Indian Heritage Cities Network: walking into the microcosm of Jaipur

IN/2011/CL/35

Foreword

Shri Armoogum ParsuramenUNESCO Director and Representative to

Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka and Maldives

Shri Shanti DhariwalMinister for Urban Development, Housing, Local

Self Government, Home, Law, Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Rajasthan

India’s unique cultural heritage lies in its cities, towns and settlements, which form a complex and highly developed fabric of human habitation. The country’s flourishing urban culture is continuously undergoing a process of change, interacting with new elements and assimilating new ideas as well as the aspirations and creativity of its people. Cities thus renew themselves while maintaining their unique and diverse heritage, both cultural and natural.

Rapid urbanization, along with the influence of globalization, has in recent times accelerated the pace of change in all aspects of Indian life, and particularly in urban settlements. India’s cities and towns find themselves under pressure to accommodate rapidly growing populations, with all the demands on technology and public services and utilities this entails. This can lead to a chaotic urban scenario disturbing the delicate balance of the city’s physical, social, cultural and ecological environment.

If Indian cities and towns are not strengthened to cope with these abrupt changes and transformations, the uniqueness and diversity of the cultures that exist in them will soon be lost forever, and they risk becoming homogeneous and monotonous. The preservation of the culture and heritage of cities and towns is a major challenge for local authorities and citizens alike.

The present Concept paper on Heritage Walk in the historic cities of Jaipur, authored by Dr. Shikha Jain accordingly seeks to identify the core heritage resources of the city and its enduring characters thereby proposing a possible itinerary of a heritage walk in the old city of Jaipur. Designing of such a heritage walk, far from being a mere tourism attraction, should serve as a small-scale model case to guide our reflection on how an urban renewal may take place in harmony with heritage preservation.

The publication is a collaborative effort between the Government of Rajasthan and UNESCO under the Indian Heritage Cities Network. Launched by UNESCO in 2006 with the endorsement of the Union Ministry of Urban Development, this Network provides a platform of exchange for the municipalities and town planners on the use of heritage resources for sustainable urban development. As of December 2010, it comprises of twenty-four Indian member cities, of which Jaipur is one, seven non-Indian cities and regional partners, as well as several universities, NGOs and other institutional members. Developing a heritage walk itineraries constitutes one of the four key actions that a member city is expected to undertake.

Remembering that the Indian Heritage Cities Network began during an international conference that took place in the very city of Jaipur, it is our immense pleasure that the city serves, once again, as the first example of a Concept paper on Heritage Walk developed under the Network. We hope that this publication would serve as a source of inspiration to other member cities, leading to the development of a series of similar attempts across India.

Rajasthan – Jaipur – Indian Heritage Cities Network4

UNESCO Survey Team Members

• Ms.MinjaYang,FormerDirectorandUNESCORepresentativeforBhutan,India,SriLankaandMaldives

• Ms.MoeChiba,ProgrammeSpecialistforCulture,UNESCONewDelhi

• MsFaithSingh,Trustee,JaipurVirasatFoundation

• Mr.VinodJoshi,JaipurVirasatFoundation

• CEO,JaipurMunicipalCorporation

• Dr.AylinOrbasli,OxfordBrookesUniversity

• Dr.ShikhaJain

• Ms.ParulMunjal

• Ms.VanickaArora

• Ms.SomyaJohri

• Ms.NehaSaxena

• Ms.ParulBhatti

Acknowledgements

Rajasthan – Jaipur – Indian Heritage Cities Network 5

Table of Contents

Indian Heritage Cities Network .......................................................................... 7 - Introduction and approach ..................................................................... 7 - Why develop a heritage walk? ............................................................... 8

Jaipur - history of a city ......................................................................................... 9

City and its evolution ............................................................................................13

Urban form and architectural identity .........................................................19 - Streets and chowks ..................................................................................20 - Bazaars ..........................................................................................................21 - Typology of façades .................................................................................22 - Construction materials ............................................................................23 - Gates and city walls ..................................................................................24 - Fortsandpalaces ......................................................................................26 - Temples.........................................................................................................29 - Havelis and cluster houses ....................................................................32 - Water structures ........................................................................................35 - Public open space and gardens ...........................................................38 - Public buildings and memorials ..........................................................40

Intangible heritage ................................................................................................42 - The city as a centre for arts and business .......................................43 - Arts and crafts ............................................................................................44 - Building arts and crafts ...........................................................................45 - Music and dance .......................................................................................48 - Festivals ........................................................................................................49 Entrance of Samrat Haveli, Jaipur


Proposal for heritage walk .........................................................................................................................................................50 - Proposed itinerary ...........................................................................................................................................................51 - Mapping socio-cultural activities ................................................................................................................................55 - Listing built heritage . .....................................................................................................................................................57

Challenges to heritage-based urban development .......................................................................................................61 - Lack of awareness towards heritage ..........................................................................................................................62 - Poor implementation of regulatory and legislative framework ......................................................................63 - Sustaining intangible heritage .....................................................................................................................................65 - Solid waste management ..............................................................................................................................................66 - Water infrastructure .........................................................................................................................................................67 - Electricity wiring and services ......................................................................................................................................69 - Firesafety .............................................................................................................................................................................70 - Vehiculartrafficandparking .........................................................................................................................................71 - Management of stray animals ......................................................................................................................................73 - Insufficient tourist facilities ..........................................................................................................................................74

Vision for planned growth .........................................................................................................................................................75

Recommendations for action ....................................................................................................................................................83 - Heritage awareness programme .................................................................................................................................84 - Interpretation of the heritage resources of the city .............................................................................................85 - Legislative and regulatory framework for heritage conservation ...................................................................86 - Incentive mechanisms for heritage management ...............................................................................................87 - Adaptive reuse ..................................................................................................................................................................88 - Mainstreaming local crafts into the modern market ...........................................................................................91 - Infrastructure improvement through community participation and public private partnerships .....92 - Improved physical access to the heritage resources ..........................................................................................93

Sources and credits ........................................................................................................................................................................94


INDIAN HERITAGE CITIES NETWORKIntroduction and approach

• Founded in 2006 as a programme of UNESCO New Delhi officeand with the endorsement of the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, the Indian Heritage Cities Network (IHCN) supports Indian cities in their endeavour to safeguard and use the heritage resources for sustainable development through policy advice, capacity building, good practice exchange, awareness raising, technical assistance and the facilitation of partnerships.

• BybecomingamemberoftheNetwork,thecitiesareexpectedtotake the following actions:

(i) incorporate heritage cell within the municipality; (ii) formulate heritage regulations and guidelines; (iii) organize heritage festivals; and (iv) develop heritage walk itineraries within the historic city,

highlighting its heritage aspects - cultural, natural and intangible.

• The present document accordingly provides an analysis of theurban heritage of Jaipur, both tangible and intangible along with a proposal for a Heritage Walk through Chowkri Modi Khana, a historical segment of Jaipur City. Challenges for heritage conservation and recommendations for action are also provided, in a hope to serve as a food for thought for the municipal and the State authorities towards a more heritage-centric urban development.

A typical house entrance in Jaipur


INDIAN HERITAGE CITIES NETWORKWhy develop a heritage walk?

• Aheritagewalkthroughaselectedsegmentofacity aims at showcasing one of the most authentic representation of a city’s historic, cultural and architectural heritage. It gives a holistic experience to the international and domestic tourists and rejuvenates a sense of pride amongst the residents, including school students and youth.

• A heritage walk is also an important tool forurban renewal of the city. By developing a tourist itinerary through a most representative historical fabric of a city, it is intended to incite a number of ancillary projects that support economic regeneration of the area and encourage the municipal authorities to address long term sustainability issues. These could include: improved conditions for the local craftsmen, local restaurants and accomodation facilities for the tourists, developing a community area or even infrastructure projects for improved drainage, solid waste management or rain water harvesting with participation of the residents along the walk.

• Thusaheritagewalkcanbeamicroprojectthataddresses wider heritage conservation issues related to the city and, serves as a role model for heritage conservation of the entire city.


Jaipur – History of a City

Rajasthan – Jaipur – Indian Heritage Cities Network


JAIPUR – HISTORY OF A CITY

The eastern Rajasthan, lying to the east and south east of the Aravalli divide includes the modern administrative districts of – Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Banswara, Dungarpur, Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar, Bhilwara, Ajmer, Jaipur, Tonk, Dausa, Dholpur, Karauli, Bharatpur and Alwar.

• Thecurrentdistrictof Jaipur lies inEasternRajasthan, in the Banas River basin and forms a part of Eastern Plain of Rajasthan. The region is drained by a number of seasonal rivers of which Banganga, Dhundh and Bandi are prominent.

• From the 10th century onwards, the district referred to as Dhoondhar, formed one of the four distinguishable politico-cultural regions of Eastern Rajasthan, in addition to Mewat, Hadauti and Mewar. Dhoondhar region was roughly comprised of current districts of Jaipur, Dausa and Tonk, with Jaipur and Amber further constituting Dhoondhar subzone within the larger tract of Dhoondhar region.

• In Aryan epics, Dhoondhar region (calledMatsya Desh/ Mina Wati) was the shortest trade route between north India and rich port cities of Gujarat and Malabar. The region was held by Badgujars, Rajputs and Minas till the 11th century.

• Fromthe11thcenturyonwards,however,theDhoondhar region was increasingly under the power of Kachchwaha dynasty of Rajputs.


The three main capitals of the Dhoondhar Region under the Kachchwahas – Dausa, Amber and Jaipur.

• The Kachchwaha Rajputs trace their descentthrough the solar dynasty to Kush, one of the two sons of Lord Rama, the famous king of Ayodhya and the hero of the epic Ramayana. According to local tradition and popular bardic chronicles, Dulha/Dhola Rai (whose reign is accepted as being from 1006-1036 AD by most historians) one of the rulers of this clan, laid the foundation of Dhoondhar kingdom in 967 AD and made Dausa his capital.

• Kakil Dev (1036-1038) who succeededhis father Dulha Rai in 1036 AD, seized Amber from Meenas, laid the foundations of the Amber Fort and built the temple ofAmbikeshwar Mahadev – one of Amber’s earliest extant monuments. The capital of Dhoondar was shifted from Dausa to Amber between 1179 and 1216 AD.

• By the 17th century, the Kachchwaha Rajputclan became known for political clout and importance in the Mughal administration. Raja Man Singh (1590-1614) and Mirza Raja Jai Singh (1622-1667) contributed to the financial and cultural wealth of Dhoondhar through political alliance with Mughals.

• SawaiJaiSinghII(1700–1743)whooutlivedfive Mughal emperors and tried to prop up the Mughal Empire from 1707 – (Aurangzeb’s death) to sack of Delhi by Nadir Shah (1739) established the city of Jaipur and strengthened the boundaries of Dhoondhar.

Political map of Rajasthan in 1931 as Rajputana agency under the British Rule. The current Jaipur Dausa and Tonk Districts roughly form the Dhoondhar Cultural Region.

Political map of Rajasthan in 1595 with Jaipur under Mughal subah of Ajmer

• Part of the GoldenTourism Triangle – Agra, Jaipur, Delhi of northern India, Jaipur has emerged as one of the most sought after destinations on the tourist map of the world. The tourist season for Jaipur is from October to March. The city attracts domestic and foreign tourists in large numbers averaging to about 3000 tourists per day, who stay for 3-4 days in the city.

Important tourist destinations within the state of Rajasthan

In the past decade, the arrival of both domestic as well as foreign tourists to the city has nearly doubled, though the state of Rajasthan had seen a decline in number of foreign visitors.



City aND its EVoLutioN


CITY AND ITS EVOLUTION

Interpretation of the 18th century map from Kapad-dwara collection, Jaipur, with the gridiron pattern evident in the layout

• The foundation of the city of Jaipur was established bySawai Jai Singh II (1700-1743) in 1727. The city was designed by Sawai Jai Singh II himself and further developed and monitoredbyhisrenownedcounsellorVidyadhar.

• The city planned in the gridiron pattern was built withextraordinary foresight and futuristic planning and is probably the only 18th century walled city in India that can still cater to the present day pressures of vehicular traffic on roads.

• It included innovative concepts in traditional planningguidelines along with an appropriate adaptation of the terrain itself. The direct application of the mandala in the plan of Jaipur seems improbable, though parallels can be found between the Jaipur planning principles and traditional texts on spatial organization such as Rajvallabha, the regional 15th century text written by the sutradhar Mandan.

• Twosignificantfactsresponsiblefortheoriginofthecityand its subsequent layout were:

a) The need of a new capital for 18th century Dhoondhar as the earlier one of Amber built on a hill was getting congested;

b) Sawai Raja Jai Singh’s vision of the new capital as a strong political statement at par with Mughal cities and as a thriving trade and commerce hub for the region.


A – Religious centre or templeB – Political centre or forC – Gates and wallsD – Havelis and houses

• ThemedievaltownsofRajasthanwereofmilitary,agrarian,mercantileor religious nature. The presence of a deity marked the reference point for the ruler’s abode and the rest of the city. The name of the town was usually associated with the political or religious centre (with the Ambikeshwar temple in the case of Amber and with Sawai Jai Singh in the case of Jaipur).

• Unlike Dausa and Amber, the two previous capital cities of theDhoondhar region established on hill-top, whose planning was guided by topographical structure of the areas, Jaipur city was revolutionary both in terms of its grid-iron pattern planning and its location at the base of the hills.

• TherewasalsoasignificanteconomicshiftfromanagriculturalbaseinDausa and Amber to trading in the capital of Jaipur.

The generic plan of a medieval Rajasthani hill town- as in Dausa and Amber

The hill town of Dausa with an organic layout guided by the topography

Amber Town with the Fort on top of the hill and the walled town down the slopes


• ThesiteselectedforestablishingthenewcapitalofJaipurwasavalleylocated south of Amber and the plains beyond, a terrain that was the bed of a dried lake. There used to be dense forest cover to the north and the east of the city.

• The physical constraints that informed the building of Jaipur cityincluded the hills on the north that housed the fort of Jaigarh and the Amber palace beyond, and the hills on the east, which contained the sacred spot of Galtaji.

• To facilitate water supply to the new city, the Darbhavati river in thenorth was dammed to create the Jai Sagar and Man Sagar (that later housed the Jal Mahal) lakes. Later the Jhotwara river in the north-west was diverted through the Amani Shah Nallah and a number of canals were channelized through Brahmapuri and Jai Niwas to supply water to the city.

• The east-west axis of the town was divided by threeperpendicular roads into eight portions with the central ones of equal size and the outer ones as per the remaining dimensions till the Chand Pol in the west and Suraj Pol in the east. A sawaya (a quarter extra) system of measurement was used in the planning and details of Jaipur, with use of dimensions that are a quarter more than a whole number.18th century dimensional norms

The site with the natural east west ridge and the surrounding forts as defense feature


The intersection of the axes to define the Badi chaupar (city square) Division into eight portions, ends of the roads marked by gates in the city wall

• Later in the 18th and 19th centuries, there were additions in thebuilt fabric of the city and the palace such as the Hawa Mahal and a number of temples added by Sawai Pratap Singh under whom the Jaipur architectural vocabulary reached its peak in terms of stylization.

• Two major contributors to the city development and establishmentof modern infrastructure were Sawai Ram Singh II (1835 – 1879) and Sawai Man Singh II (1922 – 1969).

• In the 19th century, with the accession of Sawai Ram Singh II, thecity extended beyond the old city walls, adapted newer modes of transport such as the railways with a railway station located on the western outskirts, started using gaslights on the streets and adopted modernized drainage and piped water supply system.

• There were interesting additions in the urban fabric within thewalled city with new buildings constructed in the Indo Saracenic vocabulary such as the Mubarak Mahal within the Palace Complex, theNayaMahalorVidhanSabhaandtheMaharaja’sCollegein1873(now Rajasthan School of Arts); and the Ramniwas Bagh that was later enhanced with the visual focus of the monumental Albert Hall Museum to the south of the walled city.

• The 20th century observed further modernization and urbanrenovations within the walled city, including the restoration work of the city walls and gates and, converting the inner temporary houses in the sectors into more permanent structures; pioneered by the famous Mirza Ismail who was appointed as the Prime Minister of Jaipur in the early 20th century. A number of new colonies such as the Bani Park came outside the walled city.

• In 1947, the four largest Rajput states, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikanerand Jaipur opted to join secular India. Jaipur then became the capital of Rajasthan leading to further attraction of administrative and economic activities. These factors led to increased development of residential areas to cater to the growing population.

I9th and 20th century additions


urBaN forM aND arCHitECturaL iDENtity

Streets and chowksBazaars

Typology of façadesConstruction materials

Gates and city wallsForts and palaces

TemplesHavelis and cluster houses

Water structuresPublic open space and gardens

Public buildings and memorials



URBAN FORM AND ARCHITECTURAL IDENTITYStreets and chowks

View of a main bazaar street - the width of the main roads was kept 39 1/4 gaz - 108 feet, secondary roads are half this size - 54 feet, the tertiary roads are 27 feet and the inner mohalla streets are 13 feet wide

• The main markets, havelis and temples on themain streets in Jaipur were constructed by the state in the 18th century, thus ensuring a uniform street façade is maintained. The widths of roads were predetermined.

• Accordingtoapopularbelief,thecitywaspaintedpink to celebrate the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1876, during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II, lending the city the name of ‘Pink City’.

• Junctions of the main axial streets formed the twosquare public open spaces called chaupars (Badi chaupar and Chhoti chaupar). The width of the square chaupars was three times that of the main street.

• Historically, the chaupars were outlets for intensesocial use with water structures connected by underground aqueducts, supplying numerous sources of drinking water at street level. Presently, the centre of each chaupar has square enclosures with ornamental fountains.

• The streets and chowks (central open squaresin a town) of the internal chowkries (sectors) with numerous clusters or mohallas were not predetermined; hence show a mix of grid iron and organic pattern, with the basic unit of built form being the rectangular haveli.View of a chaupar today


URBAN FORM AND ARCHITECTURAL IDENTITYBazaars

Bazaar streets have temples above shops with wide staircase starting from pavement to the temple level. Space above shops at first floor level originally functioned as galleries for watching royal processions, religious festivals and public celebrations

Uniform planned shop fronts on bazaar streets with upper floors in interesting juxtaposition

Defined street façade at a chaupar with sunshades and latticed colonnades at upper floors and shop fronts on the ground floor

• Original markets in the city include Kishanpole bazaar,Gangauri bazaar, Johari bazaar, Sireh Deorhi bazaar, along the main north-south and east-west axes that intersect at Chhoti and Badi Chaupars.

• Typical architectural features of the bazaar streets are -use of chhajjas (sunshades) resulting in strong horizontal lines, projecting vertical blocks on brackets, a modular system of arches filled with delicate latticed screens to cut direct sun and glare of reflected sun in the street.


URBAN FORM AND ARCHITECTURAL IDENTITYTypology of façades

• FaçadesofJaipurandsurroundingstypicallyhavegokhdas (sitting spaces) on either side of the entrance.

• The openings are often characterized bythe use of cusped, trefoil or pointed arches with rectangular or chhatri (vaulted dome) type framing, flanked with lotus columns. An increased ornamentation is seen in later post Jaipur Marwari patterned havelis as compared to the Dhoondhari ones from the 18th century.

• Stylistically, the bangaldar (curvilinear) roofbecame prevalent in stone chhatris and chhajjas (sunshades) and was later used in other areas of Rajasthan too.

An elaborate entranceway with a gokhda and cusped and pointed arch as important elements in the streetscape, Goyal Bhawan, Chowkri Modikhana

Entrance with chhatri type framing, the bangaldar chhatri was used extensively in the Dhoondhar region

Entrances in Dhoondhar region, use of arches with rectangular framing

The bangaldar chhatri with the sunshade following the profile forms the focus of the Chandra Mahal façade, in the City Palace complex, that dates from the period of the foundation of the city


URBAN FORM AND ARCHITECTURAL IDENTITYConstruction materials

• Stone for construction is available in abundance in theregion. The earlier structures are of masonry in random rubble or dressed form in grey metamorphosed stone, schist from Ramgarh or stone from Ghat Ki Guni area. Later in the 19th century, Bansi Paharpur stone was used in Jaipur.

• Stone walls are on an average 1 feet 6 inches thick andplastered with lime. Columns are either assembled with laterite stone or are monolithic with timber type joints. Use of stone in beams, lintels, door and window frames is common.

• Makrana marble is used for decorative componentssuch as carved columns and black marble from Kotputli for inlay-work.

• Roofingisusuallyofstoneslabsexceptinafewcaseswherebricks are arranged in a concentric manner called the ladao roof.Forthermalinsulation,alayerofinvertedclaypotsusedbetween multiple roofing layers amounting to a total roof thickness of about 1 feet 6 inches.

• Typical finishes of this region include araish (slaked limesmooth finish) on floors and walls. The havelis, palaces and temples show excellence in stone work of jharokhas (projected balconies), jaalis (latticed screens) and parapets. Stuccowork in lime plaster is also found. Decorative finishes include mirror work, stained glass, mother of pearl inlay and silver inlay work frescoes, pannimeena and dakmeena work.

A Haveli in Amber with random rubble masonry, finished with lime plaster.

A typical wall section in Dhoondhar


URBAN FORM AND ARCHITECTURAL IDENTITYGates and city walls

• The walled city of Jaipur shows a 6 meter high and 3meter thick crenellated masonry wall surrounding the city that is pierced by nine gates – seven original and two were added later. The city gates were earlier closed at night as a rule. The practice discontinued in 1942 due to inconvenience to the travellers from the railway station who reached the city late in the night.

• Remains of fortifications of earlier capital of Amber in thenorth and Ambagarh in the Ghat ki Guni area in the east present an interesting landscape.

The fortifications at Jaipur The fortifications at Amber


• The walled central square(Chowkri Sarhad) several high walled courtyards sequentiall laid out with a system of gateways.

• Similar gateways can be seen inthe other palaces in and around Jaipur – such as the Amber fort and palace.

Sireh Deodhi Gate – royal ceremonial gate as entry to the palace complex from the north- south axis or the Sireh Deodhi Bazaar

Chand Pol – The Suraj Pol and Chand Pol mark the eastern and the western ends of the east- west axis.

Typology of Gates in Jaipur


Nahargarh - Built in 1734 has many ruins but also houses structures with architectural merit like Hawa Mandir and Madhavendra Bhawan

Jaigarh – Built by Maharaja Jai Singh II in 1726, ‘The Pride of Jaigarh’ the Jai Ban canon is supposed to be the largest canon of its type. The Fort has palaces, well maintained gardens, granary and a tall watchtower within.

• Thetruehill fortsofJaipur liebeyonditswalledboundaries,perched on strategic locations in the hills on the north, east and west, namely the forts of Amber, Jaigarh, Ambagarh and Nahargarh. All these forts have palatial royal residences within the complex.

Amber – Built over several centuries since it was established as the seat of the Kachchwahas in the 11th century. The palace fortress was in use till the shift of the capital to Jaipur in 1728

City Palace Jaipur with Nahargarh in the backdrop – The first Chowkri to be developed in the city of Jaipur was Chowkri Sarhad that contains the entire city palace with Chandra Mahal dominating the skyline

URBAN FORM AND ARCHITECTURAL IDENTITYForts and palaces


• These include constructions by the rulers of Dhoondhar suchas –Amber Fort and Palace, Jaipur City Palace, Nahargarh,Raghunathgarh, Jaigarh, Ambagarh; as well as by the thakurs (estate owners) within the region in their thikanas (land/estates) such as Samode Chomu,Manoharpura, Achrol, Bishangarh. The most exemplary in ornamentation are the Amber Palace, the Jaipur City Palace and the Samode Palace for its mirror- work.

Plan of the Bishangarh Fort, a thikana fort

The Amber Fort with Palace structures

The City Palace Complex, Jaipur


• The palace structures within the city palace complex of Jaipur comprise of the Badal Mahal, the seven storied ChandraMahal with highly ornamented interiors and the Sarvato Bhadra constructed during Sawai Jai Singh’s reign (1700-1743). Later additions include the Pritam Niwas by Sawai Pratap Singh (1778-1803), Diwan-i-Am, constructed in the 18th century under Sawai Madho Singh I (1751-1768) or Sawai Pratap Singh (1778 – 1803) and Mubarak Mahal by Sawai Madho Singh II (1880-1922) in 1896 for use by royal guests.

• ThepleasurepalacesoutsidethecitypalacecomplexaretheJalMahal–withintheMansagarLakeandRamBaghPalaceand Raj Mahal that have been converted to heritage hotels.

Jal Mahal is a pleasure resort, built in the centre of an artificial lake outside the city to the north-east by the road to Amber. There is debate as to its period of construction – either along with the foundation of the city in 1734 or as late as 1799. The palace has airy domes, pavilions and terraces around an old fruit orchard. It was used by the Maharaja and his guests for shooting migrating geese, grouse and duck

Chandra Mahal –seven storeyed structure with symmetry and unity of massing and synthesis of Mewar and Jaipur styles of palace architecture


URBAN FORM AND ARCHITECTURAL IDENTITYTemples

• JaipurandAmber,theearlierofcapitalofDhoondharcapitalarerenowned for their numerous historic temples. While Amber has excellent stone carved temples with shikharas (spires) built from 11th century onwards, Jaipur became the precursor in building haveli temples of the 18th century. The Jain and Hindu temples form a significant part of the built fabric.

• TheplanningofJaipurisrootedinthecentricIndianphilosophywith the temple of Govind Dev defining the centre that led to the genesis of the city plan. The Govind Dev Temple, established in a pavilion called Suraj Mahal, standing in between the Badal Mahal and Chandra Mahal in the Jai Niwas Garden, continues to be the most active temple even today.

• Although there is no definite data, locals state that around400 temples were built in Jaipur during its planning. There are more than 1000 temples of various sizes in Jaipur with 606 within the walled city as registered temples with the Devasthan department in 1973. All the important temple sites, specifically on the main commercial streets had been marked in the Jaipur plan during the reign of Sawai Jai Singh.

• Eventoday,theimportanttempleswithshikharascanbeobservedat four most important locations in the city along the cardinal axes i.e. the Laxmi Narayan Temple at Badi Chaupar, the Rama temple at Chhoti Chaupar, the Murli Manohar temple at Ramganj Chaupar and the Kalka temple opposite to the main Sireh Deodhi entrance to the Palace. It is interesting that in all these temples the idol is facing towards Govind Dev, the main deity of Jaipur.

This partial map is based on an earlier map of Jaipur that has been dated in the reign of Pratap Singh (1778–1803) by Gole, (Indian Maps and Plans, page 195). The original map is not to scale and was made just to show the construction of a canal till Sanganer and was thus purely representational in nature. However the underlying factors to be noted are the city wall that also includes Brahmapuri as part of the town, number of gates and locations of temples with shikhara – on the main chaupars and in the Sireh Deodhi Bazzar.


Entrance to a haveli style temple, Jaipur

Typology of Temples in Jaipur


Typology of Temples in Jaipur

• Each mohalla (cluster of houses) has its own templepresided over by the deity most appropriate for their prosperity and protection. A relationship between temples and wells (both constituting ritual spaces) can be observed inside the chowkries in the layout of the sectors.

• Mostof theremainingtemples insidethecitywerebuiltin the haveli temple style without shikhara. Sawai Pratap Singh got numerous temples constructed within the city, reflecting the stylized articulation of the period.

Map of Jaipur marking important temple locations within the walled city and inside each chowkri area


URBAN FORM AND ARCHITECTURAL IDENTITYHavelis and cluster houses

• Thehavelis(medievalnorthIndianmansionsbelongingtonobles)ofJaipurrangefromasinglecourtyardhouseformtoanassemblage of multiple courts, depending on the status of the owner and number of family members. Majority of the havelis have one or two courtyards.

• ThehaveliformsthebasicurbanfabricofthetownsintheJaipurregion.Palacescanbevisualizedasanextensionofthehavelis. The haveli plots in Dhoondhar region conform to a rectangular or square shape, sometimes with offsets.

Shah Haveli at Samode The court as the centre of the haveli - reflected in the concentric articulation


The Tatterkhana House, Jaipur, reflects a single family cluster consisting of a single family and its zenana (wing occupied by ladies of the house) and infrastructure of servants

The Shivdin Haveli, Jaipur with typical two court planning

Bhatt Haveli with three courtyards

Natani Haveli with multiple courts, Jaipur

Typology of Havelis in Jaipur


Chaumoo House- a later mansion in bungalow style

• The Jaipur havelis not only provide a wide range and scale of this archetype but also present two unique typologicalvariations of the haveli i.e. the haveli temple type found as courtyard temples (with no shikhara) on the main commercial streets as well as inner residential streets of Jaipur and secondly, the garden haveli type found on the Ghat Ki Guni valley stretch located on the Jaipur Agra highway.

• Theassociationofaparticularhaveliwiththetempleorwellintheclusteralsoemphasizedthestatusoftheowner.Groupofhavelis formed mohallas – number of mohallas formed a chowkri (sector) well defined as a geographical entity in the city. A chowkri in Jaipur may comprise of up to 400 mohallas.

Johari Haveli, Ghat Ki Guni – representing the unique subtype of a garden haveli with rectilinear layout and stepped terraces overlooking the Purana Ghat valley street on the eastern outskirts of present Jaipur


• Water being scarce in the region, indigenous methodsfor effective water collection have been evolved and practiced across Rajasthan. A vast number of reservoirs, artificial lakes, tanks, kunds (stepped ponds), step-wells or baories, wells, ponds etc, have been built and renovated over the centuries.

URBAN FORM AND ARCHITECTURAL IDENTITYWater Structures

Water body at Galtaji

Panna Mian Kund in Amber

Well in community open space


• The surface water bodies – Talkatora, Jai Sagar,Man Sagar (Jal Mahal Lake) and the Ramgarh Lake were important features in the city plan. The artificial lakes were created in response to the natural topography.

Important historic water bodies located within the walled city. The two middle squares in blue were originally public water tanks that were closed in 19th century when piped water supply came into the city. These two locations called Badi Chaupar on right and Choti Chaupar on left serve as public squares with fountains today.

Typology of Water Bodies in Jaipur


• The water structures such as step wells orbaories were important elements in the urban fabric that reflected the importance of water in the water scarce environment.

• A unique water system of undergroundcanals was specially devised for the water supply in the city and the square central tanks were located in the Badi Chaupar and Chhoti Chaupar. In the center of each chaupar, square enclosures with ornamental fountains were outlets for intense social use. Fountains wereconnected by underground aqueducts – supplying numerous sources of drinking water at street level. In the mohallas, the community wells were used as water sources.

• Forboththemohallaandhaveli,thewellwasan important part of the social set up of the community.

• The water bodies, water structures and wellsall suffered due to the introduction of piped water supply that replaced the indigenous systems and to the rapid urbanization that encroached upon the catchment areas.

Typology of Water Bodies in Jaipur


• Public open space and gardens constitute another typicalelement of Jaipur city planning. Just as the Govind Dev temple on which the planning of the city was centred, the Jai Niwas garden and the Chaugan were envisaged as a significant open space for the city, meant for performances and sports witnessed by the general public and attended by the royalty.

• Chaugan is the public entertainment ground of Jaipur inthe west of the walled city where polo, elephant fights and other sports were held between 1724 and 1921. Square in plan, enclosed by high walls, the Chaugan was venue for Teej and Gangaur fairs in earlier times and now houses the Zonal Sports Stadium.

• JaiNiwasGarden,thefirstgardentobeestablishedinthecitybySawai Jai Singh II, is a symmetrical formal garden on double char bagh pattern with fountains and water falls in Mughal theme using natural slope of the terrain.

• WithBritish influence, latergardenssuchastheRamNiwasBaghestablished in 1868 by Sawai Ram Singh II deviated from the earlier Mughal planning of Jai Niwas and Ghat Ki Guni gardens.

• The Albert Hall was later added in the centre of this Englishpattern Ram Niwas garden. Even today, it is significant as the second largest open space for the city. Located outside the walled city, it sprawls across an area of 4 acres and was designed by surgeonMajorDe-Faback.Itisawell-laidoutgardencomprisingazoo, a bird park, play ground, exhibition ground and a gymnasium.

URBAN FORM AND ARCHITECTURAL IDENTITYPublic open space and gardens

Street façade of Raj Niwas Bagh, Ghat ki Guni, lined with chhatris

The recently restored Raj Niwas Bagh, Ghat ki Guni, is planned on the Rajput -Mughal garden concept (Source: Ajay Khare)


• Ghat ki Guni was a recreational area established by SawaiJai Singh II in 1739 on the outskirts of Jaipur, beyond Ghat Lake, where water was available, a concept of which seems to have developed with the Mughal influence at the time of Akbar. It has three main gardens that demonstrate the palace-garden —Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh,Vidyadhar ka Baghand Raj Niwas Bagh—and haveli-garden typologies.

Kanak Vrindavan – a temple-garden complex, the temples and gardens have recently renovated. Set within the scenic backdrop of the Jal Mahal and the surrounding hilly area, the complex has become a favourite excursion and picnic spot of tourists and locals.

Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh Ghat ki Guni, comprises of terrace gardens equipped with fountains, cascades and water channels sprouting from natural springs.

Kesar Kyari, Amber is a stepped formal royal garden attached to the Palace


URBAN FORM AND ARCHITECTURAL IDENTITYPublic buildings and memorials

• Monumental structures such as the Jantar MantarObservatory,theHawaMahal,OldVidhanSabhaBuildingand parts of the City Palace Complex are important public buildings in the city centre today.

• Publicbuildingssuchasrailwaystation,schools,hospitals,theatres, museums, colleges were constructed in the 19th century, starting with the reign of Sawai Ram Singh II (1835 – 1879). These were built in the Indo Saracenic style with the Naya Mahal or OldVidhan Sabha exhibiting anarchitectural style that is a fusion of local Rajput elements with colonial pediments and arches.

• The memorials include the royal cenotaphs at Gaitor withsignificant ones being the Chhatris of Sawai Jai Singh II and Sawai Madho Singh; and the cenotaphs of royal ladies and the victory tower - Isar Lat.

Hawa Mahal reflecting stylization at its peak under Sawai Pratap Singh

Gaitor Cenotaphs - The prominent of the cenotaphs is that of Maharaja Jai Singh, built in white marble, comprising of 21 ornately carved pillars depicting scenes and figures from Hindu mythology

Jantar Mantar - astronomical observatory by Sawai Jai Singh between 1724 and 1734. The yantras (instruments) were constructed in stone and lime. The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.


Old Vidhan Sabha - variation in the Indo Saracenic style with use of European features such as the round arch

Jaleb Chowk -huge square court earlier had single stories structures on all four sides. Sawai Ram Singh II (1835 – 80) extended verandahs and constructed a floor above

Jawahar Kala Kendra - Designed by Charles Correa, the Jawahar Kala Kendra (1986)

Albert Hall reflecting the Indo- Saracenic style adopted by the PWD in the 19th century

The New Vidhan Sabha building

• The new Vidhan Sabha building reflects the continuityfrom the 19th century colonial framework by the Public Works Department by replication of architectural details from the ‘Jeypore Portfolio’.

• Jawahar Kala Kendra, a cultural centre designed byCharles Correa in 1986 and the urban design for Vidyadhar Nagar, a residential area in New Jaipur,designed by the architect B V Doshi and established in1984-1986 are an attempt to reflect the symbolism of the Vastu Purusha Mandala (concept in ancient Indiantreatise emphasising on establishing harmony between natural and human environment), which is said to have formed the basis of the planning of the city of Jaipur, according to several historians.

iNtaNGiBLE HEritaGE

The city as a centre for arts and business Arts and crafts Building arts and crafts

Music and dance Festivals


INTANGIBLE HERITAGE The city as a centre for arts and business

• The important part of Sawai Jai Singh’s planning included thepromotion of commercial activities of the city. As a result, merchants were invited in 1729 through dispatched letters and given special incentives and prime location to settle in the city. They were given free land and given remissions and concessions on taxes.

• Locatedonimportanttraderoutes,Jaipurthusbecameanimportantand vibrant center for trade and commerce that fuelled its growth further, housing large numbers of artisans, craftsmen and merchants from distant parts of India. There were potters, utensil makers, stone carvers, building craftsmen and builders, leather workers and tanners, jewelers and precious stone cutters, ivory carvers, brass ware manufacturers, enamellers; weavers, dyers and embroiderers, settled in mohallas or group of mohallas occupied by families pursuing similar trade or craft. The same guild system continues till date, as in the proposed heritage walk area of Chowkri Modikhana.

• The royal patronage to literary works, music, miniature paintingand the performing arts also resulted in huge collections in the pothikhana (royal library) and has led to the evolution of the Jaipur style of painting, music and dance and the encouragement of the Dhoondhari language.

• Chhattis Karkhane (36 departments) set up on Mughal or Persianstandards with Hindi names, gave state protection to learned men, poets, writers, painters, musicians, dancers, artists and sculptors to train them further, thereby enriching the arts and crafts traditions. Jaipur became a hub for artists after the 1857 War of Independence, when many of them who fled from Delhi found refuge in Jaipur.

The tradition of stone carving of the idols for the temples continues till date in Jaipur



INTANGIBLE HERITAGE Arts and crafts

• DuringtheperiodofMaharajaSawaiPratapSingh(1778-1803),the Jaipur School of painting flourished with influences from the Devgarh and Kishan garh painting styles. Sawai Jagat Singh (1803 – 1848) was the last patron for paintings – after whom the traditional style deteriorated due to influences from western art. Miniature painting continues however as an art today, drawing from the Jaipur School tradition.

• The Pachranga (five coloured) flag designed by Raja ManSingh remained to be the identity of the Dhoondhar region and the five coloured pagri (turban) was worn by the rulers of Dhoondhar. The colours are an important aspect of the Dhoondhari cultural heritage, with various dyeing techniques and block printing of Sanganer having evolved in the region.

• The tie and dye (leheriya) textile printing, textile blockprinting of Sanganer, natural dyes, metal crafts, enamelling (minakari), crafting silver jewelry and artifacts, stone crafts, handmade paper and blue pottery are the most famous handicrafts today.

Sanganer has long been a centre for block printed textiles since centuries. The picture shows the process of drying of the dyed cloth that is to be printed

Sawaya Pachranga flag of Sawai Jaipur on Chandra Mahal, City Palace complex

Puppet making – a craft that finds market in the tourists in the present context.

Clay pottery displayed by a craftsman


INTANGIBLE HERITAGE Building arts and crafts

• The Dhoondhar rulers are known to be the patrons ofarts and crafts from the period of Raja Man Singh (1590 – 1614). Besides the buildings crafts of stone carving, mirror works and inlays; an indigenous fresco technique done on araish evolved, examples of which can be seen in Bairat caravan serai, Bharmal Ki Chhatri from the period of Man Singh (influence from the Mughal Court of Akbar), and in Ganesh Pol (1639), Amber, from the period of Mirza Raja Jai Singh with Mughal influences later absorbed to develop integrated style.

Building crafts – stone carved columns and screens

Intricate glass inlay work inside Amber Palace A floral motif fresco from the Amber Palace


The Ganesh Pol demonstrates the indigenous fresco technique with evident Mughal influence in the decorative patterns around the subject – Lord Ganesha and fine stone carved lattice screens, Amber Palace

Frescoes in ceiling of Sita Ramji Temples at Galtaji


The continuity of stone crafts till date with use of the traditional knowledge systems


INTANGIBLE HERITAGEMusic and dance

• The city has well developed folk music and dance forms, such as‘Dhudhadi’, that is the Jaipur style of Galibazi (verbal art form traditionally used as medium for social awareness and reform) and ‘Tamasha’, a style of musical folk play introduced to the city during the reign of Sawai Ram Singh II (1855 – 1880).

Traditional attire adorned by girls to perform a form of folk dance

A dance form being presented as a part of the current initiatives to showcase the cultural heritage of the region


INTANGIBLE HERITAGE Festivals

• Fairs and festivals are an important partof the entire region. The integration of the festivals with royal traditions followed since the establishment of the city, making the festive celebrations of Makar Sankranti, Teej, Gangaur, Holi and Dusshehra special for the city of Jaipur, as processions and performances take place with the involvement of the royal family. The game of polo is a modern version of Chaugan (means a hockey like stick in Persian that was used in the Mughal period to play a sport of the same name with a wooden ball, on horse back) that brought international recognition to Jaipur during the period of Maharaja Man Singh II.

• The annual Jaipur Heritage InternationalFestival, started in 2002 by the JaipurVirasat Foundation is a week longevent, presently called the Rajasthan Day celebrations – Jaipur Festival inpartnership with the Government of Rajasthan and endorsed by UNESCO New Delhi. The celebrations provide an international cultural platform to the living traditions of Rajasthan, now an integral part of the social fabric of the city.

Celebrations during the annual Jaipur Heritage Festival

A painting in Pundrik Haveli depicting festive celebrations in Chogan area

proposaL for HEritaGE WaLK: Chowkri Modikhana

Proposed itinerary

Mapping socio-cultural activities Listing built heritage


PROPOSAL FOR A HERITAGE WALK: Chowkri Modikhana

• A proposed itinerary lies within the ChowkriModikhana, starting from the Rajasthan School of Arts, Kishanpol Bazaar and ending at Chaura Rasta.

• AsoneofthehistoricChowkriesdesignedofthe18thcentury planned city of Jaipur, Chowkri Modikhana is a unique representative of the living heritage of Jaipur. It derives its name from the Modis (trader) as the area was traditionally housing Jain and Hindu traders. It was also a residential area of the officials.

• With interesting havelis, temples, public buildings,museums and craft productions, the Chowkri Modikhana provides to the visitors an encounter with Jaipur’s traditional communities, lifestyle, crafts, stories of each street and entry into historic buildings.

• The proposed itinerary is based on the survey worksof the local NGOs, Jaipur Virasat Foundation andDRONAH, who undertook the mapping of the social activities and the inventory of the historical buildings of the area, along with the listing of infrastructure development needs.

• The same proposal has been presented to the localcommunity of Chowkri Modikhana for their feedback during an exhibition held in March 2007 at the time ofRajasthanFestivalinJaipur.

The walk within the Chowkri Modi Khana with the different streets defining different socio- cultural entities


Proposed itinerary


The Heritage Walk starting from the Albert Hall Initiatives by Jaipur Virasat Foundation to revitalize the walk area include street plays and performances in public spaces such as the Film Colony chowk

Street condition noted in a survey


Exhibition in Mahavir Park at Chowkri Modikhana held for participatory design development


Proposals exhibited in Mahavir Park at Chowkri Modikhana for community feedback. Residents from the neighbouring chowkries visited this exhibition and appreciated the suggestions too. Thus the exhibition at Chowkri Modikhana had a wider impact leading to increasing heritage awareness in the walled city of Jaipur


PROPOSAL FOR A HERITAGE WALK: Chowkri ModikhanaMapping socio-cultural activities

• Though a decline in the population ofthe walled city has been noted in the 2001 census, a primary social survey has shown that the Chowkri Modikhana has a growing population and the residents have still kept strong socio-cultural bond with the area.

• The area is a vibrant hub of intangibleheritage in terms of traditional knowledge systems and craft activities. Crafts such as manufacturing of lac bangles and making brass metal utensils is continued by the local artisans settled in the houses in Chowkri Modikhana area since centuries.

• The social fabric is defined by thenames of the streets, such as the Thatheron ka Rasta that groups together low income group artisans (brass workers or thatheras). These historic definitions continue till date, with existing examples of the same occupational patterns being followed from generation to generation, passing on the traditional knowledge systems. Cultural Map of the walk area


• People maintain strong senseof attachment with religious structures, as well as with streets and havelis, as they are linked with important personalities associated with the royal court.

• The personal collections ofmanuscripts, such as showcased in the Sanjay Sharma Museum within the walk area have significant cultural value. The Museum itself draws visitors and acts as a means of dissemination of significance of the area.

• There is scope for revitalization oflocal informal entrepreneurial set ups through the heritage walk as in the case of small scale food stalls and craft retail existing in the area.Local small scale food stalls Manufacturing of lac bangles

Thatheras at work in Thatheron ka Rasta and Nanga Thatheron Ki Gali, continuity of traditional craft over generations


PROPOSAL FOR A HERITAGE WALK: Chowkri ModikhanaListing built heritage

• The area covered under the itinerary of the proposed Heritage Walkcomprises of 106 structures, of essentially residential and commercial nature.

• BajjoKiHaveliandNatwarLalShastriHaveliaswellashousesdominatethe fabric, with courtyard temples such as Shri Digambar Jain Mandir Sanghji, Baij Ji Ka Mandir and Shri Anant Deviji Ka Mandir as landmarks. Most of the structures are ground plus two floors, any further floors are later additions.

• The structures are separated by thin lanes called gandi galis that weresupposed to function as shafts for cooling.

• The Rajasthan School of Arts is a significant structure conforming tothe pink colour code and urban façade of the Kishanpol Bazaar street. Unlike the main bazaar streets such as Kishan Pol Bazaar and Chaura Rasta, the internal streets covered under the itinerary of Hertage Walk were not meant for commerce and the workshop of the artisans are accommodated in the house. The façades of the buildings are usually introverted, with projected balconies on the first floor.

Natwarlal Shastri Haveli


Baij Ji Ka Mandir Sangakon Ka Rasta Ceiling detail– Bajjo Ki Haveli

Kishan Pol Bazaar Decorative stucco and painting – Bajjo Ki Haveli


• ThechowkssuchasDigamberJainMandirChowkearlierformedcommunityspacesattachedtotemplesorheldcommonfacilities such as the well area i.e. Sanghi ji ka Kuan. The Mahavir Park is the only large open space in the area.

Proposal for Mahavir Park to be used as a community space prepared by students of Oxford Brookes University during a study programme in Jaipur

Digamber Jain Mandir Chowk used currently for parking

South Elevation, Sangakon Ka Rasta

Elaborate gateway with ornamentation borrowing Rajasthani, Mughal and Colonial elements - Goyal Bhawan

Mughal style entrance gateway of haveli in Thatheron Ka Rasta

Internal space from courtyard – Khinduka Haveli

North Elevation, Sangakon Ka Rasta



CHaLLENGEs to HEritaGE-BasED urBaN DEVELopMENt

Lack of awareness towards heritage

Poor implementation of regulatory and legislative framework

Sustaining intangible heritage Solid waste management

Water infrastructure Electricity wiring and services Fire safety Vehicular traffic and parking Management of stray animals

Insufficiency of tourist facilities


CHALLENGES TO HERITAGE-BASED DEVELOPMENT Lack of awareness towards heritage

• Lack of interest and awareness of the people towardsheritage conservation has led to deteriorating condition of the heritage buildings. A number of monuments are poorly maintained. Violation of rules and regulations for theconservation of heritage buildings and their surroundings is a common phenomenon.

Insensitive repairs in Chowkri Modi Khana Later interventions – shop fronts and adding new windows with evident use of cement – Nataniyon Ka Rasta


CHALLENGES TO HERITAGE-BASED DEVELOPMENT Poor implementation of regulatory and legislative framework

• The Government of Rajasthan has put into placea numbers of regulations and byelaws which aimed at protecting heritage monuments and structures. These include the Rajasthan Monuments, Archaeological Sites and Antiquities Act 1961 that applies on any state protected monument under the jurisdiction of the Department of Art and Archaeology and Heritage Byelaws for properties within Walled City as outlined in the Master plan of Jaipur 2011.

• The implementation of the byelaws is howeverpoor, with the local population clearly flouting them giving in to pressures of commercialization, need for modern conveniences and growing population. 35% of high-class houses were demolished in 1971-81 and replaced by their owners.

• Therearemultiplereasonsforpoorimplementationof the byelaws, such as insufficient data base on heritage buildings, with different sources quote different number of heritage structures; lack of specific legislative and regulatory measures according to each street or typology that requires detailed studies and analysis of the existing fabric of the city; and lack of clarity of division of responsibilities in the implementing agencies.

Encroachments onto the street– Nataniyon Ka Rasta

New structures replacing old ones; services added on to façades – Maniharon Ka Rasta


• Guidelinesforsignageinthehistoricareasneedtobeformulatedandimplementedasexcessivedisplayofadvertisementsdue to commercialization impacts the urban ambience on the main streets and chowks as well as the inner lanes.

An inner street with evident visual clutter due to excessive commercial advertisements, electrical wires and cables and encroachment by parked two wheelers


CHALLENGES TO HERITAGE-BASED DEVELOPMENT Sustaining intangible heritage

• Traditional craftsmanship which has given lifeto the streets of Jaipur is under the threat of disappearance due to the poor living conditions of the artisans and to the pressures of growing family needs. A solution needs to be found to sustain these small-scale industries.

• The fairs and festivals have been an importantpart of the city’s cultural heritage and with the diminishing role of the royal family, there is a need for revitalization of the same not only for tourists but also for the local community.

The Thathera community of brass craftsmen works in difficult situation within their tiny home spaces in the walled city area


CHALLENGES TO HERITAGE-BASED DEVELOPMENT Solid waste management

The narrow space dividing two structures – gandi gali with accumulated solid waste

• Solid waste management hasemerged as one of the most pressing urban environment issues for the city as the majority of the city does not have a primary waste collection system. The problem is particularly serious in the walled city area such as Chowkri Modikhana, where the solid waste is left on to the street, spread by stray cattle and dogs and accumulating over months in the open drains and narrow lanes (gandi galis) that divide the various property lines. Gandi Galis are cleaned only once a year. This is a major cause of water logging and unhygienic living conditions. The accumulated waste is a threat to the historic structures in many instincts.

• Wastemanagementisabsentinslumsand kacchi basti areas where waste is dumped into nallahs. Even in the areas where there is a solid waste collection system in place, there is no system of segregation of biodegradable waste from the non biodegradable, and the city does not have a proper designated sanitary landfill site.


CHALLENGES TO HERITAGE-BASED DEVELOPMENT Water infrastructure

Sources of water

• Withpipedwatersupplyintroducedinthemid19thcentury,thetraditionalwatersystemslikebaoriesandJhalarassufferedgross neglect. At present, most of the baories in Jaipur are defunct.

• Theembankmentsofthelakeshavebeenencroachedbythebuiltformaccommodatingthegrowingcities,andthenaturaldrainage channels carry the sullage and waste water into the lakes polluting and stagnating them.

• During the period of Sawai Ram Singh II, the Jai Sagar Lake was made a garbage land fill area on which urban growthsprawled; the Ramgarh Lake, which used to be the main source of supply more than 30 years back, produces insignificant quantity of water now.

• TheManSagarLakeisheavilypollutedatpresentwiththecitysewageflowingintoitthroughtwonallahs,BrahmapuriandNagtalai. The Talkatora which once recharged ground water of the city is now dry. Old Check dams, which used to recharge ground water in the city, have been broken down over the years and as a result water levels in the city have decreased alarmingly.

• Groundwateristheonlysourceofwaterforpartsofthecitythatdonotgetpipedwatersupply.

• Piped water is also not entirely safe due to contamination with sewerage. Due to loss of systems of recharging groundwater, there is drastic depletion of ground water and Jaipur faced a water crisis in 2009-2010. It is hoped that with the heavy monsoon in 2010 and recent government initiatives of mandatory rain water harvesting for property owners may improve stituation in next few years.

• Ground water in the city has been found to be contaminated due to several reasons like over extraction and seepageof wastewater, from soak pits used in the septic tank system, into the ground water. All these factors have resulted in an increase in the concentration of nitrates and fluorides in ground water.


Sewerage and drainage

• Seweragesystemwaslaidinsidethewalledcityin1930s.

• At present, nearly 80% of the population iscovered by a sewerage network.

• The issue lies in the disposal of the sewerageas there is no sewage treatment plant and the sewage flows through the natural drains into the Mansagar Lake polluting it.

• The drainage situation in the city ranges fromaverage to poor with water logging being a very common phenomenon in Jaipur. Even with less amount of rain, roads and open areas get waterlogged. Water logging could be attributed to choking of drains with solid waste or later interventions and inadequate design of drains – irregular slope and form.

Garbage and sewage in Sangakon ka rasta


CHALLENGES TO HERITAGE-BASED DEVELOPMENTElectrical wiring and services

• The overhead wires and cables for electrical supply, telephonewiring and television cables in the walled city area not only cause an aesthetic issue for the built heritage as they are loose and unorganized obscuring the building façades, but are possible sources of electric and fire hazard. Another threat is main transformers situated in dense areas without sufficient setback from the street – creating a fire and safety hazard.

• Electricalpolesat irregularfrequencyblockingheritage façades; street lights, high tension cables, transformers and distribution boxes and air conditioning and desert cooler ducting affixed to the exterior walls of the heritage structures are insensitive interventions that create visual clutter and are a threat to the built fabric at times.

Mathuresh Bhawan, Chowkri Modi Khana – loose hanging cables and wires are a visual and physical threat

Film Colony, Chowkri Modi Khana – transformer at inappropriate location


CHALLENGES TO HERITAGE-BASED DEVELOPMENT Fire safety

• Jaipur’s vulnerability to fire hazard is likely to increasewith growing population density and as the urban fabric becomes denser. At present, around 1200 fire accidents occur annually resulting in a loss of Rs.10-15 Crore.

• TheinfrastructureandmanpoweroftheFireDepartmentisgrossly insufficient and the internal areas of the walled city are at further threat, being inaccessible to fire trucks due to road widths. Major uplift of the infrastructure for fire fighting and devising of indigenous solutions for the walled city areas are urgently required.

The inner lanes with unorganised electrical cables wires and fittings and narrow width make them high risk with regards to fire safety


CHALLENGES TO HERITAGE-BASED DEVELOPMENT Vehicular traffic and parking

• The longer east- west axis of the city that is marked bySuraj Pol and Chand Pol is about three kilometres in length. Hence, the entire walled city was meant to be accessible to the common man on foot. The main roads were used by elephants, carriages, horses and camels and footpaths by pedestrians; and the internal chowkries were a composition of self sustaining clusters, with narrow road widths.

• This equation has changed now with cars and twowheelers parked on both sides of the main streets and in open spaces and squares in front of heritage structures, encroaching upon the movement and spill over spaces. The narrow internal streets are also encroached upon by parked two wheelers on both sides and cars in open spaces that were meant for community use.

• The situation is worsened due to commercial activity,as 60% of the total wholesale units of the city lie in the walled city. The presence of wholesale units is closely interlinked with goods handling in terms of loading, unloading, storage etc. Since adequate space is not available within the walled city for all these activities, it spills onto the roads increasing congestion. The encroachment by hawkers also claims the space for vehicular and pedestrian movement. These factors are a detriment to the urban environment in the walled city – in areas around tourist attractions, the main commercial streets and in the inner lanes of the chowkries.

Traffic situation at the chaupar – segregation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic required along with heritage walkways


• Thelackofagoodpublictransportsystem,trafficplanning(suchasonewaystreets,sufficientdesignatedparkingspaceandenvironmentally friendly transport options), traffic norms and regulations in the city enhances the problem with no specific pedestrian areas (such as heritage walkways) demarcated; affecting both the tourist and the local community negatively.

Chowk in front of Bajjo Ki Haveli encroached upon by car parking

Commercial activity with two wheelers parked on either side of the street creates chaotic situation during peak market hours

Parking in thin inner lanes of Chowkri Modi Khana

Open spaces meant for recreational use have been encroached upon as parking lots, as seen in the heritage walk route, in open space in front of the Digamber Jain Temple Sanghiji in Chowkri Modi Khana

Congested Roads due to parking of 3 wheelers and four wheelers


CHALLENGES TO HERITAGE-BASED DEVELOPMENTManagement of stray animals

Open spaces meant for recreational use encroached upon by stray cattle as seen in the heritage walk route, in open space in front of the Digamber Jain Temple Sanghiji in Chowkri Modi Khana

• Stray cattle, dogs etc. cause regular nuisance and trafficobstruction in addition to soiling street surfaces.

Stray cattle adding to the congested street situation

Stray cattle along with encroachment by informal commercial activity on to the streets

CHALLENGES TO HERITAGE-BASED DEVELOPMENT Insufficient tourist facilities

• The influx of tourists has brought pressures on the urban fabric and infrastructure. There is a need to carry out studiesto assess the carrying capacity of popular tourist destinations with a view to regulate tourist traffic. The conversion of a number of historic palaces and havelis into heritage hotels is a positive accomplishment. However, there is still an acute shortage of budget hotels during the tourist season.

• Qualityoftourismfacilitiesismuchtobedesired.Theissuesincludepoorheritageinterpretation,encroachmentaroundtheheritage buildings by cars and informal shops, absence of planned pedestrian walkways and inadequate/insufficient basic infrastructures, in addition to noise and pollution.

A dilapidated building in Chowkri Modikhana. The owner of the building is keen to convert it into a Bed and Bath facility and a proposed view of the building after restoration is shown.


VisioN for pLaNNED GroWtH



The bazaar street as it was originally planned

VISION FOR PLANNED GROWTH

• This section simulatesthe original form, studies transformations in built form over time and demonstrates possibilities of enhancing the built heritage through planned intervention and architectural guidance.


Later additions include incongruous multi storeyed structure in the background of the street façade, that take away from the ambience


Addition of incongruous new floors on top of historic structures and shop fronts with roller shutters

New structures replacing the historic fabric

Changing built form of the inner streets


Bajjo ki Haveli in Chowkdi Modi Khana as it must have been originally, without addittions and alterations

The current condition of the Bajjo ki Haveli in Chowkdi Modi Khana with lack of maintenance and addition of two incongruous floors

Due to the lack of awareness and implementation of regulatory and legislative frameworks, loss of architectural character is a common feature with new structures replacing old ones


The Bajjo ki Haveli in Chowkdi Modi Khana, a visualisation of how the addition of the two floor could have been made without loss of character with planned intervention and architectural guidance


Later subdivisions visible in the façade treatment Proposed planned development to respect façade elements of heritage value and reflect the undivided original form in the façade

Proposed view of Ghat ki Guni, Jaipur

Existing condition and proposed view of Shr Radha Damodar temple, Chaura Raasta

Proposed view of Mirza Ismail Road, Jaipur


rECoMMENDatioNs for aCtioN

Heritage awareness programmeInterpretation of heritage resources of the city

Legislative and regulatory framework for heritage conservation

Incentive mechanisms for heritage managementAdaptive reuse

Mainstreaming local crafts into the modern marketInfrastructure improvement through community

participation and public private partnership Improved physical access to the heritage resources



RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTIONHeritage awareness programme

• Heritage awareness programmes, such as those initiatedby NGO’s like Jaipur Virasat Foundation and INTACH – thatgive an opportunity to the local community to be a part of the heritage movement and get a feeling of pride for their heritage, need to be encouraged.

• More publications and the audio visual and print media to bebrought out in innovative ways for the awareness - raising of the city resident, heritage property user and owner.

• Heritageeducationtobemadepartoftheschoolcurriculumto inculcate awareness towards heritage in the up coming generations.

An existing and proposed view of a street passage and gate in Chowkeri Modikhana area


RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTIONInterpretation of heritage resources of the city

• Interpretation of the heritage resourcesthrough heritage walks with different themes – such as historical phases, water systems, religious association, association with specific personalities, crafts, architectural styles, catering to various age groups and visitor types need to be developed to address the multiple facets of the city.

• Interpretation of the natural heritage, withadventure and nature trails around the city.

• Educational value of complexes such as theJantar Mantar should be interpreted targeting school children and other educational institutes.

• Interpretationcentresatvariousaccesspointsinto the city including city gates, railway station, airport, bus terminals, and the major tourist destinations, need to be set up.

• Proper signage and interpretation plaquesare required for identification of heritage structures and cultural associations.

• Re-planning of museums such as the AlbertHall and City Palace Museum with more communication and interpretation can turn them in to heritage resource centres.

Proposed street signage designs and better interpretation of the streets to guide the visitor and inculcate a sense of pride in the residents


RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTIONLegislative and regulatory framework for heritage conservation

• Onthebasisofthesurveysandanalysisoftheentirehistoriccore of the city, byelaws and regulations to be developed that specifically cover aspects such as planning and architectural typologies, street façades and land use (to prevent over commercialization).

• Detailed database to be developed, preferably with use ofGeographical Information Systems (GIS) that documents the current built fabric.

• Strict implementation of the byelaws and regulations withthe use of the GIS and capacity building and sorting out of responsibilities in the administrative framework, with heavy fines for flouting the same.

• Street furniture, hoardings, signage to be controlled bydesign guidelines and regulations.

• Areasoutsidethewalledcitythatareproposedtobetappedas heritage resources to undergo detailed surveys (built and social) and impact assessment studies, to develop byelaws for controlled development in a planned and sustainable manner.

Façade surveys of Chaura Raasta, Jaipur showing layers of historic fabric from 18th, 19th and 20th centuries


RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTIONIncentive mechanisms for heritage management

• Easy availability of loans for restoration of historicstructures to enable the middle and low income groups to invest on the maintenance of the historic fabric.

• Taxdeductionsforexpenditureonheritagepropertiestotarget the service class and high income groups.

Dilapidating fabric of Thatheron Ka Rasta housing low and middle income artisans reflects need for developing financial mechanisms for enabling the proper maintenance of such structures

Haveli in Chomu lying vacant – interest of owners needs to be developed in the restoration and the re-use of such structures through incentives


RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTIONAdaptive reuse

• Use of the heritage structures such as the city gates as information kiosks, and others as interpretation centres oraccommodation of basic amenities for visitors (such as rest rooms) in the heritage destinations (including temples where pilgrims are the target group) in a planned manner.

• Theadaptivereuseofthehousesandhavelisshouldencourageonlyconceptssuchasthebedandbath,bedandbreakfastand personalised displays to ensure that the residents continue to reside in the walled city and the walled city does not become a gentrified commercial asset losing its social fabric.

• Underused public structures such as the Naya Mahal (in Jaleb Chowk) present opportunities for reuse for touristinfrastructure and interpretation, conference and exhibition purposes.

• Adaptive reuse of thikana forts such as Bishangarh can generate good tourism revenue as heritage hotels, resulting inenhanced tourism revenue for the surrounding villages.

Proposed reuse for Roop Niwas Bagh as a cultural and recreational space, Ghat ki Guni, Jaipur


Possible tourist facilities that can be incorporated in the existing fabric through involvement of the local community, enabling the revitalization of the area – as demonstrated for the walk area, Chowkri Modi Khana

• The potential of communityparticipation in revitalization of the area as studied in the Chowkri Modi Khana Heritage Walk area needs to be replicated for the rest of the walled city as well.


Proposed roof top terrace in the walk area – involving participation of the owner to add tourism infrastucture and in turn help revitalize the area

Sri Anant Devi Ji Ka Mandir on the current heritage walk route is an example of a mohalla level haveli temple. Opening the stucture for tourist visit can create incentive for its maintenance and revitalization

Sri Anant Deviji ka Mandir, 1480 Nataniyon ka Rasta

PROPOSED USAGE:House open for tourist visit

Terrace, Kirodilal Gupta

Proposed roof top cafe


RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION Mainstreaming local crafts into the modern market

• The crafts such as that of metal beaters (thatheras) need to beintegrated into the mainstream with exhibitions, and workshops that interpret the crafts better and create a dialogue between the craftsmen and other sectors such as industrial designers to revalidate the crafts in the present day context.

• Stonecraftsandotherbuildingcraftstobeorganizedasaresourceto ensure the access of the craftsmen, their crafts and traditional knowledge systems to on going restoration works.

• Strengthening of the concept of craft villages/ destinations suchas Sanganer to encourage the maintenance of the traditional knowledge systems with tourism encouraging their economies.

Use of recycled glass and metal by craftsmen at Chandpol Bazaar, to be identified as living cultural resources

Stone crafts to be organized as a resource


RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTIONInfrastructure improvement through community participation and public private partnerships

• Therechargingofthegroundwaterthroughrevitalizationof the traditional water systems of rainwater harvesting, wells, baories, the water systems at the chaupars, and lakes such as Ramgarh, Mansagar, Talkatora may be undertaken with community involvement and Public Private Partnerships.

• Community participation to be used for proper solidwaste management at community level. The role of the informal sector – Kabadis and rag pickers also needs to be addressed as they are existing means of recycling of waste.

• Public Private Partnerships to be tapped as fundingresources for the major investments in the infrastructure reorganization such as underground cables and wiring, sewages network and treatment plants, drainage and water supply, and city level management of solid waste.

• Fire safety measures require community participation aswell as PPPs with indigenous systems to be devised to suit the inner historic fabric of the walled city.

A sample exhibition panel used for Vikas and Virasat Exhibition in Jaipur to promote public participation


RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION Improved physical access to the heritage resources

• Traffic and transport needs to be reworked with parking pools and pedestrainised pockets. Judicious use of public areassuch as the Jaleb Chowk might partially help in resolving the parking problem of the walled city area.

• Othersustainablemodesoftransportforthewalledcitysuchassolarrickshawsshouldalsobeconsidered.

• Betterpublictransportsystemstobedevelopedwithorganizedmovementthathelpstheparkingsituationinandoutsidethe walled city.

More than half of the width of the street is used for parking cycles/scooters, leaving only the other half for pedestrian

Parking of two wheelers in clusters in the internal streets with shop fronts

Possible parking solutions to save on space

SOURCES AND CREDITS

All photographs and drawings are credited to DRONAH (Development and Research Organization for Nature, Arts and Heritage) and JVF (JaipurVirasat Foundation) except for the onesmentioned below:

• P.17–JaipurmapsourcedfromSurveyofIndia

• P. 24 – Map of Jaipur, Satellite image. Sourced from GoogleEarth

• P. 26 – Map of Bishangarh Fort, Sourced from royal family ofShahpura

• P. 28 - Map sourced from PrincelyTerrain: Amber, Jaipur andShekhawati. Edited by Shikha Jain (Shubi Publications, 2006)

• P.31-33-DrawingssourcedfromHavelis:ALivingTraditionofRajasthan by Shikha Jain (Shubhi Publications, 2004)

• P. 58 - Proposed Plan of Mahavir Park sourced from Dr. AylinOrbasali, Oxford Brookes University, UK


Documents

Indian Heritage Cities Network: walking into the microcosm of Jaipur