By moving his hands slowly over the walls, 14-year-old Vivek was, perhaps, trying to frame an imaginary design, and the contours of the structures were helping him feel the beauty and the marvel of the gigantic monument known as Gol Gumbaz. Visually impaired, Vivek had come with a group of 50 such students to witness the Gol Gumbaz not with his eyes but by his strong senses.
This rare opportunity was provided to the group by philanthropists who wanted the Heritage Week programme to be concluded in a different, humane manner.

D.P. Jadhav, one of the philanthropists and contractors working for Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), said that bringing visually impaired children to make them “feel” the Gol Gumbaz was an idea that they executed on Tuesday.

“We know that blind people cannot see the Gol Gumbaz, but they can surely feel its architectural beauty. Moreover, since the Gol Gumbaz is also universally popular for its echoing dome, the visually impaired can definitely enjoy hearing the echoes of their own voices,” Mr. Jadhav said.

He said that they brought 50 visually impaired students from Shivasharana Haralayya and Panchakshari Gawai blind schools in the city to have a unique experience.

Visibly thrilled, Sangia, one of the students, said that she never thought that she would get an opportunity to visit the Gol Gumbaz. “I have been hearing about the monuments since my childhood, but I was never taken there. I know I cannot see it, but by touching the walls and the structure, I surely can feel it better than a normal person,” she said.

A group of 50 such students witness the

Gol Gumbaz not with their eyes but through their strong senses
Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/visually-impaired-take-in-the-sights-at-the-gol-gumbaz/article6634862.ece