Monuments are remains of our prestigious past, representing culture, art architecture and structural technology of bygone days. The diverse monumental wealth of the country also includes many significant besides structural monuments. Gamut of monuments includes Prehistoric sites, stone age rock-shelters, Neolithic sites, Megalithic burial sites, rock-cut caves, stupas, temples, churches, synagogues, mosques, tombs, palaces, forts, bathing ghats, tanks, water reservoirs, bridges, pillars, inscriptions, mounds, kos minars, excavated sites, etc. These numerous remains of our cultural heritage are spread all over the country.

Central Government has declared 3679 monuments and sites as of national importance under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

Further, the State Government and Union Territories have also declared the monuments/ sites as of State importance under their respective Acts.

At present,  Archaeological Survey of India is shouldering responsibility of protecting and maintaining these 3679 monuments and archaeological sites declared as of national importance, through its field offices- Circles and Mini-circle.

The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 provides provision for declaring a monument or sites as of national importance, provided it should fulfills the criterion specified.

All centrally protected monuments/ site are governed by provisions of the Act of 1958 and Rules, 1959 made there under. The Act specifies definition monument and archaeological sites and remains (i.e. ancient sites). The Act also regulates construction related activities near a monument/ site. Construction and other related terms like repairs, renovations and reconstruction are also defined under the Act. Further, an area up to the limit of 100 meter from monument or site has been declared as prohibited area and an area up to the distance of 200 meter further beyond prohibited limit has been declared as regulated area. For undertaking construction related activities within prohibited and regulated areas, permission from Competent Authority on recommendation of the National Monuments Authority is required. Rules 2011 are also framed under the Act of 1958 in this regard. Provision of penalty is made in the Act for violates.

At certain monuments entry fee is applicable. In general still photography is permitted at monuments. However, permission is requires for filming operations.

These monuments need to be preserved for posterity and it is our joint responsibility to handover these representatives of our great cultural heritage to future generate as it as.