BRIJGHAT REDEVELOPMENT AT GARHMUKTESHWAR

AADYA AGRAWALM.ARCH, RECREATIONAL ARCHITECTURE

ABSTRACT

Known for ages for its rich ancient traditions, Uttar Pradesh abounds in places of religious importance. There are also a large number of places which cannot be only called places of pilgrimage but which have great importance from historical and tourist point of view also. The State is specially known for its cultural centers.

Ghats are series of steps leading down to a water body derived from the sanskrit word ghatta, meaning a landing place or quay, or steps by a riverside. Various activities are associated with the ghat that link people and the sacred river as- a) Holy dip b) cremation c) children ceremonies d) fairs/festivals e) ritual ceremonies f) local community livelihood etc.

AIM

To develop the facilities and infrastructure at Garh to a high level so that besides its importance as a pilgrimage center, it is also a place with enough activities to make a person stay over rather than make a day visit only.

OBJECTIVES

To develop religious tourism at sites where such potential already exists. To increase flow of tourists in the region with a view to provide employment and

income to local people. To provide recreational facilities for tourism growth. To popularize areas of historical interest in the region and to examine possibility of

developing some of them as major tourism circuits and hubs.

SIGNIFICANCE

The place has considerable religious importance of the Hindus, a bathing fair being held  here  on the full-moon day of Kartika when about six lakh persons, from far and near , come to have a dip in the river Ganga which they consider to be holy. Another fair, held (in Jyaistha) on  the  ocassion of Dasahra, attracts about one 50,000 persons.

Places of interest include: Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple, Meerabai-Ki-Reti, Nahush Koop ( Nakka Kuan), Ganga Temple, Old Mukteshwar Temple and Jama Masjid

WHY BRIJGHAT?

Ganga has been a symbol of India’s age long culture and civilization, ever changing, ever flowing and yet the same. Brij Ghat, Garh Mukhteshwar has been a venue of great importance in India, it’s been a venue of a religious congregation every Kartik Purnima For over 5000 years. The star attraction is the Holy River Ganga and Kartik Purnima Mela held each year.

Also, this historically and culturally rich place may well turn out to be Uttar Pradesh answer to Haridwar, which it lost to the hill state of Uttaranchal in Year 2000. Brij Ghat Special Area Development Authority created on October 19, 2001 is to oversee the development of this area.

Brij Ghat is ideally located with easy access via NH - 24 to cities like Gajrola, Meerut, Moradabad, Hapur, Delhi and Nainital.

SITE LOCATION

The area of intervention is located at BrijGhat, Garhmukteshwar. Located at National Highways 24 joining New Delhi with Lucknow.

It is proposed to develop a “Ganga Dham Complex” whose centre piece will be a live working model with water flowing through it. It would depict the story of Ganga and the folk lore surrounding the holy river. This model may cover an area of about 2 acres and will show the journey of Ganga River from the Himalaya to the Bay of Bengal.

GANGA RIVER

NH-24

RAILWAY LINE

GANGA RIVER

INTERVENTION STRETCH OF

GHATIS 300mts

NH-24

RAILWAY LINE

BASIC DRAWINGS (BASE PLAN)

PROBLEMS:

1. The existing ghat condition is very bad, not maintained properly. 2. No tourist facilities like changing rooms, lodging, restaurant, interpretation centre,

etc. 3. The place is unhygienic and unplanned in tourism point of view.4. No proper marketplace for local people growth.5. No religious complex which can attract tourists.6. No proper tourism infrastructure.

SCOPEThe scope of the project will be:

GHAT DEVELOPMENT WITH LENGTH OF 300 mts, Ritual terraces, changing rooms, toilets, viewing platforms.

CRAFT/TRADITIONAL MARKET RESTAURANTS AND FOOD COURT BUDGET HOTEL BOATING/RIVERSIDE FACILITY GANGA RESORT-MEDITATION CENTRE/RELIGIOUS COMPLEX PROMENADE PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION

CASE STUDIES1. VISHRAM GHAT, MATHURA2. VRINDAVAN GHATS

ANNEXURE