How many times have you visited a place and actually thought about the lack of a ramp beside the staircase? Or noticed the missing information boards in Braille beside the one with normal text? About 2.1% of our population is handicapped. While that might look like a minuscule percentage, it translates into about 21 million people. And why exactly should they not lead as normal a life as others? Not only is it unfair, it also reeks of insensitivity.
But there are some places in India that are setting the record right by making its premises all accessible for abled and the differently abled alike, making things even more easy for the other places who only have to follow in.
1. God’s Own Country, Kerala
Always boastful of its development and literacy (and rightly so), Kerala is prepping to become India’s first all accessible tourist destination. While Kochi Fort became the first heritage site fit for the differently abled in 2016, other sites such as the Akkulam, a tourist village, and Kannur are already bringing in measure to make every day functioning of the state an all accessible one.
2. The Capital, Delhi
Frequently visited by key guests from within the country and abroad, Delhi has upped its tourism game in regards with the handicapped possibly because it can’t afford to show a sorry face (we had to create temporary ramps when Stephen Hawking visited India in 2001). Qutub Minar, Jantar Mantar, Humayun’s Tomb, and Red Fort are some of the prominent examples that have incorporated measures to make tourist experience immaculate for everyone. Even the Delhi Metro has provisions to cater to wheelchairs and lifts that have numbers engraves in Braille for the visually impaired.
3. The Silicon Valley of India, Bengaluru
Tipu Sultan’s summer palace is the first ASI heritage site in the city that was made disabled-friendly with a Braille brochure, signboards, and tactile ways for easy directions.
4. The Great Stupa at Sanchi, Bhopal
The effort to make things easy for the handicapped is not limited to the metropolitans. The smaller cities have also joined the movement and one glaring example is of Sanchi Stupa in Bhopal which is equipped with tactile walkways, information pamphlets in Braille and a trained staff for round the clock assistance.
5. The Love Struck City, Agra
One of the most frequented places by tourists from around the world is Agra, all thanks to the breathtaking sight that Taj Mahal offers. And it makes little to no sense if the only Indian monument on the World’s map is not equipped to handle tourists of all kinds. And not just the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri are also standing tall with their arms wide open welcoming all guests alike.
Can you help us with the names of the famous places to visit in your city which needs to be made more accessible to people with disability?