Development of Kurukshetra as tourist destination
Architectural Design- IX
DESIGN PROBLEM –I “DEVELOPMENT OF KURUKSHETRA AS TOURIST DESTINATION”
Max. Marks: 300
Introduction
The name Kurukshetra is associated in the Puranas and the Great Epic with the legendary king Kuru although it appears to be more logical to trace it to the tribe of Kurus which was born as a result of merger of the various classes of the Great Bharatas who are described in the Rigveda as kindling sacrificial fires on the banks of the sacred Sarasvati and Drishadvati. The Sarasvati is described in the Rigveda as a perennial river par excellence; flowing from the Himalayas to the ocean most probably it refers to the Ghaggar. The Kurukshetra war forms an essential component of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. According to Mahabharata, a dynastic struggle between sibling clans of Kauravas and the Pandavas for the throne of Hastinapura resulted in a battle in which a number of ancient kingdoms participated as allies of the rival clans. The location of the battle was Kurukshetra in the modern state of Haryana in India. It was here that Lord Krishna preached his Philosophy of "KARMA" as enshrined in the Holy Geeta to Arjuna at Jyotisar. In the very first verse of Bhagwad Gita, Kurukshetra is described as DHARAMKSHETRA i.e. field of righteousness. In mythology the name Kurukshetra applied to a circuit of about 48 KOS or about 80 miles (128 Kms), which includes a large number of holy places, temples and tanks, connected with the ancient Indian traditions and the Mahabharata War and Kururu, the pious ancestor of Kaurvas and Pandavas.
Kurukshetra district lies between latitude 29o-52' to 30o- 12' and longitude 76o-26' to 77o-04' in the North Eastern part of Haryana State.
The district headquarter is located at Kurukshetra town and is about 160 Kilometers North of Delhi, 39 Kilometers North of Karnal and 40 Kilometers South of Ambala. It is at a distance of about 6 kilometer from Pipli an important road junction on the National Highway No.1 popularly called the Grand Trunk Road.
The place was visited by Buddha and appears to have been favoured by his masterly discourses. Kurukshetra also finds mention in Panini's Ashtadhyayi.
It was also visited by nine out of the ten Sikh Gurus, Guru Angad Dev the Second Guru, being the only exception. The place where Guru Nanak stayed during his sojourn at Kurukshetra is well known as Gurdwara Sidhbati on a mound near the pumping station across the Kurukshetra Tank. The gurdwara dedicated to Guru Hargobind, the sixth guru, stands near Sannihit tank. Another gurdwara near the Sthaneshwar tank marks the spot sanctified by the visit of the ninth Guru Tegh Bahadur. And on the main bank of the Kurukshetra tank, stands the Gurdwara Rajghat built in the memory of the visit of the tenth Guru Gobind Singh; who also visited Jyotisar.s-heritage circuit of Kuru
With this background the Government of Haryana, proposes to undertake the comprehensive development of the religious-heritage circuit of Kurukshetra. Besides the pilgrims, large tourist traffic to these places of historic value has been observed for reasons of their proximity and connectivity to the National capital as well as the international airport. Therefore there is a need for comprehensive development of this area, which is tourism enhancing and facilitating yet environmentally sensitive, befitting its heritage value.
INTENT
It is intended to tap the tourist potential of Kurukshetra district through provision of state of the art integrated infrastructure development, heritage conservation, simultaneously leading to employment generation and community development programs as below:
i) Identification and delineation of the tourist and religious circuits and sub-circuits within the proposed development area.
ii) Proposals for up-gradation of existing infrastructure, conservation, restoration and enhancement of the natural and built heritage, maintenance of the sacred tanks, rivulets, streams, etc, methods of sprucing up the soft landscape, repair and consolidation of built stock, keeping in view the fragile nature of this ancient heritage zone.
iii) Evolution of a Structure Plan involving strengthening, reorganizing existing and proposed linkages, which will enhance the tourism and pilgrimage potential and infrastructure of the various heritage sites.
iv) Detailed micro-level development proposals within each tourist and religious circuit and sub-circuits. A statement of purpose, which should clearly bring out the nature of activity proposed and tangible benefits achieved through it.
v) Urban Design Guidelines addressing issues such as street picture, activity nodes, views and vistas, landmarks, façade controls, building bulks and envelopes for various tourist and heritage circuits and sub-circuits.
vi) Benefits accrued to the local community by the development proposals by way of gainful enterprise such as revival of local handicrafts, vernacular arts and crafts typical to the region, as well as employment opportunities in the service and hospitality industry.
Design objectives
· Understanding integrated urban and regional development issues such as socio-economic aspects governing spatial planning, infrastructure facilities.· Considering importance of historical and cultural values in the redevelopment of spaces.
· Documenting the existing physical entities with regard to various design issues.
· Making students evolve various development strategies for preparing master plan and urban design solutions
Methodology
1. Collection of data.
· Study of cultural aspects (mythological and religious importance)
· Identification of various places associated with cultural context of Kurukshetra.
· Case studies of similar places of pilgrimage interest.· Existing infrastructure and other relevant data.
2. Study and documentation
Cultural background with physical entities such as: buildings, building complexes, other physical features, Study of existing infrastructure related to socio-economic and physical data.
3. Future strategies
The development of infrastructure in phased manner-comprising Kurukshetra as the node and sub-circuits connecting a number of other identified religious places as sub-nodes
4. Design solutions
i) To evolve integrated master plan of the region
ii) To prepare urban design solution of Kurukshetra (Thanesar) as the node
iii) To prepare the urban design solutions of important sub-nodes in the circuit.
Schedule of Submission
Submission Date of submission
Marks
Collection of data 08-08-2006....25 marks
Documentation 29-08-2006.......75 marks
Future strategies
I) Progress review 1 05-09-2006....25 marks
Progress review II 15-09-2006 254....25 marks
Design solutions
I) Master plan 03-10-06......70marks
II) Urban design proposals of Kurukshetra 17-10-2006..... 50 marks
III) Urban design proposals of Important sub-nodes in circuit
17-10-2006 ----30 marks
Prof K.D.S Mankotia (subject-in-charge), Prof. R.Wattas, Prof.P.K.Bhagat, Prof.S.L.Saharan, Mr.S.L.Kaushal
