Activating and Institutionalising Heritage Regulations in Sacred Historic Cities: The Case of Vrindavan, India

India is a country with a rich and diverse heritage due to the numerous ethnicities and religions that have settled in the region over thousands of years. The country has many historic cities with unique and complex architectural heritage, which attract millions of tourists worldwide. However, due to rapid urbanisation and intensive development, these heritage assets are often neglected and at risk of being lost. This paper aims to address this issue by integrating planning and urban conservation paradigms to ensure heritage regulations and awareness towards sensitive development in historic cities. The case of Vrindavan, a prominent heritage city in northern India, is examined as an example. With its unique cultural identity under threat from rapid expansion, this study proposes a methodological approach to preserve and conserve the heritage fabric of the city and generate awareness among locals and tourists. This study could be used as a basis for future research and to suggest strategies and recommendations for conserving and revitalising other historic cities worldwide.