Ahmedabad's Walled City Gets New Color Palette

Ahmedabad's historic walled city and a 200-meter surrounding zone are now subject to a new heritage color policy. Buildings within this area can only be painted in three approved shades: light sky blue, cream, and light brown. This initiative by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) seeks to create a cohesive streetscape and visual harmony, a step towards Ahmedabad joining other UNESCO World Heritage cities known for their distinct color palettes.

The policy, inspired by the region's traditional lime-washed architecture, is part of a larger conservation effort. It also includes mandatory heritage impact assessments for new projects and proposes incentives like Heritage Tradable Development Rights to encourage restoration. While many residents and experts see this as a positive aesthetic enhancement that could boost heritage tourism, some question whether limiting colors will diminish the unique character and 'natural poetry' of the historic pols.