Challenges for urban conservation of core area in pilgrim cities of India

Abstract

The ancient land of India is blessed with the holy sojourn of many exceptional saints, religious and Spiritual Leaders. Some of the predominant pilgrim destinations in India are Vaishno Devi, Char dhams comprising of Dwarka, Puri, Rameswaram and Badrinath, twelve Jyotirlingas, etc among others. These pilgrim places attract a huge amount of pilgrims from various parts of the country and abroad. Due to its reverence, there is a rapid increase in the floating population and the activities of pilgrims during pilgrimages each year which has a high potential to impact the built environment in these sacred sites. In pilgrimage, effects are influenced by seasonality and are limited over time and space. Urban conservation undertakes the highest priority in the case of pilgrim cities because of the philosophy and values of design it demonstrates, not just in its place of workshop be it temple, church etc., built heritage associated and in the layout of the cities, but also in the regional setting in which the cities are placed and its relationship with other features. This paper outlines the issues and challenges in the core of pilgrim cities which is justified as the surrounding place of worships or preferably the temple core that signifies changes in frequency and character of the pilgrims over the past few decades which reflect new pressures on the built environment of sacred sites based on literature study and case study approach. It also illustrates and raises instances to stress on the importance of the coherent heritage conservation policies according to the character of the city.

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