TEMPLE TOWN - Madurai and Omkareswar, India

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Phanindra (2120200092)

Prithivi (2120200111)

Maaz Ali (2120200118)

Saketh reddy (2120200094)

Urban Design and Conservation

3rd year, 5th sem

SPA-Vijayawada

2ATHENS OF THE EAST

3LOCATION

Madurai is administrative headquarters of Madurai District. The capital of the Pandyankingdom was initially Korkai, around 600 BCE and was later moved to Koodal ie, Madurai during the reign of Nedunj Cheliyan. The district is bounded on the north by Dindiguldistrict on the east by Sivaganga on the west by Theni district and on the south by Virthunagar District.

4INTRODUCTION

MADURAI , popularly known as theTemple city, also called as ATHENS OFTHE EAST, City of Junction, City ofJasmine, CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS andCity of four junctions. Madurai is thirdmajor economic, industrial,commercial, political centre and amajor transportation hub for thesouthern Tamilnadu. The city isrenowned for tourism, festivals andvibrant cultural life in general and isconsidered to be the states culturalcapital.

The rich and vibrant natural and cultural landscape with different linguistic and cultural groups coexisting together in its UNIQUE CUSTOMS, TRADITIONS, AND ART FORMS make it a classical example of an urban environment wherein diversity becomes the source of strength rather than conflicts.

5Spatial growth pattern of the city

Madurai has a long and well recorded history. As early as the 3rd century BC, Megasthenesvisited, the city being referred to as "Methora". Madurai has been described as the seat ofthe Pandyan Dynasty. The capital of the Pandyan kingdom was initially Korkai, around 600BCE and was later moved to Koodal ie, Madurai during the reign of Nedunj Cheliyan. Thecity was home to the third and last Tamil Sangam between 300 BCE and 200 CE.

6Evolution of city

1 2

3 4

Pandayan Time 12 century Vijayanagara Time 16 century

Colonial Period Present Situation

7Boundaries in Madurai

8TRADITIONAL PLANNING STRATEGIES

The old city of Madurai is considered to be designed according to the Rajdhani plan, describedin Manasara, one of the Shilpasastra, and has the fivefold concentric rectangular formationwith Meenakshi- Sundareshwara Temple at a very centre point. The city was a well plannedone with bazaars and many broad streets with high and luxurious mansions on both sides.The city was built around the temple complex as the focal point with a combination of aconcentric street pattern.

9Street Pattern

The streets concentric to the temple complexformed the major streets viz., ChithiraiStreets, Avani Moola Streets and MasiStreets. The next order of streets isperpendicular to the above streets and leadto the temple entrances.The developments within and beyond thesestreets are on an irregular pattern. A definitehierarchy of street pattern was adopted withthe width of the Streets decreasing as theybranched out, ending up in stone pavedstreets and lanes - the width of some beingjust 0.60 m. The entire city was enclosedwithin the fort walls and surrounded by amoat. The fort walls have been razed downand the moat filled up to form the presentday Veli Streets.

10SETTLEMENT PATTERN

The settlement pattern of Madurai is planned according to the ancient system of townplanning which is based on caste and occupational hierarchies. The map shows the presentsettelemnt pattern and its relavance with the ancient town planning system. Ancient southindian temple towns are designed by placing the temple complex at the centre with concentricrectangle pattern of streets around. This can be seen in another southern temple townsrirangam also.

11Ancient Town Planning System

In Madurai, Meenakshi Amman Temple is at thecenter. Royal Palaces, Brahmins and Priests atthe first concentric rectangle.Traders, Kishatriyasand Vaishnavaites on the second rectangle. Thelower caste Sudras and immigrantszoarashitrains in the third rectangle.

12Central market

13Housing Typology – Arts And Craft

SAREE

WAVING

STONE

SCULPTURES

SWOT Analysis 14

SWOT…..

STRENGTH:

Conservation

The city represents a rare Mandala concept of traditional Planning systems,.

Declared as heritage city under JnNURM scheme.

City is known for its veneration factor (pilgrimage tourism).

Economic perspectives

The city is also commercial and official headquarters of the region drawing

around 2.5lacs floating population per day. According to Census 2001, the

urban workforce participation rate(WPR) (percentage of main and marginal

workers to the total population) is 34.18 percent (including 1.35 percent

marginal workers). Nearly 92% of the work forces are employed in tertiary

sector (tourism and related industries).

WEAKNESS:

Conservation:

Lack of information base for the heritage properties and historical layers pose a

great difficulty in managing the heritage property. Lack of awareness of the

heritage properties is another main cause for its deterioration.

Urban environment:

Degradation of River Vaigai,Girudumal River and other water channels in the

city.

Location of Non compatible uses such as whole sale vegetable

markets,hardware shops,sanitary wares etc within the historic precinct.These

activities attract more number of vehicles inside the historic area.

SWOT Analysis

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OPPORTUNITIES:

Tourism and Economic perspectives:

With the availability of good connectivity,highliteracy it can attract

more investors and tourists in the region.

The local arts from across the region can be show cased for attracting

the tourist and local people.

Capacity to attract many tourists as it is rich in heritage and culture.

High Literacy rates with many educational institutions in the region.

Proposed projects in pipeline:

City is initiating reforms such as shifting of whole sale

markets,Egovernance and other projects under JnNURM scheme.

The projects in BSUP clearly indicate the unemployment factor in the

city.The heritage aspects/strength can be used as a lever for the face lift

of the people.

SWOT Analysis

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THREAT

Conservation:

Lack of repair and maintenance of heritage buildings can lead to rapid

deterioration of built fabric in the core city.

Continued negligence of heritage are as can also lead to loss in tourism revenues

SWOT Analysis

A temple city18

Location of Omkareshwar Temple

Omkareshwar Temple

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Madhya Pradesh

• First settlement at Amareswar temple- The earlier nucles• During the same time the Omkareshwar temple and sidhwarkut ( by Bhojadeva of paramaras)• Settlements started to increase around the temple and along the road connecting it.

20Evolution

• The king constructed 8 most importance temples at which the settlements started to grow

• The major growth is around the Omkareswar jyotirling.

21Location of Temples

• The Former heir in 1165 A.D constructed wall around which is spatially located just behind the Omkareswar temple.

• The settlement growth around these temples is inorganic in nature.

22Constructions and City form

No Building around the temple must not be higher than that

of the temple and the kings fort.

The caves constructed must be far away from the fort wall and

must be at the river bank.

The ghat steps of the omkareswar and Amareshwar temple

were aligned.

The Social structure of the omkareswar is strictly followed as

such brahmins,ksatriyas,vysyas and kshudras.

23Principles

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Vysyas

Brahmins

Kshatriyas

shudras

The Bilalas the other class of people who are tribal origin used to live at the Amareshwar temple

STREET PATTERN & SOCIAL STRUCTURE AT OMKARESWAR

TEMPLE

• The Town fabric around Omkareswar temple is heavily effected with the myths of the people.

• No person is allowed to leave the premises or the fort wall and construct near the caves.

• The town structure is organic in nature sporadic and scattered.

25The city fabric around Omkareshwar

Amareswara temple is the start of the settlements also can be called as the primary nucles.

After the construction of Brahma and Vishnu temples the whole place which is called amareshwaris divded intlo Brahmapuriand Vishnupuri,

This led to the seperationof the Socila class of the people with brahmins who worship Vishnu and who worship Brahma.

Along with these there are Bhilalis who worship hindugods without any difference.

Similarly there are Brahmins ,Kshatriyas and Sudras and Vysyas here also.

26Around Amareshwar temple

• Due to many social issues there is

an Organic growth in the town

which led to a very disturbed form

of a town fabric.

• Other than Social issues, the

street pattern connects the

temples very well.

• The Ghats are also well connected.

27The street pattern and reasons for growth

Reference 28

heritage development plan.pdf

Ancient and medieval town planning in India by Prabhakar v. begde

studyofcityevolution-Madurai.pdf