Mr. Ajay S. Mehta, Convenor of Udaipur Chapter of INTACH, initiated Abhikram for the conservation of historic monuments. The first project was conservation of Debari Gate, in eastern outskirts of Udaipur City in 1986 followed by the Pilot Project of Evolving Policies for the Conservation of Udaipur City, through Mr. Martand Singh of INTACH, New Delhi.

Firsthand familiarization with city was taken up through its people, history, traditions, arts, crafts, buildings, monuments, lakes, mountains etc. Interaction and discussions with members of Udaipur chapter of INTACH, Government officials, industrialists, businessmen, community leaders, voluntary organizations, interested individuals was taken up, as well as informal discussions with common public on the street, specialists, locals as well as outsiders, covering fields of urban planning, utilities, transportation, sociology, arts and crafts, landscape and history. Brainstorming sessions with people associated with conservation efforts in Udaipur or elsewhere. Study of the reference material available on the areas, the people, the traditions and the subject. Extensive visits were taken up to the city every fortnight for 3 to 4 days, which included walks in the streets to interact, know and understand the views, needs and pulse of the people regarding Mewar and their attitude to conservation of its culture.

City Collector, at that point of time, had commissioned whitewashing of all road facing government buildings to revert their exterior colour to original white Udaipur. Positive conservation movement of heritage led to our association with Shriji Arvind Singhji Mewar, from 1987, for conservation of parts of the Palace Complex and collaboration for revival of cultural festivals. Shriji introduced us to Mr. P. R. S. Oberoi in 1989, for a proposed hotel on the Palace Land at Hari Dasji Ki Magri. This set the ball rolling, for creating of upward economic mobility, for conservation and adaptive reuse projects, by both government and private individuals, generating employment opportunities for locals. Re-awakened sense of pride amongst people of Udaipur City and became motivating factor to increase people’s participation in the Conservation Movement, making the city most sought after tourist and wedding destination.