Jodhpur, Jan 27 (IANS): Union Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch Monday inaugurated the office of the Archaeological Survey of India's new Jodhpur circle, formed by bifurcating the Jaipur circle, with a view to have better administration of the monuments under its jurisdiction

"The jurisdiction of the (Jodhpur) circle spreads over the districts of Jaisalmer, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Chittaurgarh, Banswara, Dungarpur, and Ajmer where the protected monuments are located," the minister said, according to an official statement.

"Of the 162 listed monuments of the Jaipur circle, 79 monuments are coming under the new circle," she added.

According to Katoch, Jodhpur circle has a variety of monuments ranging from important Harappan sites to late medieval palaces and structures.

"Among them the Harappan sites of Kalibangan and Rangmahal, temples of Menal, Arthuna, Deo Somnath, Nagda, forts of Mandore (Jodhpur), Bhatner (Hanumangarh) and medieval remains of Ajmer and Rajasamand are worth mentioning," she added.

The circle also has the forts of Kumbalgarh, Chittaurgarh and Jaisalmer, which are listed under the hill forts of Rajasthan as World Heritage Sites.

According to the statement, the reason for this new inclusion is to pay more attention to monuments in Jodhpur circle, something Jaipur circle has been doing for 29 years.