India’s stunning architectural legacy—think of the Red Fort’s imposing walls, Jaisalmer’s golden Sonar Fort, or the Taj Mahal’s marble domes—is now battling an unprecedented dual threat. The increasing erratic weather, spurred by climate change, along with decades of rampant air and water pollution, are speeding up the decay of structures that have endured centuries of wars, earthquakes, and monsoons. Conservationists caution that, barring swift and significant intervention, some damage of India’s monuments may soon become irreparable.
The Collapse at Sonar Fort
Back in August of 2024, a portion of the 12th-century Sonar Fort, otherwise known as Jaisalmer Fort, in Rajasthan, collapsed following torrential rainfall unlike anything typically seen in the Thar Desert. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a living fort still inhabited by thousands, its yellow sandstone walls had been gradually weakening due to years of neglect and flawed drainage. The collapse was a harsh lesson: extreme weather events are becoming commonplace, and ancient India’s monuments are especially susceptible when basic upkeep is lacking.
Delhi’s Red Fort
In the capital, the deterioration is quite obvious. Those visiting the Red Fort might find themselves scraping black soot off its 17th-century red sandstone walls—a dark reminder of vehicle exhaust, construction dust, and industrial pollutants that have plagued Delhi. Researchers suggest these carbon-rich layers are more than just unsightly; they react with moisture, creating acids that gradually eat away at the stone, threatening one of India’s most powerful symbols of Mughal and post-independence history.
The Taj Mahal & Humayun’s Tomb
For years, the Taj Mahal’s white marble has been turning yellow and showing signs of pitting, largely attributed to sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from nearby refineries and the heavy traffic in Mathura and Agra. Acid rain slowly etches away the intricate pietrà dura inlays and weakens the marble’s very structure.
Just a few hundred kilometers away in Delhi, Humayun’s Tomb – the 16th-century inspiration for the Taj, also a UNESCO site – is facing very similar problems. Abrupt, intense storms are eroding its domes and minarets, while polluted runoff trickles into the foundations, compromising the ground beneath the mausoleum.
Click here to preview your posts with PRO themes ››
Systemic Problems
To be sure, authorities have been taking action. Around several of India’s monuments, native trees numbering in the thousands have been planted; these act as natural filters against air pollution. Drainage systems are undergoing redesign to handle flash floods and avoid the kind of waterlogging that can saturate foundations. In some locations, stone is being cleaned and reinforced chemically.
Yet heritage experts and officials generally agree that these are merely partial solutions. While planting trees and improving drainage are helpful, they aren’t enough to replace broader measures such as stricter emission standards for vehicles and industries, unified national funding dedicated to scientific conservation, and incorporating climate-resilience measures into urban development around historical areas.
A Race Against Time
India boasts 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites—more than any country except Italy and China—along with hundreds of nationally protected monuments of outstanding importance. Preserving these is not simply about nostalgia; they represent a living proof of artistic, architectural, and cultural accomplishments that continue to shape national identity and attract millions of tourists each year.
As global temperatures keep rising and monsoon patterns in South Asia become even more unpredictable, the opportunity for action is diminishing. A collapsed wall in Jaisalmer or the darkening of the Red Fort represents more than just damage to stone; it’s the slow erosion of our collective memory.
Protecting India’s architectural treasures now requires a more comprehensive approach than just occasional restoration work. Protecting these places demands resolve from the leaders, significant investments, the best ecological research, and, crucially, understanding that pollution and climate change don’t care about borders or history. These treasures should be passed down to our descendants, not as fading remnants of a legacy we couldn’t preserve. While time is short, we still have an opportunity.