Evolution of a Town - Chamba

Chamba

Evolution of a Town

Abhimanyu Mittal | Dhruv Gupta | Saurabh Gupta

INTRODUCTION

Every settlement that exists todayhave developed along eithera) Reserve of water, or ab) Trade route

Reserve of water- Ravi and its tributary

Trade route to TissaChamba - Today

But Chamba had both of these, thusincreasing its prospects of becoming aprogressive settlement.

Chamba is said to have an organicorder of development, which waslinear at first and later upon time,developed into a cluster

Like any trade route town initially it grewlinear and later growth spread organically

Chamba- during british times

Only bridge during british times

SECTION THROUGH CHAMBA

STRATEGICAL LOCATION

Chamba is surrounded by various natural barriers. As a result, it becomes militarily inaccessible.

a) Ravi forms 300 ft. gorge on the west

b) The Sal tributary forms a gorge on the north

c) The Shahmadar hill rises up formidably in the east

The town acted as a self supporting fortwith its own Water supply and foodsupplies from adjacent areas

It also lies in the wind shadow area dueto adjacent Chamunda hill protectingthe town from cold chilly winds fromRavi valley

Map of Himachal Pradesh

THE LEGEND

According to legend, king Sahil Varman visited lower Ravi valley accompanied by queen,

his guru and daughter Champavati. On seeing the sight the daughter was awestruck and

urged her father to establish a town there and make it his capital. The king gave into her

wishes and shifted his capital from Bharmaur to ‘Chamba Valley’, so named after his

daughter

EVOLUTION PROCESS

The psychological factor in the case of Chamba were

various focuses in the form of temples. The town grew

rythemically and in harmony with these focuses.

Hence, one can understand the abundance of temples in

this region and why Himachal is called ‘Devbhoomi’ (Land

of Gods)

Laxmi Narain Temple

SCHEMATIC PRESENTATION OF POSSIBLE SETTING OF TOWN

•Road from Bharmaur enters town and turns

towards temple and palace complex

•Location of temple can be justified as

• Brahmin settlement already in that area

• Some deity already being worshipped

• Orientation towards east

• Higher and flatter site overlookin the town

•The location of palace comes in accordance

with proximity to the temple

EVOLUTION PROCESS

The Sui Mata temple and later on the Hari Rai

temple an the edge of the Chowgan

completed the axis known as ‘Rajpath’ or the

ceremonial axis.

The road from Bharmaur was part of a

major trade route linking Garhwal to

Jammu via Tissa. This was the

common man’s route and may be

called as ‘Janpath’, with the guarding

deity of Chamunda Devi at the

entrance of the town.

THE PROBABLE TRIANGUALR SETTLEMENT

ACTUAL EVOLUTION PROCESS

Later on. As the expanded as far as the bank of Ravi, another guarding deity of

Sheetla Devi was built.

THE SOCIETY

The Ist quadrant due to

the presence of the

palace developed as

the ‘kshatriya’

dominated area. This

formed the living

quarters of the king, his

wazirs, advisors, etc

The IVth quadrant

served as a vacant

zone, which was to be

later developed as

‘Chowgan’ byh the

british. Its function may

have been to hold

‘Minjar’, the local fair

and restin spot for

visitors and traders.

The IInd quadrant due

to the presence of

main Lakshmi Narain

Temple and presence

of brahmins, led to

being formed as the

main Brahmin area.

The ‘Shudras’ were

placed in the IIIrd

quadrant-they being

separated from the

others by a green

buffer.

THE SOCIETY

PROBABLE AREAS OF INITIAL SETTLEMENT ACCORDING TO THE CASTE SYSTEM

Hence, we see the development of town in a rigid caste setup owing to strong religious

beliefs. Even today, one can demarcate pockets in town on the basis of various castes as

Brahmins, Khatris, Mahajans, Chammars, etc.

EVOLUTION PROCESSGROWTH OF TOWN GUIDED BY VARIOUS LANDMARKS

Triangular shape during the medieval period

EVOLUTION PROCESSFINAL SHAPE OF TOWN

In the blue are the new areas of Dharog, Sultanpura, Julakri, Surara, Jansali & Hardaspur

Hatnala

Bangotu

Kashmiri Mohalla

Sapri

Chowgan

Dharog

Sultanpura

Julakri

Surara

Jansali

Hardaspur

MOHALLAS

JANSALI

• One of the oldest

sections of town, initial

settlement of Brahmins

• Houses are old and

dilipidated, pointing

towards weak economic

conditions of Brahmins

• Almost all inhabitants

are Hindus, and 4/5th of

them Brahmins.

MOHALLAS

HATNALA

• Main attraction Laxmi

Narayan temple

• Streets open and roads

well maintained

• 3 main business centres,

main one being Dogra

bazar.

• Houses are old but some

well maintained

• Khatris and Brahmins

constitute largest

communities, others being

Mahajans, Rajputs and

Aryas

MOHALLAS

CHOWGAN

• The main

commercial

sector.

• Around 250

temporary shops.

•Hari Rai temple,

Sheetla temple

and Gandhi Gate

are ancient

monuments

•Chowgan

grounds being the

most important

public placemof

the entire Chamba

MOHALLAS

SULTANPURA

• Added to south-west

of Chamba

• In a short time, large

no. of commercial

establishments sprung

up.

•Poor condition of

narrow roads and

streets.

•Most of the houses are

mud structures.

•Jogi and Batwal castes

are prevalent.

MOHALLAS

DHAROG

•Lacks motorable

roads. Streets are dirty.

•Houses of mud and

timber in neglected

state, single-storey

occupied by scheduled

castes.

•Ad-dharmis and

Batwals are trained in

manufacturing

Chamba Chappals,

famous for design,

durability and

craftsmanship.

MOHALLAS

JULAKRI

•Situated on the right

bank of Ravi.

•District Police Lines

are situated here.

•Private houses are

antiquated and

decayed

•Congestion is so

marked, in certain

cases 8-12 people

share single room.

•Muslims are

predominant in this

area

MOHALLAS

HARDASPURA

•Lies 2 k.m. from the

town

•Streets are clean,

wide, motorable and

eucalyptus trees are

planted on botgh sides

of Chamba-Bharmaur

road.

•Large govt. housing

colonies have come

up.

MOHALLASBANGOTU

•Comprises the heart of

the town

•Akhand Chandi Palace,

Champavati Temple,

Hanuman Temple are

located here

•Congested residential

area and substantial no. of

shops.

•Roads are sufficiently

wide and clean

•Khatris and Mahajans in

majority, the rest being

scheduled castes

concentrated in Dhobi

Mohallah.

MOHALLASKASHMIRI MOHALLAH

•Situated by the side of

Ravi and its tributary Sal.

•Lanes are filthy and

narrow.

•Houses small, old and

poorly maintained.

•Sham Singh Hospital and

Bhuri Singh museum are

important buildings.

•Kashmiri mohallah

inhabited by muslims.

•Pucca tala mohallah

occupied by Balmiki

community, scavengers

by profession.

MOHALLAS

SURARA

•Historic glory extruded

by Rang Mahal, the

treasury of the erstwhile

rulers.

•The 18th century palace

is built in typical Quila

style and now houses 2

public sector industries.

•Houses are spacious

and well-ventilated.

•Only 2 broad streets, all

other are conspicuously

narrow and poorly

maintained.

•Khatri is numerically

strongest followed by

Brahmins, then Rajputs

and Mahajans.

MOHALLAS

SAPRI

•D.C. office, Bhartiya

public school and the

club are important

buildings.

•Condition of roads is

slightly better than

other parts of the town.

•House type and house

patterns are more or

less same as the other

wards.

•Dominant caste is

Khatri followed by

Mahajans, dominant

business communities

of the town.

HIERARCHY OF STREETS, OPEN SPACES AND FOCUSES

Rajpath

Janpath

Palace L.N. Temple


Every turn is

one of the

chercteristics of

an organic

settlement.

CHOWGAN EDGE


The projection on top of th building is a

typical of Chamba houses, this structure

is called ‘BANGLA’ and used as a

viewing gallery for passing processions,

as well as a space for spending

evenings.

Bhuri singh museum is another

attraction especially for its excelent

designing and prominent Modern

architecture


Over the years, nature of streets

changed drastically. The most important

being the shift of major axis from

Rajpath to Janpathdue to :-

1. Evolution of Janpath into central

commercial magnet for surrounding

catchment area. Being major

commercial spine i.e. Janpath

developed more than ceremonial

spine i.e. Rajpath

SECTION OF CHOWGAN BAZAAR BUILDING

Shops

Shops

To Bharmour Janpath

To Palace

2. British developed the edge

along the Chowgan placing major

public buildings on Janpath. Even

the king had to use alternate

routes to visit court andd other

important buildings.

Notice British construction; double pillars, deep verandahs and green sheet roofing


Circuit house at the

beginning of the janpath.

All major British officers

used to stay here

Gandhi gate (in red), entrance to

Rajpath.

The bus stand was built on the

south-east of the main chowgan.

This led to the shift of the town

entry from the Gandhi Gate side to

the south-east. This further

activated the Chowgan road

Gandhi gate

Bus Stand

VISUAL DISCIPLINE, HARMONY WITH NATURE AND ARCHITECTURAL BLEND.

These were some of the characteristics of the Chowgan edge which the British wanted to

achieve. In the centre adjacent to tree, the white buliding, built on a raised platform and

railing along the edge.

THE CHOWGAN EDGE

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

BEFORE 6TH CENTURY A.D.

• No source of information about

original inhabitants, but it is believed

that they migrated from plains and

settled in upper Ravi valley, i.e.

Brahmapura (now, Bharmaur)

•The original inhabitants may have

been certain tribes, now forming low-

caste tribes consisting of one-fourth

population, called ‘Chandals’.

•Evidence of certain aryans migrating

from central asia to here via Kashmir.

•Brahmapura also called ‘Gadaran’

(meaning ‘the sheep country’.

•Some scriptures, like 7th century

image of Surya in Gum and 6th

century image of Kartikeya at

Chatrarhi.


6TH CENTURY A.D. TO 10TH CENTURY A.D.

• Manimahes, Lakshna Devi, Ganesha and

Narsingh temples built by Meru Varman are

intersting remains of this period.

•Beginning of a society totally agrarian in nature,

having a strong religious base.

•Inter-settlement interactions very low,

only in case of a king’s conquest or visit

to a temple.

•Development took place due to trade

route from Garhwal to Kashmir, also

lying on Pilgrimage route to Manimahes

and Kailash parbat.

Manimahes temple

Narsingh temple



• Sahil Varman shifted the capital from

Bharmaur to Chamba.

•Many legends trace their origin during this

time, specifically, Sui Devi, Champavati and

Lakshmi Narain Temple

Lakshmi Narain temple Lakshmi Narain temple

Chamba-Aerial View

Champavati Temple

Rang Mahal by Raja Umed Singh

Raja Bhuri Singh


Chamba Rumal-Depicting’Ras Lila’


•Around 12th century A.D. whole of India was

attacked by Mohammedans. But, Chamba

remained unaffected for first 400 years.

•Mughals were generous towards Hill rulers

and allowed them to rule as long as they paid

tribute.

Chamba Rumal-Depicting hunting scene

Mughals acceepting tribute


•By the end of 17th century saw the rising

power of Jammu, and Chamba engulfed by

Dogra Supremacy.

•The Sikhs and Dogras were influential in

Chamba until the mid-1800s. When Chamba

saw wars with Kangra, Kulu, and Nurpur.

Raja Chatar SinghChamba at war with Kangra

10TH CENTURY A.D. TO 19TH CENTURY A.D

•By the end of 17th century saw the rising

power of Jammu, and Chamba engulfed by

Dogra Supremacy.

•The Sikhs and Dogras were influential in

Chamba until the mid-1800s. When Chamba

saw wars with Kangra, Kulu, and Nurpur.

•After that Chamba was in British control.

•After Independence, it was a princely state.

•And later was merged with other princely

states and the state of HIMACHAL PRADESH

was formed.

Raja Chattar Singh (1664-1690)

Raja Bhuri Singh

(1664-1690)

PRESENT CONTEXT

•Chamba is the land of Gods. With

some 60 to 70 big and small temples of

historical value located at diferent parts

of the town.

•It is also a land of beauty located at a

picturesque site with Mangla plateau.

•Also famous for beautiful women and

melodious folk songs.

•It has also become a major tourist

attraction after disturbed conditions in

Kashmir valley.

•This town was formed as a district

headquarter after independence and

was divided into eleven mohallas or

wards.


PRESENT CONTEXT

LAND USE PATTERN

LITERACY PATTERN

SOME IMPORTANT TEMPLES

CHAMPAVATI TEMPLE

•It is devoted to the guardian deity

Chamba Devi.

•Behind(East) the police station and

treasury buildings facing main

chowgan.

•Erected by Sahil Varman, in memory

of his daughter Champavati.

•Situated in a large open space with

no flooring.

•Shikhara style temple, elaborate

stone carving and wooden chhatris.

•Priests reside in the temple, while

Mandapa is in a broken state and

resides cows.

CHAMPAVATI TEMPLE-NORTH SIDE VIEW

CHAMPAVATI TEMPLE PLAN

CHAMUNDA DEVI TEMPLE

•Under the protection of ASI.

•Located on the spur of a hill overlooking town to

its south-east. Closest to it is sapri mohallah,

flight of steps leading to it.

•One of the oldest in Chamba, behind main

temple is a small Shiva temple.

•Constructed on a raised platform, which in turns

stands on a chabuttara.

•Flight of steps from chabutra lead upto the

temple.

•Ridge of slate stones rests on deodar wood

planks and rafters.

•Load of roof transferred to carved solid wood

lintel which transfers to stone pillars.

•Clam and peace due to isolation.

HARI RAI TEMPLE

•Under the protection of ASI.

•North west corner of the main Chowgan.

•Devoted to Vishnu and made in 11th

century AD by Salavahana.

•Shikhar type temple built on a raised

platform.

•Shikhar of finely carved stone.

LAKSHMI NARAYAN TEMPLE

•This group comprises of some of the oldest as well as

some of the new ones. Protected by the ASI.

•Located at the same terrace as Akhand Chandi

Palace, to its north and east of the Chowgan.

•Lakshmi Narayan-chief temple. As old as 920 A.D.,

stands north of the group and opposite the entrance.

•Radha Krishna-erected in 1825 A.D.by Rani Sadha

queen of Raja Jeet Singh

PROBLEMS FACING CHAMBA TOWN

•Development after Independence has been ad-hoc at its best

•Overpopulation attributted to

•Migration into town

•Scarcity of land

•Breakup of joint family system

•Commercial sector puts load on residential sector

•Lack of education and environmental awareness

LACK OF VISUAL DISCIPLINE ON

CHOWGAN FAÇADE. ABSENCE OF

ORIENTATION ORDER AND GREENERY

A DENSE SETTLEMENT IN THE WARDS OF

SURARA, BANGOTU, HATNALA AND JANSALI.

OPEN DRAINS EMIT CONSTANT STENCH AND IN

CONGESTED AREAS IT BECOMES

UNBEARABLE ATMOSPHERE DURING

MONSOONS.

PARKING OF HEAVY GOODS VEHICLES ON

THE MAIN MARKET ROAD

UNCOMFORTABLE SCALE OF STREETS

DUE TO INCREASING VERTICAL

CONSTRUCTION AND UNPLANNED

SEWAGE LINES

AKHAND CHANDI PALACE

•Use of palace as a college building is

inappropriate andcontributes to

physical malice of the building, eg.

Toilets below staircases, classrooms

painted by students, shattered glass

panels, etc.

•Unsuitable for college- absolutely no

scope of expansion for playgrounds,

hostels, etc.

•Principal’s residence constructed on

earler green cover.

•Unaesthetic construction around the

palace.

•Because of the low-budget of college,

the authorities have not been able to

maintain the college

THE END

Evolution of a Town - Chamba

Education

Transcript of Evolution of a Town - Chamba