Coffee Table Book - Ganga Kinare | An Edge of Urban Manifestation

GANGA KINARE a n

e d g e

o f

u r b a n

m a n i f e s t a t i o n

AMITY UNIVERSITY 2017 AMITY

SCHOOL

OF

ARCHITECTURE

AND

PLANNING

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to take this opportunity to thank our Patron in Chief, Dr. Ashok K Chauhan, Founder President RBEF, the ever-evolving spirit that guides our ‘mansha’- intensions, for any initiative. We extend deep gratitude to our Chief Patron Dr. Atul Chauhan, Chancellor, AUUP and President, RBEF and Patron Dr. Balvinder Shukla, Vice-Chancellor, AUUP, who have provided us with this platform to perform, and supported us on every step throughout the project. We thank Dr. D.P. Singh, Director, Amity School of Architecture and Planning (ASAP), who has been our guide and mentor to imbibe the culture of ‘quest’ in the institution. He has conceptualized and lead this project with astute attention so that ‘Ganga Kinare’ project and its findings become a database of documentation of the most important and revered river of the world.

We extend our admiration and acknowledgement to all the teachers, who were part of this project and have been the pathfinders to complex queries and shown immense diligence during coordination of this river project. We also thank for the support of the administration and staff members of the institute and the university, that helped the project to materialize in its present form.

Finally, we feel elated to cheer for the heroes of the project, the forerunners; our students who are the strength of this institution. Their meticulous planning, efforts and dedication to conduct this study has brought fruition to this project.

We would also like to acknowledge the efforts of the people throughout history, who have contributed to keep the spirit of ‘Ganga’ alive. We thank all the stakeholders, urban local bodies, municipal departments, waterwork departments, central and state government bodies in these nine cities for supporting the documentation of the project.

TEAM GANGA KINARE

Amity School of Architecture and Planning Amity University, Uttar Pradesh

FOREWORD This book takes us through the stages in development of the spirit, of Consciousness, Self-consciousness, Reason, and Spirit. The spirit of ‘Ganga’. This spirit leads us to a point where religion based, not on fact but on religious experience, takes over. The built environment at the physical edge of Ganga personifies this spirit from its origination to the destination, interweaving the memories of evolution of culture and civilization. The spirit of Ganga is inexorably a dynamic process, that sculpted human settlements time and again along its edges. It established itself as the etymon of diverse histories, culture, society, economics, behavior, and interpretations associated with the river and carves the space for dialectics evident in narratives, annals and anthologies.

Ganga, ‘a life’ is a journey of evolution and co-evolution departing the Himalayan foothills at Rishikesh to unite the ocean beyond Kolkata. This 2500 km of travel is a tale of ‘life holding the life’, and ‘spirit holding the manifestations’.

Over thousands of years, contextual urbanization originated as one of the domain of these manifestations.

This work is a quest to understand this manifestation along the banks (Kinare) of Ganga, titled as “Ganga Kinare: An edge of urban manifestation” Ganga.......a melody of analysis, action, exchange, journey, potential, tendencies, attachment, secret, divinity, form, proprietorship, diversity, devotion, despair and summary…... leading to liberation… ...”mokshadayini”. i

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GANGA KINARE

GANGA KINARE Contents Foreword

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Lifeline

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Concept ................................vii Introduction

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Rishikesh ..................................1 Haridwar ................................15 Kanpur ................................37

Allahabad ................................55

Varanasi ................................71 Patna

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Bhagalpur

..............................101

Chandannagar

..............................115

Kolkata ..............................125 Acknowledgements ..............................141

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LIFELINE One among the seven major creases of Ganga, rises from the crown of the Himalayas making its way toward the east and down south through the Gangetic plains into the Bay of Bengal. This crease streams along expressing a diverse flux much like the diversity witnessed in our multi-cultural cities of North-Eastern India. In Haridwar and Varanasi, the Ganga's sacred personification as the Goddess Ganga is believed to have the power of remission of sins and attain Moksha whereas, in Kolkata and Chandannagar the river takes up the duties of the people with a modern twist.

With the bliss of gushing waters from highlands of Rishikesh, tourism and water sports emerged whilst the seasonally abandoned riverfronts of Allahabad exclaim its temporary visitors at the Kumbh Mela. The impact of gradual industrialization along the crease lays like a backyard to the river at Kanpur and Patna. While the city of Bhagalpur proclaims its title of the Silk City and climbing shoulders to convert into a smart city.

Being the node of development in all the nine cases, Mother Ganga serves as a lifeline to our cities of north eastern India.

The explicity of our lifeline was not only appreciated by us but also by foreign invaders from the West. Through the thick and thin, the river served her masters to its maximum potential and continues to do so. Today, cities have challenged Ganga to withstand unbearable tasks which impacts the effective relationship of river and the city. It is about time to spread awareness on the declining power of the river to its people as the People are the only hope of her rejuvenation.

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GANGA KINARE With an agenda of investigation, exploration and research based learning, our school of architecture with 300 students and 28 faculties spread to various arms of the mother river-Ganga. All uniquely incredible stories, told in-distinct manner have been portrayed from the eyes of aspiring architects. The changing nature of riverfronts in various cities and bond between the people to this mighty waterbody is stronger on some edges as compared to others. Ganga, this evolution of her story is documented in terms of her influence on the edge as well as the edge’s influence on the river by analyzing the activities taking place at her edge and the nature of settlements unique to the city.

One pulls up his fishing boat abank to make a living of what he caught by dawn, and the other counts his earnings at the ferry counter.

While one holds the river on a holy pedestal, The other has turned his backs on her To face the imminent hijcking of industrialization.

While one dips at the bank of the holy, one’s choir of the weeks laundry is completed.

The river narrated its stories to all those who pay a heed.

Some powerful with belief and some barely remembered, On one, the hassle created among the people, One among the loud traffic, and another among the calm of silence.

Spite of all the differentiation on the physical aspect, The river narrated it’s stories to all those who pay a heed.

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INTRODUCTION Rivers have been ubiquitously an inception for human settlements, nurturing them through food security, and livelihoods. Ganges plain spread over 255 million hectare of area, has spurred human settlements belonging to people from different culture, sect, and ideologies for over thousands of years. Originating in the state of Uttarakhand, meandering its way through serene landscape, flowing through densely populated northern plain and taking its final dip in the Bay of Bengal via West Bengal, it encounters radical geographical changes. The course undergoes constant change in its meaning in every city as well, when juxtaposed with city’s own identity, socio-economic activities, cultural and historical values.

These variables have given unmatched distinct architectural character to all cities edging the river Ganga.

With this observation Amity School of Architecture and Planning (ASAP) has initiated a research based project - Ganga kinare to explore the urban transformation of the most important urban centers located along River Ganga. The project encompasses the documentation of the city-river interface at 9 selected locations, viz. Rishikesh, Haridwar, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, Bhagalpur, Kolkata and Chandannagar and subsequently, a critical analysis of the influence of Ganga on their urban morphology. The project envisaged to capture the variable manifestations of the built environment against one constant component – the Holy Ganga, the symbol of purity.

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Rishikesh

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Rishikesh 409m Rishikesh lies at the toe of Himalayas where river Ganga leaves Shivalik Hills to finally enter the northern plains. The cultural landscape of this densely sprouted town is essentially a place of rumination that sits amidst serene and meditative geographical features. A gateway to the Garhwal region, Rishikesh originated from Bharat Mandir in around 748 A.D., is now a ‘Yoga Capital of the World' and host to many ashrams and ayurvedic institutes located on the bank of Ganga.

Parmarth Niketan in the picture is the largest ashram hosting pilgrims coming from all corners of the world providing serene and peaceful environment to meditate. The horizontal spread of this saffron colored Niketan, timid in its elevation tries to camouflage with the surroundings yet marks a contrast to the rich geographical landscape by its architectural language inspired from Indian Temple architecture.

right: Parmarth Ashram, Bhootnath Temple and their ghats on other side of Ganga across Muni Ki Reti and Rishikesh city

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409m

TAPOVAN

MUNI KI RETI

RISHIKESH

left: Present day settlement fabric of Rishikesh City right: Evolution of Rishikesh City and its environs top: Lakshman Jhula connecting two sides of the river at Muni Ki Reti

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Marked by the footprints of Lord Ram, Lakshman, Bharat, and Bhaghirath, in different areas, the town has evolved in three different parts: Tapovan, Muni ki Reti, Rishikesh City. The sprouted nature of the town gave birth to connections known as Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula, bridging the banks, thus encouraging growth on both sides of the town.

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Land of penance and natural beauty 409m Once a land of penance for Lord Ram prior to his contesting journey to Lanka, Rishikesh is now a land of spirituality and religious importance.

Majestic steps of ghats here overlook the grand physical landscape, touching a less polluted and pious waters of Ganga provide the right setup and sanctity to the user to meditate.

The entire spread of natural beauty and the settlements at these foothills are gestalt than any architectural scale and human perception. Potential enough to inspire and impress. It is the town of mediation and self-flagellation where one comes to ‘re’ search oneself reassuring the power within and drawing it from this subtle yet strong river valley.

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left: A priest in meditation at the steps of Triveni Ghat

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409m

The entire spread of natural beauty and the settlements at these foothills are gestalt than any architectural scale and human perception. Potential enough to inspire and impress, it is the town of meditation and self flagellation where one comes to "re" search oneself reassuring the power within and drawing it from this subtle yet strong river valley.

above: Mapping activities Muna Ki Reti

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left: Skyline along Muni Ki Reti with ghats at Ram Jhula and Swarg Ashram creating an expansive riverfront

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409m

The entire spread of natural beauty and the settlements at these foothills are gestalt than any architectural scale and human perception. Potential enough to inspire and impress, it is the town of meditation and self flagellation where one comes to "re" search oneself reassuring the power within and drawing it from this subtle yet strong river valley.

above: Mapping activities Tapovan

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right: Skyline along Tapovan with ghats at Laxman Jhula and Trayambakeshwar temple

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A performative landscape 409m Ganga Aarti; a way of treating this mighty river course as a personified goddess. 'Ganga Maiya'; mother Ganga who gifted lives to civilizations of north India.

Aarti performed just a few steps away from the river becomes a gesture of connection and respect. It is noteworthy that the quality of water in Rishikesh allows such a close encounter with this water deity.

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left: Evening Ganga Aarti

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Haridwar

Haridwar Ganga quenches the Indo-Gangetic plains of north India for the first time in Haridwar. Rishikesh and Haridwar are such centers of Hinduism where people from all over the world come searching for a utopian faith and inquiry, and if such dimension of a super power greater than all of us really exists.

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Unlike Rishikesh, Haridwar provides larger flat lands and flood plains for the river coming down from the hills to gush through and settle around plethora of religious activities in this old congested town.

The canal branching out of the river at the very beginning of the town mimics the essence of river which can be seen at Har ki Pauri.

Orange bridges floating in the air connecting island in the center and ghats at two opposite sides of the canal magnifies the importance and grandness of the ghats. They facilitate hundreds of people in masses to travel from different ghats to Har ki pauri to take holy dip and wash out their sins. Malviya dweep along with other temples would form a skyline which is an expression of Hindu temple architecture creating an aura of religious importance.

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left: Har Ki Paurighat edging the canal framed with a skyline of temples and malviyadwip and orange colored bridges connecting the highway to ghats.

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right: Famous Ganga Mandir at Har Ki Pauri

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Skyline of Har ki Pauri framed by religious structures is a narrative and expression of Hindus’ strong belief in their religion.

The half constructed, unfinished temple is another example of people’s strong faith in

religion. Although unfinished and disputed it clearly shows the people's expression and continued urge to connect to a supreme power.

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left: Prachin Shri Lakshmi Narayan Temple at Brahmakund

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left: the urban fabric of Haridwar city below: major road networks and landmarks of Haridwar

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LOCAL ROAD (18 m)

RAILWAY LINE

COLLECTOR ROAD (9 m)

AUTO SAND

ARTERIAL ROAD (5 m)

JUNCTION

PEDESTRIAN

RAILWAY STATION

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314m

left: Asthi Pravah Ghat

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Upper Road - the mainstreet

right: Evening aarti scene at Har ki Pauri

Upper road; the main street that connects the ghat area to new Haridwar city is a commercial street accommodating banks, hotels, and multi cuisine food joints can be located. This street is the commercial hub for the city and outsiders coming 314m with various motives mainly for the holy dip and flow the ashes at Asthipravah.

During morning and evening aarti time, the road witnesses traffic congestion caused by people and vehicles moving towards Har ki Pauri.

The main bazaar road is the immediate parallel road to the ghat area which caters to local market of the city. The encroachments of shops, and traffic congestion are major contributors in reducing right of way of the road.

Circulation 6:00 am - 10:00 am

Circulation 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

HIGH

LOW

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After 10:00 pm

HIGH

left & above: Circulation analysis of peripheral roads

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314m

THE MAINSTREET

Street Elevations of Upper Road

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Har Ki Pauri

Bridges take you from here and there; such is the scape of this town of Haridwar. Places of significance sprouted here and there due to mythical connotations with the larger cults.

At the end all roads lead to Har Ki Pauri. All roads lead to God. All roads lead to the quintessential event of faith.

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left: Activity mapping at Har Ki Pauri morning and afternoon right: Activity mapping at Har Ki Pauri evening

Morning

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Afternoon

Activity Mapping

PRIEST PEDESTRIANS TEMPORARY VENDOR PERMANENT VENDOR

Evening

PRIEST PEDESTRIANS TEMPORARY VENDOR PERMANENT VENDOR

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right: View of Ghat area of Haridwar from Mansa Devi Mandir overlooking Ganga river and canal

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Haridwar considered one of the God’s own city where people come for salvation has observed increasing pressure of floating population due to its religious importance. This significance of city has introduced multiple connections in the form of bridges weaving different parts of the city together.

The cultural landscape framed by bridges and ghats accessed only by pedestrians magnifies the importance and sanctity of Hindu culture and religion, thus creating memory of place and a place of memory.

right: Bridges connecting different parts of religious areas of Haridwar city. opposite: Haridwar riverfront; a marketplace

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