Gujarat has added a new feather to its cap, further boosting its global recognition and prestige, as Bhuj's Smritivan Earthquake Memorial Museum has been listed as one of the world's seven most beautiful museums by the renowned Prix Versailles Award for Architecture and Design, presented annually by UNESCO.
Smritivan has become India's first museum to receive global acclaim for its adherence to local culture and environmental conservation. The recognition is a moment of immense pride for every Gujarati, with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel congratulating the entire team involved in constructing and managing Smritivan on reaching this significant milestone.
On August 28, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Smritivan Earthquake Memorial in Gujarat, in memory of the lives lost during the devastating earthquake that struck Kachchh on January 26, 2001.
After the museum made it to UNESCO's list, PM Modi hailed the achievement and called the museum a tribute to those who lost their lives in the tragic earthquake of 2001. "Smritivan in Kutch is a tribute to those we lost in the tragic Earthquake of 2001. It is a reminder of human resilience and courage as well. Glad that this Museum has found a place on the World Selection for the Prix Versailles Museums 2024," he said in a post on X on Saturday.
Smritivan embodies Kachchh's resilience against adversities--a tale of perseverance, a symbol of rebirth, and a testament to transformation. Envisioned under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, Smritivan spans an area of 470 acres on Bhujio Hill in Bhuj.
