adopt at least one Heritage site in every State and Union Territory for Development of Tourist Infrastructure Facilities.
Vision and Mission of IOF:
(a) Vision
• To protect, preserve and promote the National Heritage in collaboration with ASI and NCF of the Government of India.
• To promote awareness, knowledge and involvement in our National Heritage and Culture in association with Government as well as Non-Government organizations of repute.
• To undertake any other activity associated with, and in consonance of these objectives.
(b) Mission
To help enrich the quality of life of the community and preserve ecological balance and heritage through a h4 environment conscience.
IOF Trustees
• Hon'ble Minister, Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development Entrepreneurship, Government of India - Trustee Chairman
• Secretary, P&NG, Government of India
• Additional Secretary, P&NG, Government of India
• Director General, ASI
• Chairman, IndianOil
• Director (HR), IndianOil - Trustee Secretary
• Member Secretary, National Culture Fund - Co-opted member
Swatantrya Jyot Swatantrya Jyot was erected by The IndianOil Foundation at the Cellular Jail in Port Blair as a lasting tribute to commemorate the sacrifices made by the Freedom Fighters in exile as political prisoners at the Cellular Jail at Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This Jyot is a permanently lit flame inside the premises of Cellular Jail, with the help of LPG supplied by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. free of cost for this project.
The Jyot was unveiled in the premises of the Cellular Jail in Port Blair on May 28, 2016.
Sun Temple, Konark, Odisha
Built in 13th century, Sun Temple at Konark is about 35 kilometres from Puri. The temple is attributed to king Narasingha Deva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty about 1250 CE.
Built in the Kalinga style of architecture, the temple is structured like a chariot with twelve large wheels and seven horses all carved from stone, considered the chariot of Sun God as per the Vedic traditions. The three meters wide, wheels are not only beautifully carved; they also serve as sun-dials that can be used to tell the time of day. The seven horses represent the seven days of the week. The temple has exquisite, intricate and eye-catching sculptures all around it.
In 1984, Sun Temple Konark was declared a UNESCO world heritage site.
The IndianOil Foundation has developed World Class Tourist Infrastructure facilities at Konark which were inaugurated on 01st April 2018.
The facilities were made operational in march 2018 and are being visited by national and international visitors regularly.
The facilities include :-
(A) Arka KshetraState-of-the-art fully air-conditioned Interpretation Centre with
(a) 5 display galleries that have medieval engineering concepts of Sun Temple, Konark with historical interpretation and archive literature; scale model of the original Sun Temple, Konark and its current state; various sculpture models inspired by the wealth of architectural specimens in Sun Temple complex and artifacts & handicrafts of Odisha.
(b) Sculptures of Sun Temple, Konark with individual detailing, recreated by famous sculptors Padma Vibhushan, Shri Raghunath Mahapatra and Shri Bijaya Nayak.
c) A 15 minute animation movie depicting the mythology and history of Sun Temple, Konark, in a specially designed, air conditioned auditorium with a capacity of 65 people.
(A) Main Avenue: Pathway (Paver Block) with landscaping, water bodies & sandstone pattern flooring leading from outer Ring Road towards Sun Temple.
(B) Drop-out Point : Public amenities with toilet blocks and parking for about 75 cars in an area of 2.5 acres.
(C) Parking Facility: (a) Car parking facility at drop-off point for about 75 cars
(b) Bus parking at main parking facility for about 50 buses with drivers' facility block
(c) 2-3 wheeler parking facility for approx. 120 vehicles
(D) Public Conveniences : Available at Interpretation Centre / Drop Off Point / Main Parking
(E) Cafeteria : Operated by a renowned hotel group
(F) Baby Care Centre, provision of wheel chair facility
(G) Landscaping, electrification with street lights & high mast lights at major locations
Ongoing projects The Foundation is currently developing tourist infrastructure facilities at the following World/ National Heritage sites:
• Kanheri Caves, Mumbai
• The Ashokan Pillar, Kolhua (Vaishali), Bihar
• Khajuraho Group of Temples , Madhya Pradesh
• Bhoganandishwara Temple, Bengaluru
Other projects
The Foundation has also undertaken works at following Non-ASI sites:
• Development of Coffee Table Book and Documentary Film on Cellular Jail, Port Blair.
• Development of Ganga Ghat at Khajekhalan Ghat, Patna Sahib, Bihar
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Details of Ongoing projects
Kanheri Caves, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Kanheri Caves are a group of caves and rock-cut monuments cut into a massive basalt in the forests of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. They comprise Buddhist sculptures and relief carvings, paintings and inscriptions, dating from the 1st century BCE to the 10th century CE.
The cave complex has 109 caves, carved from the basalt rock, dating from the 1st century BCE to the 10th century CE. Kanheri comes from the Sanskrit Krishnagiri, which means black mountain.
Each cave has a stone plinth that functioned as a bed. A congregation hall with huge stone pillars contains a stupa (a Buddhist shrine). Rock-cut channels above the caves fed rainwater into cisterns, which provided the complex with water.
Facilities Provided by The Foundation:-
a) Entrance Gate & modification of high stairways with additional ramp for differently-abled
b) Ticket Counter & luggage room building
c) Interpretation Centre with Audio-Visual Auditorium, Display Gallery
d) Cafeteria Building with facilitated viewing platform on top
e) Multipurpose Hall
f) Installation of Deep Tube Well
g) DG Sets, 20 KW Solar Power System
h) Toilet Block
i) Signages, Pathways, Sit-outs & Landscaping
The project is in stage of completion.
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The Ashokan Pillar, Kolhua, Vaishali, Bihar
The Ashokan Pillar locally known as Bhim Sen Ki Lathi is about 12 meters high. It is built of monolithic sandstone column surmounted with a lion capital. It is one of the earliest six monolithic pillars erected by emperor Ashoka. Buddha is said to have delivered his last sermon at Kolhua. There are about 330 votive stupas around the main stupa with variant shapes and designs.
Facilities Provided:
a) Ticket Counter & Publication Counter building
b) Interpretation Centre with Audio-Visual Auditorium
c) Display Galleries
d) Cafeteria
e) Toilet Block
f) DG set and Solar System,
g) Signages, Sit-outs, Landscaping, Pathways etc.
The project is in stage of completion.
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Khajuraho Group of Temples, Madhya Pradesh
The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a group of Hindu temples in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh. The temples are famous for their Nagara-style architectural symbolism.
Most Khajuraho temples were built between 950 and 1050 by the Chandela dynasty. Historical records note that the Khajuraho temple site had 85 temples by the 12th century, spread over 20 square kilometers. Of these, only about 25 temples have survived, spread over 6 square kilometers. Of the various surviving temples, the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is decorated with a profusion of sculptures with intricate details, symbolism and expressiveness of ancient Indian art..
The temples in Khajuraho are broadly divided into three parts : The Western Group, The Eastern group and The Southern Group.
In the year 1986, UNESCO recognized Khajuraho as a World Heritage Site for its "human creativity".
Development of following facilities are in progress:
a) Western Group of Temples
• Main Entrance, Parking, Main Avenue, Cafeteria
• Landscaping & Pathways, Ticket Counter & Publication Counter building
• Interpretation Centre with Audio-Visual Auditorium, Display Galleries
• Toilet Block, Signage and Sit-outs
• Entry Gate to Monument with modified Boundary Wall having Security Cabin
• De-silting and beautification of Shiv Sagar Lake contiguous to Project Site
b) Eastern Group of Temples - Parking, Landscaping and Wide Pathways for Battery Operated Vehicles, Security Cabin with Ticket Counter, Toilet Block, Signage, Drinking Water etc.
c) Southern Group of Temples - Landscaping, Pathways, Security Cabin, Toilet Block, Signage, Drinking Water
The project is in progress at site.
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Bhoganandishwara Temple, Bangalore, Karnataka
Bhoganandishwara Temple is a Hindu temple located in Nandi village, at the base of Nandi Hills in the Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka state, India. It is dedicated to the Hindu God, Shiva. The original temple in the complex, identified as one of the oldest temples of Karnataka, dates back to the early 9th century.
The facilities include:
a) Development of Small Cafeteria
b) Viewers Gallery
c) Toilet Block
d) Drinking Water Kiosks
e) Cloak Room
f) Parking Area
g) Seating Benches, Landscaping & Signage
The Concept Plan is under finalization with Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
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Development of Infrastructure facilities at Khajekhalan Ghat, Patna Sahib, Patna, Bihar
Development of following facilities are in progress:
✓ Multipurpose Hall (approx. 750 Sqm) consisting of
• Toilet Blocks
• Bathrooms
• Dress changing rooms
• Sitting Platforms /Floors/ Resting Benches etc. as per requirement
✓ Development of bathing Ghats
✓ Development of covered Podium (Approx 360 Sqm) for crematorium during rainy season and Sitting Platforms
✓ Construction of Open Cremation Platforms at Ghat area
✓ Construction of Embankment for river Bed of Ganga to protect soil erosion-150 mtrs.
✓ Development of steps at Ghat for safe access to Ganga Ghat - Approx. 120 mtrs.
✓ Development of Road for ease of communication nearby Ghat - Approx. 150 mtrs.
✓ Landscaping, Railing works at Ghat, Soil conservation works etc.
✓ Power back up facility by DG set,
✓ Installation of additional Gas based Cremation
✓ Development of Ghat with greenery, small tree plantation area for preventing pollution
The project is in progress at site.
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Development of Coffee Table Book and Documentary Film on Cellular Jail, Port Blair
To commemorate the sacrifices of the freedom fighters in exile as political prisoners at the Cellular Jail at Andaman & Nicobar Islands, The IndianOil Foundation, is developing a Coffee Table Book and a Documentary Film on Cellular Jail.
New sites adopted -
Following more sites have been adopted by IOF for development of Tourist Infrastructure Facilities for which activities are in progress:
Golconda Fort, Hyderabad
Lying to the west of Hyderabad city at a distance of 11 km, the historic Golkonda Fort derives its name from a Telugu word 'Golla Konda' which means Shepherd's Hill. With its extensive and elevated fortifications, it was a landmark that governed the destiny of the south. The fort originally belonged to the Kakatiyas of Warangal. This is testified by the over-door carvings and relief work in stucco consisting of lions, peacocks, griffins and lotus at the entrance of Balahisar.
It is one of the most famous and the biggest fortress in the Deccan plateau and was built on a 400 ft. high hill. It has three lines of massive fortification walls, one within the other and rise to a height of over 12 m. The outer most wall was provided with a deep moat all around covering a vast area of the town with a circumference of 7 km. It has 8 imposing gateways and is buttressed with 87 bastions rising to a height of 15 to 18 meters. Each of these bastions was surmounted by cannons of varying caliber rendering the fort impregnable and strong among the forts of the medieval Deccan.
Ananta Sayan, Lord Vishnu at River Bank, Dhenkanal district, Odisha
Ananta Sayan Vishnu is a large open air rock relief of the Hindu god Vishnu, carved during the early 9th Century. It is the largest such exposed rock cut structure in the horizontal position measuring 15.4 metres (51 ft) in length, in the whole of India. The image is carved out of natural rock of sandstone formation. He has four arms, holding a Chakra in the upper right hand, a Shankha in his upper left hand, a Gada and a symbolic lotus on its lower left hand. The hoods of the serpent Shesha (Ananta) covering the head of Vishnu.
Warangal Fort, Telengana
Warangal Fort, in Warangal District, Telangana, India, appears to have existed since at least the 12th century when it was the capital of the Kakatiya dynasty. The fort has four ornamental gates, known as Kakatiya Kala Thoranam, that originally formed the entrances to a now ruined great Shiva temple. The Kakatiyan arch has been adopted and officially incorporated into the emblem of Telangana after the state bifurcation. The Fort is included in the "tentative list" of UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Five more sites are also being adopted in consultation with Archaeological Survey of India, HQs
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