Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
R V COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
MYSORE ROAD
BANGALORE 560 059
A REPORT ON
Submitted by
Semester II (07 Batch)
FebMay 2008
Studio Co ordinators: Champaka TR M.Arch(UD) Berkeley; Brinda Sastry M.Arch(UD) Oregon; Anitha Suseelan PG Dip UD CEPT Ahemedabad
A REPORT ON
INDEX
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
Introduction
Regional Setting
2.1
The religious center in the Cauvery Delta
2.2
The Chola capital in the Tanjore District
History
3.1
The Legends
3.2
Historical and Political Events
3.3
The ritual topography
Growth & transformation
4.1
The evolution of the town
4.2
The present situation
Social Structure & Economic Base
5.1
Socio Economic structure a historical perspective
5.2
Socio Economic structure today
Secondary Data Collection
6.1
Demographic data and speculate the trends
6.2
Heritage Policies & Conservation
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05
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06
07
07
09
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Analysis
Morphological Dimension
7.1
Introduction
7.2
Geographical setting
7.3
Abstract Scheme & Implied World View
7.4
The morphological dimension
7.4.1 Land use pattern / Building Use
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7.5
7.6
8.0
Underlying typologies
7.5.1 Nature of Tanks/ Kulams
7.5.2 Nature of open spaces
7.5.3 House Typology
7.5.3.1 The Threshold
7.5.3.2 The Courtyard
Nature of Urban Block
7.6.1 Land use
7.6.2 The Growth process of the Urban Block
7.6.3 Building Heights / Built Vs Open
References
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INTRODUCTION
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1. INTRODUCTION
Kumbakonam, known as Kashi on Cauvery, is an ancient South Indian City located in Cauvery River Basin It occupies a unique position
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in Hindu Myth & legend, because of the invaluable inscriptions, iconography, religious architecture & highly articulated cosmic geography,
in terms of its urban structure. Its position in Hindu Myth, urban configuration temples & tanks, palaces & civic buildings, institutions,
religious scholarships, Brahmin elite, arts & crafts, all lead to the traditions of Urbane Tamil Culture3. The sacred-royal configuration of
Kudamukku (Kumbakonam) - Palaiyarai, together with a wider network of subsidiary agglomerations, constituted one of the earliest
settlements of the Cholas in the Cauvery
Kumbakonam, in Thanjavur district, is located at 10 57
north latitude & 79 23 longitude It is about 313kms from
Chennai on the north, 40kms from Mayiladuthurai on the
east, 40kms from Thiruvarur on the south & 40kms from
Thanjavur on the west. Unlike other religious centers,
organized around a single core, Kumbakonam is unique
being one of the very few multi core temple cities. The
urban fabric includes temples, matams, chattrams,
agraharams, paditorais, making it one among the best surviving of ancient Tamil cities.
Its strategic location along the Cauvery delta region renders it as an ecologically sensitive zone and its continuous habitation since ninth
century adds to its strong socio religious significance. The city has been a seat of intellectual legacy, hence commonly referred to as the
Cambridge of South India. It has been an established economic center for trade & commerce and arts & crafts.
2. REGIONAL SETTINGS
2.1 The religious center in the Cauvery Delta
In India, along certain holy rivers, the river-edge settlements have grown into religious
centres or holy cities. Kumbakonam is one such city in Tamilnadu, along the Cauvery
River; located in the delta between the Cauvery & its tributary Arasalar.
Cauvery originates in Karnataka at
Talakaveri, in Kodagu and flows down
through Kushalnagar, Srirangapatna &
Shivanasamudram, before reaching Hogenikal
& Srirangam in Tamil Nadu. In Erode in
Tamil Nadu, two more tributaries join it Noyyal & Amravathi. In Tiruchirapally, it branches
out in to Coleroon & Cauvery. Cauvery again divides into Arasalar & Cauvery at Papanasham,
near Kumbakonam. Cauvery further fans out into 32 branches and all these further branch off
into a number of small streams, to reach the Bay of Bengal at Nagapattinam. Along its course,
it is intercepted by various falls at Shivasamudram & Hogenekal, dams at Krishna Raja Sagar
& Mettur, & religious towns like Srirangam, Papanasham, Gangaikondacholapuram,
Kumbakonam & Nagapattinam.
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other villages5. The city is well connected through Railways & State Highways & major District roads.
The city has developed in the delta between the Cauvery River, to the north & the Arasalar River, to the south and has a gentle slope from
north-west to south-east5. In the present context, there are vast agricultural wetlands to the north & south of planning area; with the rivers
Cauvery & Arasalar as the main sources of irrigation. This delta has fertile alluvial soil & favors the growth of paddy, coconut, betel nut,
banana, mango & tamarind trees.
3. HISTORY
3.1 The Legends
Pottramarai tank
Kumbeshwara temple
Mahamakam tank
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city, is a meeting point for 9 sacred river goddesses (represented by wells), namely, Sindu, Ganges, Yamuna, Saraswathi, Sarayu, Godavari,
Mahanadi, Narmada, Payashul & Cauvery. Pottramarai tank is located between Sarangapani temple & Kumbeshwara temple2.
3.2 Historical and political events
The Cauvery river delta was first recognized by the Chola rulers, as an ideal place to settle, as it was rich in alluvial soil, which was best
suited for agriculture. They set up their capital at Uraiyur in Tiruchirapalli. Kumbakonam
was the second capital of Cholas, who ruled since 3rd century. It was developed as a
religious center organized around several temples. Most of the old Shiva temples,
mandapam & padithore belong to this period.
The Pandyas of Madurai came into power in 13th century. Hoysalas ruled from 14th
century onwards, who were overpowered by the Vijayanagar kings, who appointed Nayaka
to rule the region. The Nayakas made additions to the existing Shiva temples & made new
Vaishnava temples. Art, architecture, crafts, literature, music & dance were patronized by
Chola, Nayaka & Maratha rulers in the region. Later, the city was, recognized for its
importance; as a centre for handicrafts & artifacts. The cities Municipality, Magistrate
Court, institutes, Road & Rail connectivity were established by the British. The city has
been a seat of intellectual legacy, hence commonly referred to as the Cambridge of South India.
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There are several agraharams, dwelling quarters of various Brahmin communities, each
with its own shrines, mandapams & chatrams. Each dwelling in an agrahara is organized
around one or more courtyards. The urban realm in a sacred city is a continuum of ritual
space articulated through a hierarchy of localized levels, ranging from the public domain of
the temple to the private socio-microcosms of its agraharams & residential sectors of
various jatis3
Kumbakonam has temples dedicated to all three deities Shiva (twelve shrines), Vishnu
(four shrines) & Brahma (one shrine). The Shiva temples, belonging to the Chola period,
are more ancient than the Vaishnavite temples, which belong to the Nayaka period.
Kumbeshwara temple is distinct, with its gopuram (45m high) & entrance passageway,
which functions as a covered market. Nageshwara temple is oriented, such that the sun penetrates right through to the linga in the inner
sanctum
When the Jupiter lies in line with the Moon, on a full moon day; the sacred planet
combination is supposed to cast certain radiations on the Mahamakam tank. The
Mahamakam tank has the teertam of creation1. This particular day is celebrated as the
Mahamaham Festival. The Mahamaham festival happens once in 12years, during the Tamil
month of Masi. It invites pilgrims from all over the country.
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The Early Beginnings
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Vaishnava settlements. The initial brick structures were converted to stone vimanas & nuclei of
huge temple complexes, which grew steadily in size from chola period & gained additional
subsidiary shrines and enclosures (Prakarams) with tall gopurams, during the Vijayanagara Nayaka period8.
Nageshwara temple continued to be the centre for all major activities, till the Kumbeshwara temple
gained significance. The temple settlement of Thirunageshwaram was supposed to have replaced
an earliar jain settlement8. During the Vijayanagara-Nayaka period, Vaishnavism gained
importance & Sarangapani temple became the centre of this major settlement. The steps &
mandapam were added to the Mahamakam tank, along with a number of Padithore along Cauvery
river. Chakrapani & its residential area came into existence along with several Vaishnava
mathams8. Maratha influence is seen through smaller shrines and development in
built form around the core of the city.
The city was later ruled by the British, which led to the beginning of the colonial era at Kumbakonam. It was marked by the establishment
of educational institutes. The Town Municipality was established in1866. The civil & criminal courts were also set-up during the colonial
period, which was later shifted to Tanjore, leading to a fall in the growth rate of the city, due to migration8.
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The city has good connectivity through a network of roads & rail. The transportation
corridors are State Highways, i.e. Kumbakonam Channai, Kumbakonam Thanjavur,
Kumbakonam Mayiladuthurai & Kumbakonam Mannargudi & Major District Road.
Commercial activities are located to the centre of the town; along Thanjavur-Mayiladuthurai
Road, Big Street, Town High school road, & areas surrounding Kumbeshwara temple, new
bus-stand, cinema theatres, banks, hotels & lodges; & at Swamimalai & Darasuram5. The
trend of industrialization of the town is mainly through agriculture based & small scale
industries. The urbanization trend is slow & steady, in Kumbakonam city5.
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ANALYSIS
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MORPHOLOGICAL DIMENSION
7.1 Introduction
The geographical setting along the Cauvery delta region, the abstract scheme and the implied worldview, have lend it a unique
morphological dimension beyond time. The abstract scheme based on strong canonical principles in structuring this temple city and the
implied worldview characterized in the ritual topography has rendered it with a sacred configuration.
The place still sustains the meaning and memory of a religious precinct. Its position in Hindu Myth, urban configuration temples & tanks,
palaces & civic buildings, institutions, religious scholarships, Brahmin elite, arts & crafts, all lead to the traditions of Urbane Tamil Culture.
7.2 Geographical Setting
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Cauvery originates in Karnataka at Talakaveri, in Kodagu and along its course; it is intercepted by religious towns like Srirangam,
Papanasham, Gangaikondacholapuram, Kumbakonam & the port town Nagapattinam. The city with its strategic location along the Cauvery
delta region, between the Cauvery & its tributary Arasalar renders it as an ecologically sensitive zone. The area is strewn with a number of
water channels flowing from west to east. It has a shallow slope down from north to south with the many ridgelines running east west.
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The temple city has been conceived with the underlying canonical principles in its overall structure. The plan contemplates the Swastika
mandala, a diagram that allows the flexibility to be marked out into a square, or rectangle or it may be of any shape. The diagram suggests
that the town to be surrounded by a rampart wall, with a moat at its foot filled with water. Two main streets cross each other at the center,
running North south and East west. The resultant quadrants would follow a street network in the swastika pattern, with the principal streets
in each running in one cardinal direction. The central location of the main Siva or Vishnu temple, the presence of a Jain temple in the SW
quadrant, the palace in the west and the kalyani are also comparable to this temple city.
7.4 The morphological dimension:
7.4.1 Land use pattern: existing & proposed by the authorities
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The land use is predominantly residential, with the commercial activities mainly concentrated towards the center (the traditional core) of the
city along the state highway, Bazaar street, TSR big street, around the Mahamakam, Dabir west street, Nageshwara Koil street.The public
and semi public zones are dominant in the center with the temples, schools and town hall (located in the old traditional core of the city). The
government offices and the institutiona are located towards the eastern side of the city, in the periphery.
The rivers in the north and the south bound the city of Kumbakonam. and is intersected by canals. Tanks or Kulams are generally spread
across the city and are accompanied by the temples. The backyard spaces, dried tank beds and the flood banks of the rivers, form the
resultant green spaces in the city, accompanied by the agricultural lands on the outskirts.
Slums are a common feature along the drains, canals and the flood banks of the rivers, particularly Arasalar as Cavery is linked to the city in
the ritual topography. The settlement in the city is generally organized on the basiss of community and occupation, resulting in a mixed land
use. The newer developments and residential layouts in the city are towards the eastern edge and in the outskirts of the city.
Building-use
The buildings in the core of the city and along the highway
are mostly of mixed use type, which also reflects the fact
that the settlements of a particular community occupy a
particular area, based on their occupation. This feature of
the dwelling close to the place of work, occupation based
settlement is also seen in the present times with areas near
the core and near the courts and hospitals being occupied
by lawyers and doctors respectively.
Local level commercial activity can be seen along Bazaar
street catering to the temples, commercial activities like
lodges banks are located along TSR big street, around
Mahamakam and Dabir west street. Local level commercial
activity and mixed-use buildings are seen along
Nageshwara kovil sannidhi street and along the state
highway. The built fabric is undergoing a lot of
transformations due to the commercial pressures. Religious
institutions like temples are concentrated along the core of
the city, around Mahamakam. The older fabric of Matams
and Chatrams are undergoing transformations.
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7.4.2 Linkages:
Kumbakonam is well connected regionally to the cities Chennai and Tanjore, in the Tamilnadu state. The
State highway from Tanjore cuts across the municipality and the network of streets at the local level
responds sensitively to the local drainage pattern and geographical features.
CHENNAI
THANJAVUR
MYLADUTHU
THIRUVARUR
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STREET HIEARCHY
The Primary Streets
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The State highway acts as a main spine of Kumbakonam that runs through the ridge with all the secondary and tertiary streets meeting it.
The major transformations are along this spine with G+3 structures. The street network responds to the topographical features and the
network of canals. Though deeply ingrained to cosmological principles in the structuring of the town, the physical construct of it responds
to the geographical context invariably.
7.4.3 Building heights
The entire fabric is predominantly low-rise structures, punctuated by the towering gopurams of the main temples. The residential fabric is of
ground and G+ 1 structure. The major transformation zones are along the State highway, around Mahamakam, along the Cauvery river edge
and the new road, lined with G+3 and above structures. The religious institutions, matams, major government and educational institutions
are ground and G+ 1 structure, with an exception of Sastra University, which are G+3
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Traditionally, the tanks could be classified into 3 types, as those which are associated to the temple rituals, those which are part of the
irrigation system and finally those which are the intermediate over flow tanks in the surface drainage system (fig 1). The former type has
religious institutions as part of the physical built and streets built around the edges. The second type of tanks varies in sizes and is
essentially the part of the hinterland. The tanks which are the part of the surface drainage net work remain as ponds surrounded by the urban
fabric which are the most susceptible one to conversion into slums, parks, playgrounds etc. due to the changing meaning and associations of
these elements to the users.
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The inference drawn by this study is that the hierarchy of scales of Open spaces differs from each other. The Cauvery node being the largest
and Gandhi Park is the smallest.
In each case the movement is a linear movement; with the Open space being offcentred.Mahamakam node and Cauvery node have
maximum accessibility and ritual connection to it and hence draw more public. The kinds of elements like mantapas, steps etc add on to it
being more public.Potramarai kulam though has a ritual connection but still lacks the abitility to draw the public due to lack of accessibility
to it. The nature of Open to built is a central large open space with structures built around it upto G+2.The kind of activity around this open
space is commercial with small local level commercial to city level commercials.
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A Street view
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The urban block selected abuts the Big bazaar street, which was a conscious historical intervention to define a north- south axis, culminating
at the Chakrapani Temple. The Varaha kulam, smaller shrines, and the canal which is a part of the larger drainage system lend further to its
imageability.
The land use long the primary Big bazaar street has been transformed completely to commercial and that along the Chakrapani Kovil south
street is mixed residential. The average plot size of 8m x 57m, is configured perpendicular to the canal which runs with in the block. The
Varaha kulam was part of the ritual topography as water from this tank was used for the rituals at Chakrapani temple. The presence of river
Cauvery is strengthened by linking the precinct to the padithurai, the ghats.
7.6.2 The growth processes of the urban block
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Fig 1
Fig 2
Fig 3
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The early phase (fig 1) represents a balanced system of built and open with the larger concern to maintain the rear set backs as a collective
open space. The network of surface run off canals thus accommodated as part of this collective private open spaces. But the attitude to these
green networks has been reversed over a period of time (fig 2). At present the rear set back spaces are converted to new plots by introducing
a new road with a common consent amongst the land owners and the block is thus densified and the canals are vanishing in the process. The
speculated scene (fig 3) of the urban block shows an increase in the built, reduction of open spaces, the vanishing canal network and the
introduction of new streets. The issue addresses a serious conservation concern.
7.6.3 Building Height and Built Vs Open
Its a low-rise fabric with the building height predominantly varying from G and G+1. Higher structures are spring along the main
commercial spines. The figure ground map shows the changing attitude to collective private open rear set back spaces which are getting
converted to new plots and hence an intensified built condition.
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Conclusion
The understanding of the morphological dimensions coupled with the natural setting essentially opened up new possibilities of addressing
this ritual topography to conserve its living heritage and to speculate the new avenues of development. The process has led to questioning
the issues, concerns and opportunities of the temple town, which in course of discussions developed into individual design explorations. The
variety of schemes evolved includes redefining the historical street, the water edge of the town along Cauvery and Arasalar rivers, The
exploited channels, tanks and tank beds and their relevance in the present day to proposing a new development to the eastern part of
Kumbakonam.
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8. REFERENCES
1. Action Plan for the provision of basic amenities & infrastructure development works in Kumbakonam town for the Mahamaham
festival, 2004.
2. Carl, P., Dallapicola, A., Michell, G., Nanda, V., 1998, Cambridge Kumbakonam Project Kumbakonam: A Ritual Topography,
Architecture Design, Vol.66, pg. no.7-12.
3. Carl, P., et al, 1998, Kumbakonam Art, Architecture & Urbanism: Space, Ritual & Meaning in a Sacred Royal City of South
India, Cambridge University, U.K.
4. Kumbakonam An Urban Study, 2005, Periyar Maniammai College of Technology for Women, Vallam, Thanjavur.
5. Master Plan Kumbakonam, 2004.
6. National Atlas & Thematic Mapping Organisation, 1997, District Planning Map Series - Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, Survey of India.
7. Operations Research Group, 1999, Integrated Development Plan for Heritage Areas in Tamil Nadu Kumbakonam Town, Directorate
of Town & Country Planning, Chennai.
8. Priya, M.R., 1998, Kumbakonam Manifestations of a Traditional Setting, Unpublished B.Arch. Project Thesis Report, N.I.T.,
Trichy.
9. Temple towns of Tamil Country, Temple Town Kumbakonam
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