kumbakonam urban study report

7/24/2019 Kumbakonam urban study report

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SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

R V COLLEGE OF ENGINEERINGMYSORE ROAD

BANGALORE 560 059

A REPORT ON

KUMBAKONAM _the temple cityTHE CAUVERY DELTA STUDIO 2

Submitted by

Semester II (07 Batch) M. Arch. Urban Design StudioII FebMay 2008Studio Co ordinators: Champaka TR M.Arch(UD) Berkeley; Brinda Sastry M.Arch(UD) Oregon; Anitha Suseelan PG Dip UD CEPT Ahemedabad


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A REPORT ON

KUMBAKONAM _the temple cityTHE CAUVERY DELTA STUDIO 2

Semester II (07 Batch) M. Arch. Urban Design StudioII FebMay 2008

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, R.V COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING BANGALORE


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INDEX

1.0 Introduction 042.0 Regional Setting

2.1 The religious center in the Cauvery Delta 05

2.2 The Chola capital in the Tanjore District 05

3.0 History

3.1 The Legends 06

3.2 Historical and Political Events 07

3.3 The ritual topography 07

4.0 Growth & transformation4.1 The evolution of the town 09

4.2 The present situation 10

5.0 Social Structure & Economic Base

5.1 Socio Economic structure a historical perspective 11

5.2 Socio Economic structure today 11

6.0 Secondary Data Collection

6.1 Demographic data and speculate the trends 12

6.2 Heritage Policies & Conservation 12

Analysis

7.0 Morphological Dimension

7.1 Introduction 14

7.2 Geographical setting 14

7.3 Abstract Scheme & Implied World View 15

7.4 The morphological dimension

7.4.1 Land use pattern / Building Use 167.4.2 Linkages: Hierarchy of street network illustrating its physical linkages

7.4.2.1 At a macro level 18

7.4.2.2 Within the town 18

7.4.3 Building heights 19

7.4.4 Built Vs Open 20

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7.5 Underlying typologies7.5.1 Nature of Tanks/ Kulams 21

7.5.2 Nature of open spaces 22

7.5.3 House Typology

7.5.3.1 The Threshold 23

7.5.3.2 The Courtyard 23

7.6 Nature of Urban Block

7.6.1 Land use 24

7.6.2 The Growth process of the Urban Block 257.6.3 Building Heights / Built Vs Open 26

8.0 References 27


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INTRODUCTION 03


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1. INTRODUCTION

Kumbakonam, known as Kashi on Cauvery, is an ancient South Indian City located in Cauvery River BasinIt occupies a unique positionin Hindu Myth & legend, because of the invaluable inscriptions, iconography, religious architecture & highly articulated cosmic geography,in terms of its urban structure. Its position in Hindu Myth, urban configuration temples & tanks, palaces & civic buildings, institutions,

religious scholarships, Brahmin elite, arts & crafts, all lead to the traditions of Urbane Tamil Culture3.The sacred-royal configuration of

Kudamukku (Kumbakonam) - Palaiyarai, together with a wider network of subsidiary agglomerations, constituted one of the earliest

settlements of the Cholas in the Cauvery

Kumbakonam, in Thanjavur district, is located at 10 57

north latitude & 79 23 longitude It is about 313kms fromChennai on the north, 40kms from Mayiladuthurai on the

east, 40kms from Thiruvarur on the south & 40kms from

Thanjavur on the west. Unlike other religious centers,

organized around a single core, Kumbakonam is unique

being one of the very few multi core temple cities. The

urban fabric includes temples, matams, chattrams,

agraharams, paditorais, making it one among the best surviving of ancient Tamil cities.

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Its strategic location along the Cauvery delta region renders it as an ecologically sensitive zone and its continuous habitation since ninth

century adds to its strong socio religious significance. The city has been a seat of intellectual legacy, hence commonly referred to as theCambridge of South India. It has been an established economic center for trade & commerce and arts & crafts.

2. REGIONAL SETTINGS

2.1 The religious center in the Cauvery Delta

In India, along certain holy rivers, the river-edge settlements have grown into religious

centres or holy cities. Kumbakonam is one such city in Tamilnadu, along the Cauvery

River; located in the delta between the Cauvery & its tributary Arasalar.

Cauvery originates in Karnataka at

Talakaveri, in Kodagu and flows down

through Kushalnagar, Srirangapatna &

Shivanasamudram, before reaching Hogenikal

& Srirangam in Tamil Nadu. In Erode in

Tamil Nadu, two more tributaries join it Noyyal & Amravathi. In Tiruchirapally, it branches

out in to Coleroon & Cauvery. Cauvery again divides into Arasalar & Cauvery at Papanasham,

near Kumbakonam. Cauvery further fans out into 32 branches and all these further branch off

into a number of small streams, to reach the Bay of Bengal at Nagapattinam. Along its course,

it is intercepted by various falls at Shivasamudram & Hogenekal, dams at Krishna Raja Sagar

& Mettur, & religious towns like Srirangam, Papanasham, Gangaikondacholapuram,

Kumbakonam & Nagapattinam.

2.2 The Chola capital in the Tanjore District

The Cholas first established their hold in the Tamil region with their capital located in Uraiyur in

Tiruchirapalli. The Cholas recognized the importance of the Cauvery delta region, and initiatedgrowth of paddy in this region. They also shifted their capital to Kumbakonam, & later to

Thanjavur.

Kumbakonam is a municipal city of Tamilnadu, located in the Cauvery river delta and is the

second biggest in Thanjavur District. The municipality, with a population of 1.4 lakhs, covers an

area of 12.58 sq. km.. The Local Planning Area consists of Kumbakonam Municipality & other 19

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other villages5

. The city is well connected through Railways & State Highways & major District roads.

The city has developed in the delta between the Cauvery River, to the north & the Arasalar River, to the south and has a gentle slope fromnorth-west to south-east

5. In the present context, there are vast agricultural wetlands to the north & south of planning area; with the rivers

Cauvery & Arasalar as the main sources of irrigation. This delta has fertile alluvial soil & favors the growth of paddy, coconut, betel nut,

banana, mango & tamarind trees.

3. HISTORY

3.1 The Legends

Kumbakonam is associated with the cosmogonic myth of Shiva as Adikumbeshwara orLord of the Pot. As per the Myth, the creator (Brahma) seeks to preserve the most

precious things from destruction, which completes a cosmic cycle. So, he places the Hindu

scriptures & the seed of creation in a golden pot, which floats south on the cosmic flood,

till it is shattered by Shivas arrow. Thereby, releasing the embryonic amrita (nectar),

which flows & congeals to form Kumbakonams tanks & temples, marking the start of a

new creation?

The two holy tanks of Kumbakonam, Mahamakam tank & Pottramarai tank, are considered

the most sacred & beautiful, as they tie up with the legend they are the pools of nectar

that fell from Shivas pot of creation2.

Mahamakam tank is a fine reservoir articulated with steps

& plinths, surrounded with fifteen sacred pavilions (each

with surmounting vimana, containing a linga & a sixteen-

pillared mandapam): with the Kasi Vishvanatha temple

(north) & Abimukeshwara temple (east), which are

associated with the tanks legend of purification &creation the tank is supposed to receive water from

nine springs (representing nine holy rivers Nava

Kanyaka, the presiding deities of Kasi Vishwanatha

temple). A holy bath, in the auspicious Mahamakam tank,

washes off all sins. Mahamakam tank, in the heart of the

Pottramarai tank

Kumbeshwara temple

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Mahamakam tank


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city, is a meeting point for 9 sacred river goddesses (represented by wells), namely, Sindu, Ganges, Yamuna, Saraswathi, Sarayu, Godavari,

Mahanadi, Narmada, Payashul & Cauvery. Pottramarai tank is located between Sarangapani temple & Kumbeshwara temple2

.

3.2 Historical and political events

The Cauvery river delta was first recognized by the Chola rulers, as an ideal place to settle, as it was rich in alluvial soil, which was best

suited for agriculture. They set up their capital at Uraiyur in Tiruchirapalli. Kumbakonam

was the second capital of Cholas, who ruled since 3rd century. It was developed as a

religious center organized around several temples. Most of the old Shiva temples,

mandapam & padithore belong to this period.

The Pandyas of Madurai came into power in 13th century. Hoysalas ruled from 14th

century onwards, who were overpowered by the Vijayanagar kings, who appointed Nayaka

to rule the region. The Nayakas made additions to the existing Shiva temples & made new

Vaishnava temples. Art, architecture, crafts, literature, music & dance were patronized by

Chola, Nayaka & Maratha rulers in the region. Later, the city was, recognized for its

importance; as a centre for handicrafts & artifacts. The cities Municipality, Magistrate

Court, institutes, Road & Rail connectivity were established by the British. The city has

been a seat of intellectual legacy, hence commonly referred to as the Cambridge of South India.

3.3 The Ritual topography

Kumbakonam is known for its temple architecture & epigraphy. The temple dotted towns

evolved due to the rise of Brahmadeyas

, which led to mobilization of resources3.

Kumbakonam is a temple-oriented city with

many temples, mostly very ancient. Unlike

most Tamil Temple Cities, which are

single-centred cities organized around a

central temple complex (eg. Madurai City),Kumbakonam is a multi-centred city, with

temples sprinkled all over the city.The city

originated as a religious city, with areas like

Kumbeshwara Temple & Mahamakam tank

in the core of the city. The city is defined by

reciprocities & relationships between ritual & civic life & their embodiment in architectural settings3.

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There are several agraharams, dwelling quarters of various Brahmin communities, each

with its own shrines, mandapams & chatrams. Each dwelling in an agrahara is organizedaround one or more courtyards. The urban realm in a sacred city is a continuum of ritual

space articulated through a hierarchy of localized levels, ranging from the public domain of

the temple to the private socio-microcosms of its agraharams & residential sectors of

various jatis3

Kumbakonam has temples dedicated to all three deities Shiva (twelve shrines), Vishnu

(four shrines) & Brahma (one shrine). The Shiva temples, belonging to the Chola period,

are more ancient than the Vaishnavite temples, which belong to the Nayaka period.

Kumbeshwara temple is distinct, with its gopuram (45m high) & entrance passageway,

which functions as a covered market. Nageshwara temple is oriented, such that the sun penetrates right through to the linga in the inner

sanctum

When the Jupiter lies in line with the Moon, on a full moon day; the sacred planet

combination is supposed to cast certain radiations on the Mahamakam tank. The

Mahamakam tank has the teertam of creation1. This particular day is celebrated as the

Mahamaham Festival. The Mahamaham festival happens once in 12years, during the Tamil

month of Masi. It invites pilgrims from all over the country.

Kumbakonam has several institutes Mathams (religious establishments & hermitages of

specific cults), Chatrams (charitable institutes for pilgrims) & Mandapams (civic & cultural

institutions), which are of great importance & antiquity, containing valuable books,

manuscripts & inscriptions.eg. Shankaracharya Matham, Vaishnavite Ahobila Matham, etc.

The sixteen-pillared Bhagawath Padithore is a beautiful mandapam, with its own temple &

ghats, located on the banks of the Cauvery River.

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4. GROWTH & TRANSFORMATION

4.1 Evolution of the city

Mythologically Kumbakonam assumed its origin, centered around the Kumbeshwara temple, the two holy tanks of Mahamakam and

Pottramarai, and the Banadurai Temple. The evolution of the city was marked by the rise of temple settlements. The two shaiva temples

Nageshwara temple and Kasi Vishwanatha temple; and one vaishnava temple Sarangapani temple; formed the nuclei of Shaiva and

The Early Beginnings Chola Period (7th

13th

Cen) Nayaka period (14th

17th

Cen)

Vaishnava settlements. The initial brick structures were converted to stone vimanas & nuclei of

huge temple complexes, which grew steadily in size from chola period & gained additional

subsidiary shrines and enclosures (Prakarams) with tall gopurams, during the Vijayanagara -

Nayaka period8.

Nageshwara temple continued to be the centre for all major activities, till the Kumbeshwara temple

gained significance. The temple settlement of Thirunageshwaram was supposed to have replacedan earliar jain settlement8. During the Vijayanagara-Nayaka period, Vaishnavism gained

importance & Sarangapani temple became the centre of this major settlement. The steps &

mandapam were added to the Mahamakam tank, along with a number of Padithore along Cauvery

river. Chakrapani & its residential area came into existence along with several Vaishnava

mathams8. Maratha influence is seen through smaller shrines and development in

The British Period (Early British) built form around the core of the city.

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The city was later ruleddby the British, which led to the beginning of the colonial era at Kumbakonam. It was marked by the establishment

of educational institutes. The Town Municipality was established in1866. The civil & criminal courts were also set-up during the colonialperiod, which was later shifted to Tanjore, leading to a fall in the growth rate of the city, due to migration

8.

4.2 The present situation

This municipal city of Thanjavur District has a population of 1.4 lakhs, covering an area of 12.58 sq. km.. The Local Planning Area consists

of Kumbakonam Municipality & other 19 other villages5

. The city is well connected through Railways & State Highways & major District

roads.The development trend of this city is on east, north & west areas

; along

Mayiladuthurai & Thirunageswaram road on the east, Chennai Road & Nilathanallur road on

the north, Thanjavur Road on the west. These spines (upto 100m depth)are undergoing

transformations in a fast pace 5.

The protected water supply system for the city is from river Cauvery & Kollidam, 7 wells at

Valayapettai & Kudithangi, 3 overhead tanks at Pettai, Kadalangudi & Mela Cauvery & 172

hand pumps. There is underground drainage system in old city & the remaining areas of the

city have open storm water drainage system. The recreation facilities include cinema theatres,

Municipality Auditorium in Pottramarai Street & five parks. The city has street lights in all

wards & high mass lighting in Mahamakam tank, Nehrumarket, 4 road junction, new bus stand.

The city has good connectivity through a network of roads & rail. The transportation

corridors are State Highways, i.e. Kumbakonam Channai, Kumbakonam Thanjavur,

Kumbakonam Mayiladuthurai & Kumbakonam Mannargudi & Major District Road.

Commercial activities are located to the centre of the town; along Thanjavur-Mayiladuthurai

Road, Big Street, Town High school road, & areas surrounding Kumbeshwara temple, new

bus-stand, cinema theatres, banks, hotels & lodges; & at Swamimalai & Darasuram5. The

trend of industrialization of the town is mainly through agriculture based & small scale

industries. The urbanization trend is slow & steady, in Kumbakonam city5

.

Palavanthankattalai, Ullur, Pandaravadai, Perumpandi, Valayapettai, etc.

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ANALYSIS13


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7 MORPHOLOGICAL DIMENSION

7.1 Introduction

The geographical setting along the Cauvery delta region, the abstract scheme and the implied worldview, have lend it a unique

morphological dimension beyond time. The abstract scheme based on strong canonical principles in structuring this temple city and the

implied worldview characterized in the ritual topography has rendered it with a sacred configuration.

The place still sustains the meaning and memory of a religious precinct. Its position in Hindu Myth, urban configuration temples & tanks,

palaces & civic buildings, institutions, religious scholarships, Brahmin elite, arts & crafts, all lead to the traditions of Urbane Tamil Culture.

7.2 Geographical Setting

The regional setting of river Cauvery The system of water channels in Kumbakonam The ridge-valley diagram of the area

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River Cauvery with the Padithurais River Arasalar in the South The Canals in the drainage network

Cauvery originates in Karnataka at Talakaveri, in Kodagu and along its course; it is intercepted by religious towns like Srirangam,

Papanasham, Gangaikondacholapuram, Kumbakonam & the port town Nagapattinam. The city with its strategic location along the Cauvery

delta region, between the Cauvery & its tributary Arasalar renders it as an ecologically sensitive zone. The area is strewn with a number of

water channels flowing from west to east. It has a shallow slope down from north to south with the many ridgelines running east west.

7.3 The abstract scheme and the implied worldview

The Swastika Diagram The Main spines and the institutions The abstract scheme

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The temple city has been conceived with the underlying canonical principles in its overall structure. The plan contemplates the Swastika

mandala, a diagram that allows the flexibility to be marked out into a square, or rectangle or it may be of any shape. The diagram suggeststhat the town to be surrounded by a rampart wall, with a moat at its foot filled with water. Two main streets cross each other at the center,

running North south and East west. The resultant quadrants would follow a street network in the swastika pattern, with the principal streets

in each running in one cardinal direction. The central location of the main Siva or Vishnu temple, the presence of a Jain temple in the SW

quadrant, the palace in the west and the kalyani are also comparable to this temple city.

7.4 The morphological dimension:

7.4.1 Land use pattern: existing & proposed by the authorities

The towering gopuram & the urban fabric

The Market Place

LAND USE MAP

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The land use is predominantly residential, with the commercial activities mainly concentrated towards the center (the traditional core) of the

city along the state highway, Bazaar street, TSR big street, around the Mahamakam, Dabir west street, Nageshwara Koil street.The publicand semi public zones are dominant in the center with the temples, schools and town hall (located in the old traditional core of the city). The

government offices and the institutiona are located towards the eastern side of the city, in the periphery.

The rivers in the north and the south bound the city of Kumbakonam. and is intersected by canals. Tanks or Kulams are generally spread

across the city and are accompanied by the temples. The backyard spaces, dried tank beds and the flood banks of the rivers, form the

resultant green spaces in the city, accompanied by the agricultural lands on the outskirts.

Slums are a common feature along the drains, canals and the flood banks of the rivers, particularly Arasalar as Cavery is linked to the city in

the ritual topography. The settlement in the city is generally organized on the basiss of community and occupation, resulting in a mixed land

use. The newer developments and residential layouts in the city are towards the eastern edge and in the outskirts of the city.

Building-use

The buildings in the core of the city and along the highway

are mostly of mixed use type, which also reflects the fact

that the settlements of a particular community occupy a

particular area, based on their occupation. This feature of

the dwelling close to the place of work, occupation based

settlement is also seen in the present times with areas near

the core and near the courts and hospitals being occupiedby lawyers and doctors respectively.

Local level commercial activity can be seen along Bazaar

street catering to the temples, commercial activities like

lodges banks are located along TSR big street, around

Mahamakam and Dabir west street. Local level commercial

activity and mixed-use buildings are seen along

Nageshwara kovil sannidhi street and along the state

highway. The built fabric is undergoing a lot oftransformations due to the commercial pressures. Religious

institutions like temples are concentrated along the core of

the city, around Mahamakam. The older fabric of Matams

and Chatrams are undergoing transformations.BUILDING USE MAP

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7.4.2 Linkages:

Kumbakonam is well connected regionally to the cities Chennai and Tanjore, in the Tamilnadu state. TheState highway from Tanjore cuts across the municipality and the network of streets at the local level

responds sensitively to the local drainage pattern and geographical features.

7.4.2.1 Regional connections

Kumbakonam, in Thanjavur district, is located at 10 57 north latitude & 79 23 longitude It is about

313kms from Chennai on the north, 40kms from Mayiladuthurai on the east, 40kms from Thiruvarur on

the south & 40kms from Thanjavur on the west. Unlike other religious centers,

7.4.2.2. Hierarchy of street network illustrating its physical linkages

STREET HIEARCHY

The State Highway

The Primar Streets

CHENNAI

MYLADUTHUTHIRUVARUR

THANJAVUR

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The State highway acts as a main spine of Kumbakonam that runs through the ridge with all the secondary and tertiary streets meeting it.The major transformations are along this spine with G+3 structures. The street network responds to the topographical features and the

network of canals. Though deeply ingrained to cosmological principles in the structuring of the town, the physical construct of it responds

to the geographical context invariably.

7.4.3 Building heights

The entire fabric is predominantly low-rise structures, punctuated by the towering gopurams of the main temples. The residential fabric is of

ground and G+ 1 structure. The major transformation zones are along the State highway, around Mahamakam, along the Cauvery river edge

and the new road, lined with G+3 and above structures. The religious institutions, matams, major government and educational institutions

are ground and G+ 1 structure, with an exception of Sastra University, which are G+3

The Primary Streets The Secondary Streets The Conservancy LanesThe traditional fabric

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7.4.4 Built Vs Open

The city is generally characterized by contiguous built form. The new residential layouts and the colonial period establishments like offices

and institutes are the plotted development. In the old city, the urban solids are the built, enclosing the voids that are the Kulams, streets,

canals etc. whereas in the newer parts of the city, urban voids encase the urban solids.The voids of the temples, enclosed by the urban solids, in the traditional core of the city emphasizes the hierarchy of the solid contained

within. In the old city, streets are defined by the lining of urban solids (the built), and the resultant backyard spaces are formed along the

canals. The traditional fabric is more dense than the later settlements, with less wide roads within the settlement. In the newer areas the

developments are plotted type with the footprints of the institutions being much larger in scale than the residential buildings.

BUILDING HEIGHTS MAP

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7.5 Underlying Typologies

7.5.1Nature of Tanks / Kulams

THE FIGURE GROUND MAP

Fig 1 Early configuration of tanks Fig 2 Present configurations of tanks

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Traditionally, the tanks could be classified into 3 types, as those which are associated to the temple rituals, those which are part of the

irrigation system and finally those which are the intermediate over flow tanks in the surface drainage system (fig 1). The former type has

religious institutions as part of the physical built and streets built around the edges. The second type of tanks varies in sizes and is

essentially the part of the hinterland. The tanks which are the part of the surface drainage net work remain as ponds surrounded by the urban

fabric which are the most susceptible one to conversion into slums, parks, playgrounds etc. due to the changing meaning and associations of

these elements to the users.

Type 1: Mahamakam Tank Type 2: Reddirayar Tank Type 3: Varahakulam Tank

7.5.2 Nature of Open SpacesThe nodes analyzed were:

1. Mahamakam node

2. Potramarai kulam node

3. Gandhi park node

4. Kaveri node

The inference drawn by this study is that the hierarchy of scales of Open spaces differs from each other. The Cauvery node being the largestand Gandhi Park is the smallest.

In each case the movement is a linear movement; with the Open space being offcentred.Mahamakam node and Cauvery node have

maximum accessibility and ritual connection to it and hence draw more public. The kinds of elements like mantapas, steps etc add on to it

being more public.Potramarai kulam though has a ritual connection but still lacks the abitility to draw the public due to lack of accessibility

to it. The nature of Open to built is a central large open space with structures built around it upto G+2.The kind of activity around this open

space is commercial with small local level commercial to city level commercials.

Mahamakam Node Potramarai Kulam Node Gandhi Park Node

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7.5.3 House Typology

Introduction

The house essentially reflects the life style and the occupation of the user. A linear house type with alternating courtyard is the basic

typology. The interface with the street is essentially the verandah, as a threshold defined by high plinth, tile lean to roof and supported on

wooden pillars. The house is typically G or G+1 with the upper floor set back beyond the verandah. People have appropriated this house

type with the changing life style of present day. The courtyard accommodates various uses ranging from a ritualistic space to private realm.

It also helps in ventilating the house.

7.5.3.1 The entrance or the threshold

7.5.3.2 The Courtyard

The series of Court in a traditional house The alternating light and dark spaces The multi utility nature of the courtyard from rituals to private spaces

Threshold defined by high plinth verandah Appropriations of the Type in terms of additional elements or an adaptive reuseA Street view

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7.6 Nature of Urban Block

Introduction

The urban block is primarily defined with a main

temple as the core, thus rendering a multi loci

configuration to the urban fabric.

The urban block is defined by the streets with the

contiguous built abutting it, leaving an extensive

collective backyard that forms the larger system of open

spaces with the canal in the centre running in the east

west direction.. The peripheral built of the block

responds to the configuration of the streets. The averagesize of a block varies from 180m x 300m to 400m x

600m. Streets run parallel to the water network giving

access to the private plots that are abutting the watershed zone. The average plot size is 2.5m x 120m running perpendicular to the canals.

The Kulams, canals, temples of varying hierarchy, the streets abutting the block often lend to its imageabiity with its associated myths

religious functions and historicity, which makes the setting more meaningful.

7.6.1 Land use

Land Use at urban Block level Building Use at urban Block level

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The urban block selected abuts the Big bazaar street, which was a conscious historical intervention to define a north- south axis, culminating

at the Chakrapani Temple. The Varaha kulam, smaller shrines, and the canal which is a part of the larger drainage system lend further to its

imageability.

The land use long the primary Big bazaar street has been transformed completely to commercial and that along the Chakrapani Kovil south

street is mixed residential. The average plot size of 8m x 57m, is configured perpendicular to the canal which runs with in the block. The

Varaha kulam was part of the ritual topography as water from this tank was used for the rituals at Chakrapani temple. The presence of river

Cauvery is strengthened by linking the precinct to the padithurai, the ghats.

7.6.2 The growth processes of the urban block

Fig 1 Fig 2 Fig 3

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The early phase (fig 1) represents a balanced system of built and open with the larger concern to maintain the rear set backs as a collective

open space. The network of surface run off canals thus accommodated as part of this collective private open spaces. But the attitude to these

green networks has been reversed over a period of time (fig 2). At present the rear set back spaces are converted to new plots by introducing

a new road with a common consent amongst the land owners and the block is thus densified and the canals are vanishing in the process. The

speculated scene (fig 3) of the urban block shows an increase in the built, reduction of open spaces, the vanishing canal network and the

introduction of new streets. The issue addresses a serious conservation concern.

7.6.3 Building Height and Built Vs Open

Its a low-rise fabric with the building height predominantly varying from G and G+1. Higher structures are spring along the main

commercial spines. The figure ground map shows the changing attitude to collective private open rear set back spaces which are getting

converted to new plots and hence an intensified built condition.

ConclusionThe understanding of the morphological dimensions coupled with the natural setting essentially opened up new possibilities of addressing

this ritual topography to conserve its living heritage and to speculate the new avenues of development. The process has led to questioning

the issues, concerns and opportunities of the temple town, which in course of discussions developed into individual design explorations. The

variety of schemes evolved includes redefining the historical street, the water edge of the town along Cauvery and Arasalar rivers, The

exploited channels, tanks and tank beds and their relevance in the present day to proposing a new development to the eastern part of

Kumbakonam.

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8. REFERENCES

1. Action Plan for the provision of basic amenities & infrastructure development works in Kumbakonam town for the Mahamaham

festival, 2004.

2. Carl, P., Dallapicola, A., Michell, G., Nanda, V., 1998, Cambridge Kumbakonam Project Kumbakonam: A Ritual Topography,

Architecture Design, Vol.66, pg. no.7-12.

3. Carl, P., et al, 1998, Kumbakonam Art, Architecture & Urbanism: Space, Ritual & Meaning in a Sacred Royal City of South

India, Cambridge University, U.K.

4. Kumbakonam An Urban Study,2005, Periyar Maniammai College of Technology for Women, Vallam, Thanjavur.

5. Master Plan Kumbakonam, 2004.

6. National Atlas & Thematic Mapping Organisation, 1997,District Planning Map Series - Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, Survey of India.7. Operations Research Group, 1999,Integrated Development Plan for Heritage Areas in Tamil Nadu Kumbakonam Town, Directorate

of Town & Country Planning, Chennai.

8. Priya, M.R., 1998, Kumbakonam Manifestations of a Traditional Setting, Unpublished B.Arch. Project Thesis Report, N.I.T.,

Trichy.

9. Temple towns of Tamil Country, Temple Town Kumbakonam

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