Kishangarh dumping yard
Kishangarh Marble Slurry Dumping Yard | |
|---|---|
Marble slurry disposal site | |
White mounds of marble slurry at Kishangarh | |
Kishangarh Marble Slurry Dumping Yard Location in Rajasthan, India | |
| Coordinates: 26°36′00″N 74°59′17″E / 26.6000°N 74.9880°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Rajasthan |
| District | Ajmer |
| Opened | 1980s |
| Area | |
• Total | 33 ha (82 acres) |
Kishangarh Dumping Yard or Kishangarh Marble Slurry Dumping Yard is a dedicated waste disposal site for marble processing by-products located near Kishangarh in Ajmer district, Rajasthan, India.[1][2] Over time, calcium‐carbonate–rich slurry has built up into vast white “mountains,” turning the site into a popular tourist destination for photographers and pre-wedding shoots.[1][3]
History
Marble cutting and polishing in Kishangarh expanded rapidly in the late 20th century, producing large volumes of slurry and debris.[4] To contain environmental hazards, RIICO allocated an 82-acre plot to the Expo Kishangarh Marble Industries Association in the early 1980s, initiating formal dumping operations.
Location and management
The yard lies on Paryavaran 2nd Road within the RIICO Industrial Area, approximately 1.5 km from the Kishangarh Marble Association office.[5] Entry is free upon presentation of a token issued by the association office.[6] Oversight and safety enforcement fall under the District Mining Office, with guidance from the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board.[7][8]
Operations
During peak periods, a truck arrives roughly every ten minutes, offloading slurry which is then reshaped into the yard’s characteristic mounds by excavators.[1]
Environmental impact
Marble slurry consists of fine particles (<75 μm) that can smother farmland and impair soil fertility.[9] Groundwater testing within 6 km of the site has recorded Total Dissolved Solids up to ten times the Bureau of Indian Standards limit, with elevated fluoride and heavy metals threatening drinking water and irrigation.[10][7][11]
Regulatory framework
In 2013, the Central Pollution Control Board released draft guidelines recommending engineered containment, effluent treatment, and routine monitoring for marble slurry in Rajasthan.[12]
Tourism and popular culture
industrial waste site—often nicknamed the “Snow Yard” or “Moon Land of Rajasthan”—offers stark, undulating landscapes that evoke glacial fields more than an Indian desert The Kishangarh Dumping Yard popularly known as Switzerland of Rajasthan. The surreal white landscape has featured in Bollywood shoots and is likened to “budget Ladakh” or “Greece in the desert.”[2][3] Commercial photography attracts fees, supporting local livelihoods in tourism and waste‐recycling ventures.[1]
In popular culture
Films
- Baaghi 3 (2020) – the song "Dus Bahane 2.0", featuring Tiger Shroff and Shraddha Kapoor, was filmed at Kishangarh Dumping Yard.[13]
- Dabangg 3 (2019) – the song "Yu Karke", featuring Salman Khan and Sonakshi Sinha, was shot at the site.[14]
- Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon (2015) – the track "Samandar", starring Kapil Sharma, was filmed on location.[15][16]
- PK (2014) – sequences of Aamir Khan’s satirical drama were shot in the yard.[17]
- Thar (2022) – scenic footage for Anil Kapoor’s Netflix thriller was filmed against the yard’s white mounds.[16][18]
Music videos
- "Dus Bahane 2.0" – from Baaghi 3, shot at Kishangarh Dumping Yard.[13]
- "Yu Karke" – from Dabangg 3, filmed on site.[14]
- "Samandar" – from Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon, shot in the yard.[15]
- "Chhor Denge" – Parampara Tandon featuring Nora Fatehi; video shot at the dumping yard.[19]
- "Saiyaan Ji" – Yo Yo Honey Singh featuring Nushrratt Bharuccha; filmed at the site.[20]
- "Patakha Guddi" – from Highway (2014), featuring Alia Bhatt and Randeep Hooda; video sequences were shot at the dumping yard.[21]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Yadav, Jyoti (27 February 2023). "Kishangarh marble dumping yard is a health hazard. But also a new selfie, Reels destination". ThePrint. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ a b Garg, Tanya (2 July 2022). "Best travel spots in Ajmer: All about Kishangarh dumping yard and its amazing connection with Bollywood". India.com. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Kishangarh Marble Dumping Yard: A scenic spot with a dark past!". LocalSamosa. 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ "Antarctica of Kishangarh: Boon or Bane". IJRASET. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ "Dumping Yard Kishangarh, Ticket Price, Timing, How to Reach". Rajasthan Tourism Bureau. September 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ "Marble Slurry Dumpyard". TripAdvisor. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Marble dumping yard sparks big health crisis in Kishangarh". The Times of India. 22 March 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ तक, राजस्थान (17 June 2024). "राजस्थान में भी है एक स्विट्जरलैंड! खूबसूरती देख दंग रह जाएंगे आप, यहां जानें किस मौसम में जाएं घूमने?". NewsTak (in Hindi). Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ "Marble waste poses long-term risks". Compass by Rau's IAS. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ Snowy Allure and Environmental Stress: Kishangarh's Marble Slurry. IGI Global. doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-3398-3.ch013. ISBN 979-8-3693-3398-3. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ Iqbal, Mohammed (12 April 2025). "A marble mirage of snow and ice in Rajasthan". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ "Draft Guidelines for Management and Handling of Marble Slurry" (PDF). Central Pollution Control Board. 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Song: Baaghi 3 (Dus Bahane), Location: Dumping Yard Kishangarh". YouTube. 30 January 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Dabangg 3 – Yu Karke at Dumping Yard Kishangarh". YouTube. 30 January 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon – Samandar". YouTube. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ a b "About Us – Snow Yard Kishangarh". Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ Prajakta (8 December 2024). "Did You Know… About Rajasthan's Hidden Snowland". Medium. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ "राजस्थान का स्विट्जरलैंड: किशनगढ़ के 300 बीघा में फैला डंपिंग यार्ड का नजारा बर्फीली वादियों जैसा; कई बॉलीवुड फिल्मों की शूटिंग हो चुकि". Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 7 April 2021. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ "Chhor Denge l Nora Fatehi l Song Location l Dumping Yard Kishangarh". YouTube. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ "Saiyaan Ji – Yo Yo Honey Singh feat. Nushrratt Bharuccha". YouTube. 30 January 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ "Patakha Guddi Highway Full Video Song (Official)". YouTube. 3 April 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2025.