This book discusses the importance of socio-spatial patterns in cities that are embedded in the cultural heritage and self-understanding of a society, showing that Indian cities follow different urban concepts. In nine episodes (nine is a sacred figure), it highlights the principal influences and social impacts on cities from ancient times to contemporary city developments. As such, it provides planners and architects with insights that can easily be applied in contemporary cities and towns and help foster India’s cultural heritage―a much-needed, but little-discussed approach.
Indian cities are the result of various factors, some imposed, others following local traditions that shaped them. They were founded around social needs, landscape conditions and production routines, as well as the religious influences of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity and animism. However, Western town-planning models are often implemented, blurring the traditional way of life in cities. For sustainable town development, it is of key importance to find solutions that deal with Indian city models.
Author(s): Renate Bornberg
Series: Cities, Heritage and Transformation
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 329
City: Cham
Contents
List of Figures
1 India in Nine Episodes
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Place Identity
1.3 Space as a Social Entity
1.4 On Space
1.5 Building on the Cultural Heritage
1.6 Methodology and Analytical Approach
1.7 Nine Episodes—The Structure of the Book
References
2 India: Some Insights
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Climate and Landscape
2.3 An Overview of India’s History
2.3.1 Early Historic Traces (5000 BCE–300 BCE)
2.3.2 Development of the North (300 BCE–1200 CE)
2.3.3 Development of the Peninsula (1000 BCE–1200 CE)
2.3.4 Kingdoms of the South (800 CE–1200 CE)
2.3.5 The Delhi Sultanate (1206 CE–1526 CE)
2.3.6 The Mughals (1526 CE–1712 CE)
2.3.7 Maratha Empire (1674 CE–1818 CE)
2.3.8 Western Colonialism (1500 CE–1947 CE)
2.3.9 India’s Independence (Twentieth Century)
2.4 Religions
2.5 The Pantheon of Hindu Gods
2.5.1 Brahma
2.5.2 Shiva
2.5.3 Vishnu
2.5.4 Devi
2.5.5 Durga
2.5.6 Ganesha
2.6 The Caste System
2.7 Conclusions
References
3 Episode 1: Planning Theories
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Mandalas
3.2.1 The Geopolitical Meaning of Mandalas
3.2.2 The Mandala as a Planning Tool for Cities
3.3 Indian Planning Treatises
3.3.1 The Puranas
3.3.2 Arthashastra
3.3.3 Mansara
3.3.4 Mayamatam
3.4 Some Theoretical Types of Settlements
3.5 The Profession of the Town Planner
3.6 Conclusions
References
4 Episode 2: Of Ancient Times
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Religious and Cultural Traces
4.3 Economic and Ecological Background
4.4 Some Examples of Cities
4.4.1 Kalibangan
4.4.2 Lothal
4.4.3 Mohenjo Daro
4.5 Harappan Town Planning: A Summary
4.6 Conclusions
References
5 Episode 3: At Home
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Rules for Building a House
5.3 Spatial Hierarchy in the House
5.4 Rules for Different Castes
5.5 Examples of Indian Residential Houses
5.5.1 The Bhungas of Kutch
5.5.2 The Haveli of Rajasthan
5.5.3 The Nalukettu of Kerala
5.5.4 The Newar Houses of the Himalayas
5.5.5 The Khang Pa Houses of Ladakh
5.5.6 Contemporary Homes
5.6 Conclusions
References
6 Episode 4: Public Spaces
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Purity and Space
6.3 On Streets
6.4 The Quarters
6.5 The Neighbourhoods
6.6 The Central Manram
6.7 Markets
6.8 Main Public Buildings
6.9 Gateways and Walls
6.10 Water Tanks
6.11 Stepwells
6.12 Ghats
6.13 Places of Worship: Natural Elements
6.13.1 Community Shrines
6.13.2 Village Temples
6.14 The Underworld
6.15 Conclusions
References
7 Episode 5: Gods and the City
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Gods and Their Place on Earth
7.3 Constituents of Temples
7.4 Temple Rites
7.5 Ancient Gods and the City: Kashi, Varanasi
7.5.1 Goddess Ganga
7.5.2 The Sacred Divisions of Varanasi
7.5.3 Spatial Elements of the City
7.6 Goddess and the City: Madurai
7.6.1 Meenakshi Myths
7.6.2 The Townscape
7.6.3 Spatial Elements of the City
7.6.4 The New City Development
7.6.5 Ritual and the City
7.7 The Ideal City: Srirangam
7.7.1 The Townscape
7.7.2 The Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple
7.7.3 Temple Festival and the City
7.8 Conclusions
References
8 Episode 6: Kings and the City
8.1 Introduction
8.2 The Ramayana
8.3 Planning of Royal Cities
8.4 The Royal Palace and the City: Udaipur
8.4.1 Planning Ideas of the Mewars
8.4.2 The City Palace
8.5 A New Capital: Bhaktapur
8.5.1 Spatial Elements of the City
8.5.2 The Adjacent Town
8.6 A Planned City: Jaipur
8.6.1 Planning of the City
8.6.2 The palace
8.7 Conclusions
References
9 Episode 7: Muslims and the City
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Islamic Principles of Town Planning
9.3 Persian Influences
9.4 Defining Elements of Muslim Cities
9.4.1 The House
9.4.2 The Quarter
9.4.3 Facilities for Trade
9.4.4 The Friday Mosque and Related Buildings
9.4.5 The Garden
9.4.6 The Palace Fotification
9.5 A Muslim City in India: Fatehpur Sikri
9.5.1 The City Layout
9.5.2 Elements of the City
9.6 A Muslim Fort in India: Lal Qila, Agra
9.7 A Persian Garden in India: Shalimar Bagh
9.8 A Muslim Tomb Garden in India: Taj Mahal
9.9 Conclusions
References
10 Episode 8: The British and the City
10.1 Introduction
10.2 European and British Planning Ideas
10.3 The British Station
10.3.1 Civil Lines
10.3.2 The Cantonment
10.3.3 Official Buildings
10.4 The Hill Station
10.4.1 Simla
10.5 Spatial Representation
10.5.1 Imperial Delhi
10.6 The British Built Legacy in India
10.7 Conclusions
References
11 Episode 9: Outsiders and the City
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Untouchability
11.3 Dalit and the City
11.4 Haussmann in India
11.5 Neoliberal Architecture and Urban Design
11.6 On Slums
11.7 Slum Clearance in India
11.8 The Largest Slum of Asia: Dharavi
11.9 Dharavi: A Cosmos on Its Own
11.10 Conclusions
References
12 Conclusions
Glossary
