Pune, July 24 -- In the first such initiative by a government body, the Pune Zilla Parishad (ZP) will lead the transformation of historic Wadas or traditional courtyard houses near Shivneri fort in Junnar and in Baramati into heritage homestays, in a marriage of conservation and rural tourism. The initiative is being positioned as a model to preserve cultural heritage while generating livelihoods for local communities. The move comes on the back of Shivneri fort's inclusion in UNESCO's (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's) tentative list of world heritage sites, not to mention the growing interest in heritage tourism across Maharashtra. The ZP identified 13 Wadas near Shivneri fort in Junnar taluka and 22 in Baramati taluka. These structures, many of which are over a century old, require significant repairs and upgrades to become tourist-ready. To implement the pilot, the Pune ZP has constituted two expert committees that will assess the structural condition and tourism potential of the selected Wadas, guide owners through the restoration, and prepare a formal conservation and adaptive reuse plan....