BANARAS/ KASHI/ VARANASI

READING CITY

Presented by:
Teena Jaswal 41600016
Gurkirpal Singh 41600020
 INTRODUCTION
• The city of Varanasi -“sacred city” of
India and it is recognized as the “most
ancient continuously living city of the
world”.
• The city is unique in the architectural,
artistic and religious expressions of
traditional Indian culture and is, even
today a living example of this culture.
• As fast as continuity of cultural tradition
is concerned banaras surpasses all
civilization centers.
ACCESS TO THE CITY:
By Air: The airport is at Babatpur, 23
km from the city centre and is about 30
km from the ghats.
By Rail: Varanasi is linked to all major
cities of the country and is the focal point
for the Northern and North-Eastern
Railways in India. Varanasi Cantt. is the
main railway station of the city and is
located on the Grand trunk Road.
By Road
Varanasi is situated at the junction of
three national highways -NH2 from
CLIMATE:
Kolkata to Delhi, NH7 to Kanyakumari
The city enjoys sub-tropical monsoon climate. The temperature varying between 5c –
and NH29 to Gorakhpur and
45 c in a year. The relative humidity is high during monsoon reaching up to 82-85%.
undoubtedly it is one of the busiest
Annual rainfall in varanasi is around 1000 mm.
roads of India.
• Holiest of the seven sacred cities in River varana

Hinduism
• considered as the oldest continuously
nhabited city
• Archaeologically proven – inhabited by
humans since 800 B.C.
• Varanasi is developed between two
rivers: Varana and Assi- Varanasi River Assi

• Kaash- Kasi
• Bana+ Ras- Banaras
• 86 ghats along the
river ganga
•In the early
medieval period,
varanasi passed
from one ruler to
another and
developed the
architecture and
culture accordingly
 ORIGIN OF THE CITY (Mythological)

• The city originated with the creation of Manikarnika ghat

• Lord Shiva and Parvathi made Vishnu to handover “Kashi”
EARLY HISTORIC PERIOD- VEDIC PERIOD

• “Who so ever should have died in Kashi shall reach salvation”- myth in
Vedas
• Lord Vishnu created pool (Manikarnika Kund) and filled it with his sweat as
ordered by Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati.
• The name Mani karnika refers to the jewel of Lord shiva’s ear ring.
• The ear ring was studded with a pearl “MUKTA”- so the sacred place
“tirtha” should confer “ MUKTI”

Region of
settlement &
origin
(Manikarnika
Ghat)

Manikarnika Kund

Manikarnika Kund & Ghat

Source: Singh, R. P. (2009). Banaras: making of India's heritage city. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars.
 COSMIC ORDER OF THE CITY

• The five sacred territories are further explained as the symbol of “gross
elements”
EARLY HISTORIC PERIOD- VEDIC PERIOD

• This is comparable to shiva’s dance symbolising cosmic cycle of creation and

destruction as the basis of all existence .
• As per the five elements comprising of sky, earth, air, water, fire; creating
pilgrimage circuits which developed in the form of garlands, consisting of
different number of shrines in chain.
• The patterns become base for further development of cosmic order.

Source: Singh, R. P. (2009). Banaras: making of India's heritage city. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars.
 SETTLEMENT- INITIAL STAGE

• The city was developed in the square & circle

combination.
• The square includes mostly temples and the circle
EARLY HISTORIC PERIOD- VEDIC PERIOD

act as the circumambulatory path around the

temples
• Further the expansion of the city started outside the
square towards the panchkrosi route.

Source: Singh, R. P. (2009). Banaras: making of India's heritage city. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars.
 ORIGIN OF THE CITY (Geomorphic)
• City develop along the concave bank but
not along convex bank in spite of fact, that
the concave bank is vulnerable to erosion.
• On the concave bank, the water of the
channel flows touching the lower part of
the bank/natural levee, hence water is
accessible easily.
• On the other hand, the water along the
convex bank recedes (away from the
settlement after once it is established)
along with the progradation of the bank
due to continuous depositional process.
This is exactly the reason why large
habitations develop over the natural levees
along the concave bank.

Of course, it is a different matter, once after a

large habitation develops along a concave
bank, if the river channel shifts because of
cut-off, the habitations end up on the side of
convex banks.

That means the early habitations like

Varanasi developed along the
concave banks with a clear
• The concave bank is erosional and the understanding of river channel
convex bank is depositional in nature. processes.
• The concave bank can cave in and cause
destruction and the convex bank prograde
by continuous deposition preventing easy
accessibility to water

On such a prominent natural levee of the concave (left) bank of a

meander of the river Ganga, is situated Varanasi (Fig. 10.4).

Source: Raju, K., & Pandey, M. K. (n.d.). 10 Varanasi: origin and Growth from a Geomorphic Perspective. In Varanasi: myths and scientific studies-proceedings of an interdisciplinary workshop (pp. 134-148). New Delhi: Aryan
books international.
 ORIGIN OF THE CITY (Geomorphic)
• The land of Varanasi is considered to be 'blessed land'
because it was quite above normal flood levels.
• During floods, when everything else is submerged in
flood waters, the natural levee with a relative relief of 5-
7 meters above the lowest level in the flood basin, the
surface on which Varanasi has developed, can remain
high and dry.
• Many local natural depressions were deepened and
lined with steps; these ponds served as water source for
religious as well as domestic purposes.
• Gradually, with the space getting filled by urban
elements, these inlets –and outlets got truncated from
these ponds. The entire concave bank as it can be seen
nowadays from its top margin to its lowest possible
water level is lined up by heavy and large stones
creating beautiful stone stairs running along almost 12
km of distance.

Source: Raju, K., & Pandey, M. K. (n.d.). 10 Varanasi: origin and Growth from a Geomorphic Perspective. In Varanasi: myths and scientific studies-proceedings of an interdisciplinary workshop (pp. 134-148). New Delhi: Aryan
books international.
 SETTLEMENT- SECOND STAGE

Due to dried bed of the Sarasvati river Aryan group

marched towards the eastclearing dense forests and
establishing "tribal" settlements along the Ganga and
Yamuna (Jamuna) plains between 1500 and ca. 800 B.C.
2TH CENTURY B.C.- ARYAN PERIOD

By around 500 B.C. and reached the bank of the Sadanira

(Gandaki) river.

ESTABLISHMENT OF TEXTILE INDUSTRY, AGRICULTURE,

BRICK ARCHITECTURE, CRAFTS, MERCHANTILE GROUP

Remain of Aryan settlements in rajghat region in Kashi

Aryan moved under the leadership of Videgha Mathava

City had connections with distant places as Taxila and this route is
presently known as grand trunk road- National Highway No.2

Source: Singh, R. P. (2009). Banaras: making of India's heritage city. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars.
 SETTLEMENT- SECOND STAGE “Permanent settlements and agriculture led to trade and other
occupational differentiation. As lands along the Ganga were cleared, the
river became a trade route, the numerous settlements on its banks acting
as markets. Trade was restricted initially to local areas, and barter was
an essential component of trade, cattle being the unit of value in large-
scale transactions, which further limited the geographical reach of the
trader” – (Singh Rana,2009)
2TH CENTURY B.C.- ARYAN PERIOD

• Brought with them trade – Textile, handicrafts,

Agriculture, etc
• Settled along Rivers as being mode of transportation of
goods for trade
• Was center location that connected other cities as trade
route

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
• burnt bricks, limestone, Concrete, mud and wood.
• Open spaces between adjacent houses and segregating lanes.
• Wells situated close to the buildings
• most of the houses had three to four rooms and an inner courtyard
• Ditches &Drains near the house blocks indicated functioning sewerage
system

Source: Self Sketch

Settlement of Aryans at North east near Ganga and
Varna (Varanasi) Rivers Place now known as Rajghat

Source: Singh, R. P. (2009). Banaras: making of India's heritage city. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars.
 SETTLEMENT- SECOND STAGE
• Settled along Rivers as being mode of transportation of goods
for trade
• Brought with them trade – Textile, handicrafts, Agriculture,
etc
2TH CENTURY B.C.- ARYAN PERIOD

• Was center location that connected other cities as trade route

• They settled towards north region (Varanasi river) and
expanded toward south (assi river)

Source: Gutschow, N. (2006). Banaras:The sacred landscape of Varanasi. Alex Menges. London.
 SETTLEMENT- THIRD STAGE
• Gupta Period was know as golden age
• Time of Great Religious Vitality and transformations
• The Vaishnava tradition of Hindu Religion was
introduced
4th -6th CENTURY B.C.- GUPTA PERIOD

• Cults like Skanda, Surya and folk were given

recognition
• Evidences of business, educational institutes and
importance of forest could be found
• In literature the theology, symbolism and
manifestations of Shiva became prominent and the
earliest Puranas like the Vayu, Markandeya, and
Matsya where written
• The Varanasi Stone Pillar Inscription of Buddhagupta,
(CE 478), found in Rajghat, promoted the
establishment of religious monuments
• The use of burnt brick for building of storehouses,
temples, and shrines
• The main road ran north-south, parallel to the Ganga
with buildings on either side, was regarded one of the
main road passing through the heart of the city
• The association of the Shivlingas and a ghats was
given religious meaning and ritual
• Was thickly populated, prospering, and combination
of congested houses separated by narrow lanes,
gardens and groves, and water pools with lotus
flowers.
 SETTLEMENT- THIRD STAGE

The houses at this time may be categorised into three

4th -6th CENTURY B.C.- GUPTA PERIOD

major groups:
1. The first group consists of mud houses with bamboo
thickets for making walls and grass and weeds for roof,
used by the poorer people and the artisan class. Later,
such houses used fired clay tiles and bricks in addition
to mud.
2. The second group belonged to the merchant
community and is represented by multi-storeyed
houses of four to five rooms, the use of stone in the
basement, an inner courtyard, and in some instances
an attached warehouse complex.
3. The third category of houses belonged to a higher class.
Such dwellings were distinguished by their large size,
three to five storeys in height with multiple rooms for
different functions, several gates, and water pools or
wells.
 burnt brick in the store houses, temples and shrines
 This period is credited with an impressive & peerless trade
and warehouse complex.
 Houses were categorised in three groups:
 POOR PEOPLE & ARTISAN CLASS – Mud houses with
grass & weed roof. Later houses used fired clay tiles &
bricks along mud.
 SETTLEMENT- FOURTH STAGE

• The Gahadavalas provided strong Hindu leadership

8th -10th CENTURY B.C.- PRATIHARAS & GAHADAVALAS

and saw themselves as the protectors of the tirthas

• The Rajghat Plateau had once served as the centre of
the royal capital of Gahadavala dynasty
• The three sacred zones surrounding the present
Ornkareshvara, Vishveshvara, and Kedareshvara
Temples were fully developed and inhabited by
traders and migrants from different parts of the
country.
• A chain of shrines linked by pilgrimage routes
delineated these three segments.
• Various occupational groups with artisans, craftsmen,
and other services
• People settled on the western margin of the ridge that
lined the Ganga and also along the streams that lay
inland.
• Most of the ponds and lakes were converted into
jalatirthas associated with both Puranic and other
deities.
8th -10th CENTURY B.C.- PRATIHARAS & GAHADAVALAS SETTLEMENT- FOURTH STAGE Settlement towards West and south west

• Construction of 350
temples confirmed the
growth of Vanaras as
religious nucleus of North
india.
• City expanded upto
Lolarka Kund in the south.
• The inscriptions of this
period mention seven
ghats along the ganga
Chronological order of settlements
 THE DELHI SULTUNATE & MUGHAL ERAS
• Many mosques and tombs were built.
• the notable structures in the city and its neighbourhood are the shrines &
Idgah at Bakaria Kund, the Arhai Kangura mosque and the mosque at
panchganga Ghat.
• in 1669- By the order of Aurangzeb, the greatest temples of Banaras like:
Vishvanatha, Krittivasa & Bindu Madhava etc. were demolished.
• The puranic glory and beauty well known till 12th century had disappeared by
17th century, though it could not be entirely destroyed.
 LATE MUGHAL PERIOD

Development of benaras during this period due to:

TRADE: 18th century- Gosains- holymen/ merchants organised
as chelas around particular gurus .
• functioned as monks, traders, soldiers
• developed skill their money from roberes on the trade route

• Inherent practice to keep their wealth intact from one generation to another
18TH - 19TH CENTURY

VIEW OF WEALTHY MERCHANT’S HOUSE

& gave them special in the power structure of banaras.
• Gosains acted as power brokers
• hierarchical structure evolved that clustered these moneymen known as
Naupati (Society of nine shares)
• 1810- house tax protest- population streamed out of town on the outskirts of
benaras beyond reach of british administrator
• Silk merchants were the builders of banaras and these enabled muslim silk
weavers in the city- 25% of population.
• Trade demand – great wealth to the merchant bankers
• This wealth was further transferred to the Brahmins- who specialised as
reciter’s of Ramcharitmanas- called kathas.
 LATE MUGHAL PERIOD

Development of benaras during this period due to:

RELIGIOUS NETWORK: consisted primary identity of the city
• BOTH GURU Nanak & Chaitanya from Punjab & Bengal visited Banaras

• Brahmin & his Disciples

• banaras received students & disciples for centuries to know about the religion
• carvansarai and dharamshalas were built to shelter the visitors and travellers
• Immigrants & sponsors constructed shelters in banaras- depicting
18TH - 19TH CENTURY

architecture of their home town

•Gurudham Temple, entrance in

European Style

•Samrajeshvara Temple, above Lalita ghat

• Dharamshala on Panchkrosi route
 LATE MUGHAL PERIOD

POWER HOLDERS: Shifting political structure

• the city was not used as administrative centre
• claim of ownership was done through the connstruction of temples
& other buildings in Banaras
• Marathas- pre eminently- Ahilya Bai created Vishvanath temple,
Manikarnika ghat with its Tarakeshwar temple & Lolarka Well.
18TH - 19TH CENTURY

• Bajirao Peshwa- Adi Vishveshwara, KalaBhairava Temple, Amrit

Rao Ghat, reflects strong interest of marathas in Benaras
• Maratha rulers pressurised (declining)- 1st Mughal emperor, 2nd
Nawab of Awadh, then British- to allow them to directly rule banaras.
• A mosque was made by Aurangzeb nearby nearby Vishvanath
temple – as mughal statement of control and displaced much of
hindu temples.
• the built environment was being shaped by these and other
externa;l patrons- Banaras began to reflect the changing
political economy.
 ESTABLISHMENT OF RAMNAGAR

•Central in this process was the forged alliance among the Gosains and Rajputs
who began as tax collectors for the Nawabs of Awadh
•This alliance emerged for the decline of Mughal empire
• Mid 18th century- the plan of attacking the city by Afghans to unseat Raja
Balwant singh, was made cancelled by a delegation of bankers thorugh paying
him generously to avoid onslaught.
18TH - 19TH CENTURY

• Powerholders were repositioned and Raja Balwant singh built the fort at
Ramnagar.
• this fort still hosue the family of Raja Balwant singh.

• reinvention of hindu tradition & style in the city which could be

found throughout the large cities of North India i.e. Ramlila-
ceremonial occasion- related to the built environment.
• Many neighborhood in the city had Ramlila observances for 10
days accomodating 1000s of audience and 100s of participants.
• Raja contributed to architecture by constructing palaces and
temples within the city as it expanded outwards.
18TH - 19TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURE OF RAMNAGAR
 THE BRITISH PERIOD
•British did not exercise any direct political authority except to
establisha resident until 4 September 1782 when they fully
declared the State of Banaras as a part of the Company
• in 1794 Banaras came under British administration with a
limited jurisdiction known as the ‘Banaras State’
• construction of several schools, hospitals, water pools and
irrigation dams- Prabhu Narayan Singh was the key personality
• establishment of the Banaras Hindu Universityin 1914-16 -
Prabhu Narayan Singh
• The urban area of Banaras continued to expand along the destruction at raj ghat
riverfront southward andwestward through the 19th century.

•Masonry bridges were built on the Ganga and theVarana river

• many ponds like Benia, Maidagin and Machhodari and
Godaulia Nala(drain) were drained and replaced by parks or
streets
•houses were demolished to widen the roads in the centre of
the city
• Broad thorough fares were cut thorough the city where
formerly there had been narrow lanes.
• Dashashwamedha – luxa road was built running west from the
river toward cantonment railway station( now varanasi junction)
• the north-south artery called chauk was replaced by business
district.
• Slowly city came to its present shape.
• 19th – 20th cent. Costruction of many eduactional institutions –
sanskrit college- later on they were converted into gothic style.
• central hindu college
• Modern hindu university was constructed – initiated by Madan
Mohan Malaviya – 1904- became largest and best planned
educational institutions in Asia- Banaras Hindu University(BHU)

CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES
• brought major change in the urban landscape
• introduced mission in the holy city
• opened a church at Sigra (in 1817) & another in the centre of the
city at Gadaulia crossing.
• Hospital for women was also constructed
•1867- The Municipal Board was made- to improve existing condition of the city
•Maidagin Tank was replaced by a park- company garden
•Opposite to the garden- Town Hall was built in 1875, surrounded by large open
space for the public meetings and other functions in the centre of the city.
• machodari tank was drained into the Ganga through underground channel & the
site was turned into the park.
• Closeby new market was developed
• Bisheshwarganj was established in 1830- today's greatest grain market.
Town Hall with open spaces around
• Railways, Bridges, improved sewage & drainage system modified urban fabric of
banaras.
• City was improved as social, educational & political & became prominent on
urban landscape.

Machodari tank
Machodari tank convereted to green park
Improved road widths of cantonment area
• October 1949, Banaras assumed its present form and became a
district headquarter
• In 1960’s & 70’s Buddhist monasteries of Chinese, Thai, Japanese
communities & institute of Tibetan studies was established at
Sarnath
• Tourism began to have an impact
• Four road bridges were constructed
• In 1951- master plan was developed by Improvement Trust for the
development of the city

The Development of the city

• Trade has increased
• more tourist visits
• increase in economy
• availability of infrastructure
• connectivity with surrounding
areas
• increase in population-
extension in the boundary of
banaras
 CONNECTIVITY
• Banaras is well connected through road with the
nearby areas.
1. To Jaunpur 2. To Azamgarh
3. To Ghazipur 4. To Kolkata
5. To Mirzapur 6. To Allahabad
7. To Badohi

• Banaras is well connected through train

• To Lucknow
• To Gorakhpur
• To Allahabad
 PHYSICAL PLANNING & GROWTH MANAGEMENT CENTRAL CITY

OLD CITY • under development pressure due to close proximity to the core area

• Complex urban character • Categorised as “proximal areas” in developing the growth analysis

• undergone transformations over time, still retaining its PERIPHERAL AREAS

original character. • Have different development pattern

• Areas adjacent to the ghat & the old city exhibit dense •Becoming more popular among citizens as they provide more organized

development due to its proximity to ghats & their longevity of development pattern & infrastructure

existence which has become the cultural fabric of the city. • the growth of peripheral areas is likely to be more in comparison to other
parts of the city.
• Maze of buildings & narrow streets along the length of ghats
• Most planned development
• Temples, shrines, dormitory for pilgrims, shops, restaurants,
• Development of new ring road in the north of the city
hotels crowd the cramped spaces of the city
• connection of the roads with National Highways
• Important areas are: Chachori gali, chowk, Vishvanath gali,
• Connectivity with Ramnagar & Mughal Sarai
Thatheri bazar etc.
•All over the city are shivalingam shrine that are nestled in the
corners here & there.
• everyday a devotee place a new flower on each lingam &
perform a short worship
• Streets just wide for two people to walk
• impact on cultural integrity of old city due to increased
population
 SPATIAL GROWTH TRENDS RECENT GROWTH TRENDS
CHANGES IN LATER HALF OF 19TH CENTURY • introduction of the various branches of the
• Increase in pakka houses which rapidly encroached on the kachha houses railways
• vacant spaces of neighbourhood of ganga filled by pakka houses. • improved sewage & drainage works
• ill-drained areas- Gadaulia Nala, Machodari tank- disappeared & replaced by parks. • Many institutes catering for the welfare of the city
•Dsaswamedha road became landmark in the urbanscape of the city • Water pumping stations at the ghat
• Cantonment & civil line areas in south & north of grand trunk road • the city has grown in the north and north west
•To cater to growing needs, suburban bazaars & hotels sprang up direction
• the river Varna bridged up at two points: Chaukhaghat & civil Coizrts • Population has also increased towards sarnath
• Cantonment extended to north-Eats of civil lines.
SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
 HEALTH FASCILITIES
 EDUCATIONAL FASCILITIES
1. BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY
2. SAMPURNANAND SNSKRIT UNIVERSITY
3. MAHATMA GANDHI VIDYAPEETH
4. CENTRAL UNIVERSITY FOR TIBETIAN STUDIES
 FIRE STATION: 2 PERMANENT & 1 TEMPORARY
 RECREATIONAL FASCILITIES:
1. SPORTS (2) MALLS & PARKS (3) MUSEUMS
 GHATS AND ITS ARCHITETCURE
 URBAN FASCILITY
.

• Adikeshav
Ghat

• Panchganag Ghat

• Manikarnika Ghat

• Dasaswamedha Ghat

• Assi Ghat
 These ghats are the interface between the building
THE GHATS:
edge alongside the river and the river, permitting an
There is a continuous access to the ganga. The ghat may be pakka that is
constructed with stone steps or kachcha that a natural
semi-circular stretch bank
ghats along the river In each mohalla the most important routes are the ones
form the Assi in the that lead out to the main vehicular road and to the ghats
south to the Rajghat in . The ghats are therefore important factors for the purpose of orientation
the north. Extends and thus important governing factors in the development of the mohalla
almost 6kms
along the left
bank of
the ganga
 . The ghats consisted of sand & mud embankments.
• due to erosion caused by flowing water of ganga - there is
constant process of rebuilding & renewing the structures
leading to continuous replacement of older styles &
architectural expressions.
• Oldest ghat- Manikarnika ghat- 1302
• this ghat was also renovated in two phases one at the top
through construction of walls and buildings- this protected
the city against flood
• there became two owners of a ghat- one at the top area and
another at the steps, so the number of named ghats
increased, also due to expansion of the city
• Initiated by a Hindu finance secretary of mughal emperor,
Akbar- the ghats were cladded with stone
• the rajput rulers & Maratha peshwas funded for the
reconstruction of ghats.
•This process is still going on and coming up of new
architectural styles is on

•Experimentation & Variation: Ghat bays- platforms- resembling shape of truncated

bastion towers, ocatgonal, built of solid stone or stone clad, square, rectangular, circle
shape.
• Bastion OCTAGONAL form- innovation of Mughal era.
• People can move freely from one ghat to the another.
• Platforms used for various purposes i.e. performing rituals, cremation, washing,
fishing, simply resting.
• open air shrines, frequently increased over time & can be provided with walls,
creating a new form of architecture
• small cubical cells at some ghats- accomodations for sanyasis who led their life on
the ghats in banaras.
Source: Gutschow, N. (2006). Banaras:The sacred landscape of Varanasi. Alex Menges. London.
• separate water kunds at the ghats- 1st water structure created by GodS
• the architecture of ghats along the river ganga is designed to adapt to
extreme changes in the water level between the seasons and succeeds in
fulfilling different functions at different times of the year.

HOUSES AND ITS ARCHITETCURE

• courtyard houses
• entered from the streets through two
doorways. Ground level raised above the
streets
• floor inclined to fascilitate the drainage
of rainwater. This level is reserved for
family business where the women rarely
come.
• frist upper floor is principal living space
• staircase – gallery linking all the rooms
• kitchen at the possible farthest distance-
to keep it pure
• caste wise entry to the outsiders.
• reception room opposite to the staircase
has three parts: 1st overlooks the streets,
by means of jaalis, 2nd space opening in
the courtyard, 3rd space at the end of the
room closed off by 3 doors
• terrace- domain of children and women
• used to dry fruits & chillies, used by children for flying kites
• one communicates with neighbours, both visually and verbally
• during hot seasons one sleeps here at night for the cool breezes
• it’s a place for the family for joy, laughter and excitement.
EARTHEN HOUSE- PANCHKROSI ROUTE
GARDEN MANSIONS- BARADARI
• MATERIAL- rammed earth, wood, tiles for the roof,
stone slabs for pavements
• no openings on extarnal wall
• sloping roof, no terrace
• open space between street and main door for
socializing & working , partly covered with lean to
roof
• decorated main door, low entry
• from first room, one passes into the court. Beyond
to the right is kitchen
• flight of steps from here gives access to granary
above the entrance room
• floor is of beaten earth.
• drain in the court conducts rain water to the rear of
the house
• wall thickness- 50- 90 cm, ensuring good thermal
insulation
• interior is rudimentary but cool.
• Residences of proprietors during the hot seasons
• also used for administrative affairs, commercial
business, in the manner of a darbar hall
• located on north- south axis
• principal rooms are raised above the level of the
garden and prceeded by a broad terrace that can be
shaded by hangings
• protected from the sun due to north sun
• arched openings, jallis- permitted to observe the
outer world without being seen.
 CARVANSERAIS & DHARAMSHALAS • CARVANSERAIS: during-16th – 17th century
• During mughal period- but only two can be
identified now
• rectangular site, raised upwith blind walls on the
exterior
•Openings inward to a large court
• more than hundred rooms not interconnected,
opens independentaly in the court by means of
arches.
• roofs serves as terraces
• brick & mortar material- few elements are picked in
pink sandstone
• Carvan serais of shershah, aurangabad serai
• dharamshalas for the hindus – 18th – 19th century

BUNGALOWS
• To the north of banaras, british settlement
• from the beginning of 19th century onwards
• built in the palladian version of Neo-classical period offering a
striking contrast to the indigenous-style houses of the city
• form overall structural heritage of banaras
• can be seen in the cantonment area of banaras
• spacious garden in the surroundingswith a low boundary wall
• covered with sloping tiled roof
• no terrace, no central court only sequence of rooms with multiple
doors to fascilitate ventilation
• bathroom placed near the bedroom, kitchen away from the house-
to the side or the rear
• if the doors on the house are opened- the activities in the verandah
and th ereception rooms are clearly visible to everyone from the
streets
BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY (BHU)
8th -10th CENTURY B.C.- PRATIHARAS & GAHADAVALAS SOCIO- CULTURAL ASPECTS FOURTH STAGE
 SOCIO- CULTURAL ASPECTS FOURTH STAGE

Ritual on the Ghats

Brahmins eating sacred food Collective Prayers

Women getting heads shaved Chhath Puja in River Ganga

SOCIO- CULTURAL ASPECTS FOURTH STAGE

CONCLUSION
• origin – mythological, trade, craft
• developed as per the religion, administrative reasons
• physical form- dense and compact and narrow streets
• Social structure- as per the prestige of social strata
• Economic structure- agriculture, trade & crafts
• Landmarks- Ghats, temples
 Reference

 PECU. Rana P.B. Singh: Banaras, Making of India’s Heritage City. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.1st
October 2009, A4 29x 22cm, xvi + 409pp.; 60 tables, 123 figures. Pb, ISBN (10): 1-4438-1321-4, ISBN (13): 978-1-4438-1321-1.
Link:
http://www.academia.edu/19527957/03._PECU._Rana_P.B._Singh_Banaras_Making_of_India_s_Heritage_City._Cambridge_Schola
rs_Publishing_Newcastle_upon_Tyne_U.K.1st_October_2009_A4_29x_22cm_xvi_409pp._60_tables_123_figures._Pb_ISBN_10_1-
4438-1321-4_ISBN_13_978-1-4438-1321-1
 book: Banaras- the city revealed by: Rana P.B. Singh
 Banaras: making of india’s Heritage city by: Rana P.B. Singh
 Towards the Pilgrimage Archetype by: Rana P.B. Singh