Srinagar Makes It To UNESCO List Of Creative Cities For Its Culture, Crafts & Music

Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, known for its scenic beauty and the serene Dal lake, is among the 49 cities worldwide to join the UNESCO creative cities network (UCCN).

The 49 cities were added to the network of 246 cities following their designation by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, in recognition of "their commitment to placing culture and creativity at the heart of their development and to sharing knowledge and good practices".

Dal Lake Jammu & Kashmir | Twitter

According to a release posted on the UNESCO site, the network now numbers 295 cities reaching 90 countries that invest in culture and creativity ¨C crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts, and music ¨C to advance sustainable urban development.

¡°A new urban model needs to be developed in every city, with its architects, town planners, landscapers, and citizens,¡± said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

¡°We are urging everyone to work with States to reinforce the international cooperation between cities which UNESCO wishes to promote,¡± he added.

Twitter/@narendramodi

While Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO (INCCU) had recommended Srinagar and Gwalior for inclusion in the coveted list, only Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital made it.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Srinagar Junaid Azim Mattu took to Twitter to announce Srinagar's inclusion in the list. "GREAT NEWS FOR SRINAGAR! #Srinagar has been inscribed as @UNESCO 'Creative City of Art and Craft'.The only city from India to make it to the list!" Mattu claimed.

However, Mumbai and Hyderabad are already in the network, having made it to the list in October 2019.