Proposed Interventions in Ramghat & Kamadgiri Parikrama, Chitrakoot

PROPOSED CULTURAL AND ECOLOGICAL UPLIFTMENT OF

RAM GHAT AT CHITRAKOOT, UP Prepared By

ARCHITECTURE

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INTERIOR

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INSTALLATIONS

HERITAGE AND CONSERVATION

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PROJECT MANAGEMENT

VIRTUAL REALITY

SMART CITIES

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Projects Ram Ghat

Kamadgiri Parikrama path

UPT Chauraha Development

Street Lighting

City Context • Chitrakoot - “अनेक आश्चर्यों की पहाड़िर्या​ां”.

• The place is dotted with many temples and several religious sites. At Chitrakoot, everything relates to Lord Rama. One can also explore the amalgamation of culture and history on this land.

• Ram Ghat, located on the banks of Mandakini River, is among the most visited religious destinations in Uttar Pradesh.

• Just like many other places in this district, it is believed to have played host to an episode from the mythological epic, Ramayana.

• It is believed that Shri Ram ji had come to Chitrakoot during the exile period and took bath at this place on the Mandakini river.

• Chitrakoot region falls in the northern Vindhya Range spread over the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The region is included in the Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh and the Satna district of Madhya Pradesh. Chitrakoot district in Uttar Pradesh was created on 4 September 1998 • Area: 3,164 Sq. Km. • Population: 9,91,697 • Village: 653 • Coordinates: 25° 10' 32.7972'' N and 80° 52' 5.9664'' E 4

Understanding the mythological significance of Chitrakoot • The land of spirituality and cultural diversity, Chitrakoot is a place that has been an important pilgrim destination for a long time.

• The place has its mention in the Hindu epic Ramayana. It was the deep green forest of Chitrakoot where Lord Rama along with his consort Goddess Sita and brother Laxman spent their eleven years out of the total fourteen years of exile.

• Its connection with Ramayana makes Chitrakoot one of the most popular sacred destinations in India.

• • Chitrakoot is also the land where Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma took incarnations.

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At present, the town is blessed with the numerous Hindu temples and various sacred sites that remain dotted with a large pack of devotees around the year. A perfect mix of natural beauty, spirituality, history and serenity.

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Chitrakoot’s Tangible & Natural Heritage

Chitrakoot’s intangible Heritage

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Adopted Methodology for the Project

City Importance

Impact

Site Study

Design guidelines

Problem Identification

Studying existing components

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Project Vision Cultural and Ecological Up-liftment of Chitrakoot Establish a strong focal point which marks the entrance to the state of Uttar Pradesh Restoration of Existing Ghat Edge and Parikrama path Establish a strong Spiritual Relation between Parikrama Path and City

Ecological Up-liftment of River Ghat Establish a strong Spiritual Relation in neighborhood

Development of Nodes and Streets for Economic Distribution

Facilitate the visitors with all the basic amenities 8

Ram Ghat Development

Site overview – Ram Ghat Ram Ghat Ram Ghat, located on the banks of Mandakini River, is among the most visited religious destinations in Uttar Pradesh.

Ram Ghat, which is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Uttar Pradesh, is believed to be the place where Lord राम, Goddess सीता and Lord लक्ष्मण held an elaborate conversation with Saint गोस्वामी तुलसीदास.

UTTAR PRADESH MADHYA PRADESH

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Annual Tourist footfall :

8000000 6000000

4000000 2000000 0

2018 Indian

2019

2020

Foreign

2021 Total

Regional connectivity

`

Railway

Road

Chitrakoot Dham Karwi is the nearest railway station. It is located at a distance of almost 11 km, or a drive of 30 minutes approx.

Chitrakoot is located in close proximity to cities like Prayagraj (Allahabad) (115 km), Varanasi (246 km), Ayodhya (270 km) and Vindhyachal (171 km).

It is connected to all these places via NH 35.

Air Bamrauli Airport, at a distance of almost 116m is the nearest airport

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TOPOGRAPHY Impact of the rise of water level during floods

Water Level rises up to 3m near ghat during monsoon leading to loss of infrastructure on the ghat.

Pre monsoon

Post Monsoon

Robust infrastructural interventions to be made on ghat and proper drainage facility to be provided.

Major Issues – Connectivity and accessibility 1. No Landmark signifying the entrance to the State of UP.

2. At present there are only two entrances present which goes towards the ghat•

All activities are concentrated on these two economic and commercial zones.

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The whole transit zones are totally occupied by vehicles which increases the congestion the area.

1.

Existing Entry 1

Existing Entry 2

Major route

Vehicular route around the Ghats Demarcating probable routes towards ghat

Light & Sound Show

Major Issues - Vehicular access

1. Lack of vehicular restriction leads to congestion and safety issues at the Ghat.

2. Entrance is congested because of vehicular movement

Major Issues – Pedestrian

1. Haphazard parking cause movement restrictions for pedestrians

2. Vertical obstructions on the pedestrian passage

3. Undefined walkway and lack of flow to the Ramghat.

4. Unsegregated walking and vending areas causes chaos

Major Issues - Declining of the visual character of the Ghat • Due to the development of non homogenous shop façade the visuals and the character of the ramghat is at the verge of decline.

• There is no proper façade design guidelines to control the building elements.

Improper projections and varying shop extensions break the continuity and deteriorate the visual experience of the Ghat

New development with glass and out of context facades leading to loss of character of the ghat thus causing loss of identity

Major Issues – Experience analysis

1. Visual experience – The access ways to ghats lack visual simulation

3. Comfort – Absence of basic Amenities such as toilets, drinking water kiosks

2. Ghat is not Universally accessible – No ramps on

4. Legibility – Precinct lacks directional signage and information boards

Urban context analysis Plan showing location of socio-economic zones and activity mapping

Temples Aarti Stahls Existing high activity areas Only Public Toilet

Proposal Ghat Development

2 • Gate and Stambh Developments – 1. Gate 2. Stambh 1 & 2 (S1 & S2) 3. Stambh 3 & 4 (S3 & S4) 4. Access ways to Ghats • Street Development 1. Main Street Lighting 2. Façade Control • Ghat Development 1. Façade design 2. Streetscaping 3. Storm water Management

• Bridge Revamping 1. Existing Concrete Bridge

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3 Entrance Gate for UP

Bridges Promenades to ghat Main Street Ghat Edge Commercial Zone Pedestrian only Ghat for Specially Abled

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Reading the Historic Landscape of Ram ghat Prominent Hindu Architecture Style on Ghat

Identification of Elements

Varying Types of Chhatris

Traditional Arches Railing

Brackets

Brackets Murals

Colourful Chitrakoot Prominent Hindu Architecture Style on Ghat

Color pallete SIGNIFICANCE OF COLORS USED

Sandstone Red and Pink

Integrated Greens and Blues

Depicting characters from the epic Ramayana

Ghat section – existing scenario

Unplanned Electrical Pole

Street Light Poles cause visual obstruction SHOPS

SHOPS

Temporary Shades of Plastic

• Illegible & Disconnected

SHOPS

Overlapping vending and walking spaces No railings for safety Absence of drainage facility

Ghat section – proposed • Creating visual connection between ghat and river • Establishing a character through streetscaping • Making ghat pedestrian friendly with special care for safety and accessibility.

• Removing visual obstructions

Street Light poles close to shops with fixture and box above 3m ht.

SHOPS

Awing SHOPS Benches for sitting and viewing Stone Bollards railing provided for safety Drainage facility

Ghat development - Existing

Advertisement display and signages Visual obstruction due to unplanned poles Unplanned banners SHOPS

SHOPS

Vehicles entering the ghat No railings for safety on steps No segregation of pedestrian walkways

Ghat development - proposed Context enhancing street lights Shop Frontage 2m wide

Tactile Tiles for differently abled SHOPS

SHOPS

Street benches

Clear Walkway through material differentiation

Stone & metal railing

Façade on ghat– exisitng

Unmaintained facades on ghat Heterogenous colors on façade.

Haphazard projections

Façade design – commercial shops on ghat edge

Homogenous façade on ghat Heritage sensitive and robust Lighting SHOPS

Electric box to be placed above 3m to prevent damage from floods Homogenous signages Color coded shops Wall Murals Ramp for differently able to access ghat

Streetscape Elements Creating a pedestrian friendly visual environment

300mm

• Heritage Sensitive Street Furniture • Remove all obtrusive display signage, advertising banners, visual and physical encroachments for the restoration of the arcade.

• Leveling and relaying of pavements to be undertaken with appropriate material having uniform surface finish.

Signage to be edge to edge with uniform heights Benches – Sandstone

Dustbins – To be provided at every 75m

Signages to engraved sandstone

Color Coding & Material :

Smart kiosk to be placed near entrance

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Structure – Red Sand Stone

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Cast-Iron brackets for dustbins

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Garbage container – Plastic

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Dustbin color – forest green and

blue

Ghat Railing Stone Bollards with metal chain

Streetscape Elements

Public Toilets

Drinking Water Facility

Architectural Elements Brackets and Cornice

Awning

Dhanush inspired brackets and mouldings

Cornice

Awning Bracket

Signage

Cornice

Metal Brackets

Façade control guidelines – Residential Stone Coping Colors Used

Stone Railing

Bracket

Sandstone Façade Stucco as Decorative Element Projection

Entrance Door

Skirting Staircase and threshold

Stucco and Ornamentation

Specification : A : 1500mm B : 1200mm C : 75mm Material : Plaster of Paris Pattern inspired by Traditional Indian Architecture

Color Palette : Rosy Pink Red

Wall Paintings and murals • Wall murals Depicting the story of RAMAYANA on walls • Murals to be placed at a height of 0.6m on plain walls

0.6m

Access ways development The main Gate signifying the Entrance to UP The design is inspired from Hindu Architecture

Gate Location

Ornamentation inspired from Lord Ram ji and Ramayana

Pedestrian Only

Access ways development

Stambh inspired from sons of राजा दशरथ 4 Stambh’s signify

• • • •

मर्या​ादा-पुरुषोत्तम राम लक्ष्मण भरत शत्रुघ्न

Statues of Lords Wall murals depicting the story

Stambh Locations

Siya Ram JI Dwar

A

B

Pedestrian Only

Clear Walkway Frontage

4.5m

Section

Main Promenade

Bollards to restrict vehicles

Plan

Lakshman Dwar

Pedestrian Only

Bridge development

Existing Concrete bridge

Ram ghat Area

Bridge development

900mm

Railing & flooring design

Diya Inspired Newel Post

Material Used : Pink Sandstone

Material Used : Red Sandstone

STREET DEVELOPMENT

Main Street Development Street lights at every 25m center to center to be provided on main promenade • • • •

Main Street from Ram Ghat till UP Tourism Chauraha

Stretch Length – 1.8km Issue - No street lights provided on the stretch Creates an unsafe environment Lacks visual character.

Main Street Development Street lights at every 25m center to center to be provided on Ram ghat Road

Streetscape Elements

Pole Material : Metal Shape : Bow and Arrow Fixture : LED Bulb ( Easy to Replace )

Bow inspired Street Lights

Streetscape Elements Resting Kiosks to be placed at distances of 300m – 6Nos. Improving Tourist Experience

Resting Kiosks

Colors to be Used in Facade

UP TOURISM NODE DEVELOPMENT

UPT Chauraha Development

T Junction

To Ram ghat

Proposed design Lord Ram Statue

Ring inspired by chakra

Fountains

Plantation zone

Diagram showing evolution of node design

Storm Water Management

Natural Water flow Proposed Drain Line Proposed STP

IMPACT Distributed Economic activities Managed crowd More Accessible Ghat Pedestrian realm Enhanced Visual experience

KAMADGIRI PARIKRAMA PATH DEVELOPMENT

Site Overview

कामदगगरी पररक्रमा पथ Kamadgiri, the original Chitrakoot, is a place of religious significance. A forested hill, it is skirted all along its base by a chain of temples and is venerated today as the holy embodiment of Rama. Lord Rama is also known as Kamadnathji or Kamtanath which literally means fulfiller of all wishes.

There is a 5 km Parikrama Path around the Kamadgiri Mountain.

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5km Parikrama Path Parikrama Path in Uttar Pradesh Region- 2.1 Km

COLORFUL KAMADGIRI

Major Issues Identified

• • • • • •

Un inviting Entrance Lack of Shaded spaces – resulting in excessive heat gain on Pathways Lack of Resting Spaces Lack of signages Inappropriate Lighting Lacks a connection with the City and Parvat

Major Issues Identified

• • • • •

Lack of Shaded spaces – resulting in excessive heat gain on Pathways Lack of Resting Spaces Lack of signages Inappropriate Lighting Lacks a connection with the City and Parvat

Major Issues Identified

• • • • •

Lack of Shaded spaces – resulting in excessive heat gain on Pathways Lack of Resting Spaces Lack of signages Inappropriate Lighting Lacks a connection with the City and Parvat

Major Issues Identified

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Surrounding built mass lacks does not relate with the Temple Complex and Path Lacks a connection with the City and Parvat

Major Issues Identified Unsustainable Ecology • • • •

Summers

Vegetation flourishing during rainy season doesn’t sustains throughout the year Built mass interfering with the natural slopes and streams Potential ecological sensitive areas turn into barren land during summers Green strategies to be overlayed with the Parikrama Path

Rainy Season

Winters

Topographical Study

Components 1.

Contours & Levels

2.

Slope

3.

Stream

Topographical Study Contour Levels

Topographical Study Slope & Streams

Potential Ecology Generative Areas

Proposal

Primary Transit Node 1

Transit Node

Primary Transit Node 2 Zone 1- Built Mass surrounded Path Zone 2- Pariakrama Path with natural surroundings

Ecologically Sensitive Areas

Primary Transit Zones Primary & Secondary Transit Zones

Introductory Wall Mural

Self Learning & Immersive Informative Area

Galleries

Central Axis

Primary Transit Zones

Foregroun d Introductory Wall

Primary Transition Area Entrance Gate

Interpretation Area

Secondary Transition Area Existing Truss & Built Mass

Primary Transit Zones Introductory Wall Mural

Branding & Introduction

Stone Carved Mural

Stone carved scene of Ramayana showcasing the mythological significance of Chitrakoot and Kamadgiri Parvat

Primary Transit Zones Incorporation of Virtual Mediums through Mural Walls

Branding & Introduction

Incorporation of Virtual mediums

Map of Parikrama with all the major destinations

Sceneof Ramayana showcasing the mythological significance of Chitrakoot and Kamadgiri Parvat

Primary Transit Zone Virtual Strategies

Creating a digital circuit tour by providing facilities for the visitor through digital mediums : •

QR Codes

•

Destination and information's through Applications

Experiencing the destination through Augmented Reality

Primary Transit Zones

Primary Transit Zones

Primary Transit Zones

Primary Transit Zones

Restoration of Existing Truss Colorful Transition Area •

• •

Foregroun d Introductory Wall

Primary Transition Area Entrance Gate

Interpretation Area

Secondary Transition Area Existing Truss & Built Mass

Roofing Sheets painted from beneath Painting of Existing Truss Addition of traditional brackets to establish a relation with the surrounding

Colors Palette inspired form Local Architecture

Secondary Transit Zones

Transit Zone Existing Truss Alteration

• Bracket inspired from traditional Indian Architecture • Multiple tinted trusses along with roofing sheet to create a dynamic visual

Zone 1- Built Mass Surrounded Area

COMPONENTS •

Restoration of Truss

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Construction of New Trusses

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Residential and Commercial built masses to be painted and finished

according to the proposed Urban Design Guidelines •

Addition of adequate signage and information boards

Zone 1- Built Mass Surrounded area Guidelines for Surrounding Built Mass Residential and Commerical built masses to be painted and finished according to the proposed Urban Design Guidelines

Incorporating Wall Murals

Yellow

Grey

Firebrick

Zone 1- Built Mass Surrounded area UDG- Way Finding Signages

D Design Concept • The signage will display the name and the direction of a particular facility located near by its installation place.

• To design a robust structure • A Contemporary interpretation of contextual temple arches

A B

C

Specification : Size : A – 2150mm B – 1700mm C – 450mm D – 500-600mm Text – Highway Gothic Text size- 30mm

Color Palette : Yellow Grey

Zone 1- Built Mass Surrounded area UDG- Information Boards A

Project Logo

30mm

BHARAT TEMPLE B Descriptive Text A sign is fixed to the wall to reduce vertical hindrance

Design Concept • A sign is fixed to the wall to reduce vertical hindrance • Metal plate fixed on a Yellow Sandstone base • Size of the Sandstone base is 600 x 900mm • Stone border is 50mm wide

Zone 1- Built Mass Surrounded area UDG- Dustbins Specification : A – 1050 mm B - 750 mm C- 300mm Material : •

A B

Structure – Painted Metal

Sections

C Front Elevation

Side Elevation

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Cast-Iron brackets

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Garbage container - Metal

Zone 1- Built Mass Surrounded area UDG- Benches Specification : A – 1050 mm B - 750 mm C- 300mm •

Color Coding – Yellow

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Material – Yellow Sand Stone

Zone 2

Zone 1

Zone 2- Natural Surrounded Area

COMPONENTS •

Restoration of Truss

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Construction of New Trusses

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Incorporation of Proposed Urban Design Guidelines

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Ecological Regeneration of Sensitive areas

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Creating intermediate multifunctional and recreational landscape areas

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Addition of adequate signage and information boards

Ecologically Sensitive Areas

Zone - 2 Enriching Biodiversity

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2 1

1. Earthen Bunds Boulder + Barbed Wire Fencing 2. 3-4 Levels of boulders and pebbles Created to purify water, generates turbulence, leads to bio- degradation of organic pollutants 3. Finer pebbles and Plantation As water flows down finer pebbles are used to trap smaller particles and sediments

Zone 2 Intermediate Ecological Zones

During Rainfall Rainwater retained in naturally created bunds

Post Monsoon Siltation

Vegetation generated in the silt collection

Zone -2 Creating Shaded Pathways along the Parikrama

Naturally shaded pathway

Key Plan

Zone -2 Creating Stepped seating along the contours as naturally shaded resting spaces

Key Plan

Zone -2 Creating intermediate resting spaces along the Parikrama Path

Key Plan

Zone 2

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