K ARNATAKA
S IRSI, GLIMPSES OF
VIGNETTES
VIGNETTES GL I MPSES O F
S I RSI , K ARNATAK A
Documentation of this study has been carried out in Semester –III (2019-20 Academic Year) by IInd yr. Students of Department of Landscape Architecture at VIT’s PVPCOA, Pune Published by Research and Design Cell, PVP College of Architecture, Pune.
R ELATIVE STUDY PROGRAM TO SIRSI, KARNATAKA
“IN AN UNFAMILIAR PLACE, SENSES SHARPEN.” A NNE W HISTON S PIRN
Landscapes are SETTINGS. Landscapes narrate STORIES, wherein all biotic and abiotic beings have a definitive role to portray. Our Actions and Reactions, are the Reflection of our Mental Constructs. These EVOLVE CONTINUOUSLY over a period of time, through generations, based on beliefs and CULTURAL PRACTICES.
Northern Western Ghats
Credit: https://www.britannica.com/place
Central Western Ghats
Credit: https://www.britannica.com/place
Nilgiri Hills
Credit: https://www.britannica.com/place
Southern Western Ghats
Credit: https://www.britannica.com/place
DIALOGUES ::
with people, places & self; between thinking & doing, is how one learns and evolves.
With an endeavour to read and experience landscape,
Thereby understand the quintessential Man and Nature CONNECT through the myriad responses; And thus become aware of the shift or continuum in ATTITUDE across the layers of evolution; We set to explore SIRSI , a modest hill station nestled in the serene Central Western Ghats.
Credit: IInd yr. students, 2019-20 Batch, PG-LA, VIT’s PVPCOA, Pune
Sirsi & Surroundings
An Efficient – Functional Demonstration of Sustainable Development that strives to CONSERVE the essential ecological and cultural narratives, while not becoming a hindrance to
growth; ADAPTING with time.
14.6195●N 74.8354●E
R EADING L ANDSCAPE
The geology & soil has created peculiar niches where unique type of fresh-water wetlands called Myristica Swamps are found. Geomorphologically too, with the Karst formation (black crystalline limestone) at Yana Rocks, this region has a lot to explore and revisit, and explore yet another facet. This context imparts a Unique Sense of Place.
Delight
(functional/ social/ cultural/ economic values derived from land, water and vegetation)
(aesthetic/ visual/ experiential/ sensory/ conceptual/ intellectual responses to the values derived from a relationship between nature and culture or ecology and community)
The people who inhabited this region, understood the potential of the setting and thus their syntrophic response to this place, is an exemplary example of sustainable living. Less is indeed More! Various types of communities like Jogi, Kunbi, Hedge, showcase diverse settlement patterns, woven into a similar self-resilient fabric. Trade of Areca nuts, Black & White Pepper, Rice, Bay Leaves, Cinnamon and many other organically grown grains, spice & condiments is conducted. This region introduced Kannada as the first administrative language. The exemplary attitude towards Nature Conservation, has assured in protecting the sense of place.
EXPERIENTIAL
Unique habitat imparts this region with rich biodiversity and abundant natural resources. Abundant rainfall and a dense network of rivers flowing through the undulating terrain, create a series of waterfalls.
REVERENCE
Ecological Value is high due to the dense network of tropical moist evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous forests, which are home to many wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, sacred groves (‘Kan Forests’) community and conservation reserves.
SACRED -
SUSTENANCE -
RESOURCES
(environmental values of land, water and vegetation)
Community
SENSORY -
Ecology
There is a lot of flair for folk art and festivals, for example, the Kadambotsava festival, the Yakshagana Art form (song on spirits in Nature).
Mystical forests, mysterious swamps, misty waterfalls, crystalline rocks, impart enriching and memorable experiences. Such connections are heightened with the existence of the ASI Type A Madhukeshwara Temple in Banavasi and the Sahasralinga (1000 Shiva lingas), on the Shamla River near Sirsi. Sensitivity towards Nature and natural resources, regard towards traditional wisdom related to construction techniques, materials, socio-cultural practices; further increases the novelty factor of Sirsi and its surroundings. An unmatched synergy!
R EADING L ANDSCAPE The Three Principle Value Systems are adopted from Ian H. Thompson’s Ecology, Community, Delight
Traversed through the Forest Landscape, Experiencing distinct SETTINGS, Indulged in the DRAMA
bestowed by Nature as the Hidden Jewels REVEAL themselves.
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Conceptualized & Prepared by Aanchal Vidyasagar
Hydrology
Geo morphology
Geology & Soils
Physiography
Forests & Faunal associations
Land Cover/ Cultural Patterns
R EADING L ANDSCAPE
Dharwad
Maharashtra
Goa
Upper Bhima
Lower Krishna
Lower Bhima Middle Krishna
Upper Krishna
Kali
Andhra Pradesh
Upper Tungabhadra
Bedti Aghnashini Sharavati
Lower Tungabhadra
Tamil Nadu
Arabian Sea
KARNATAKA 0
100 km
Kerala
K RISHNA R IV ER B ASIN The formation of Western Ghats have resulted into many faults, which formed west flowing rivers. 4 West flowing rivers in the region namely Kali, Gangavalli/ Bedti, Aghanashini & Sharavati and 1 East flowing river, Varada.
MICRO WAT ERSHED
Sirsi is located at the junction of 3 Watersheds of the East flowing riverVarada, and the West flowing Gangavalli & Aghanashini Rivers.
Shimoga Arabian Sea
Udupi
UTTARA KANNADA 0
30 km
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: IInd yr. students, 2019-20 Batch, PG-LA, VIT’s PVPCOA, Pune
The Central Western Ghats are divided into:
Maharashtra
Dharwad
Coastal Region 60-80 km from Arabian Sea Goa
Malnad Region land of rolling hills, located at an altitude of average 600- 900m Semi-Malnad Region region having gradual slope
Andhra Pradesh
LEGEND ABOVE
Tamil Nadu
Arabian Sea
Shimoga 900 M
Arabian Sea
600 – 900 M 300 – 600 M 0 – 300 M
KARNATAKA 0
100 km
RIDGE
Kerala
RIVER
Udupi
UTTARA KANNADA 0
30 km
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: IInd yr. students, 2019-20 Batch, PG-LA, VIT’s PVPCOA, Pune
The major rock type found in this region is Peninsular Gneiss rock. These are metamorphic & collection of heterogeneous acidic rocks.
Maharashtra
Major types of soil found are forest brown soil, red gravelly soil and lateritic soil.
Dharwad
Goa
Few Characteristics are that the region is well drained, yellowish brown to reddish brown and clay to sandy clay subsurface soil.
Andhra Pradesh
Goa
Shimoga Tamil Nadu
Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
Udupi
KARNATAKA 0
100 km
Kerala
UTTARA KANNADA 0
30 km
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: IInd yr. students, 2019-20 Batch, PG-LA, VIT’s PVPCOA, Pune
Dharwad
Maharashtra
Goa
There are 4 major types of Tropical Forests are Tropical Evergreen,
Tropical Moist Evergreen, Tropical Moist Deciduous and Andhra Pradesh
Tropical Dry Deciduous
Shimoga Tamil Nadu
Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
Udupi
KARNATAKA 0
100 km
Kerala
UTTARA KANNADA 0
30 km
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: IInd yr. students, 2019-20 Batch, PG-LA, VIT’s PVPCOA, Pune
SEA
COAST
WESTERN SLOPES
TOP
EASTERN SLOPES
SHALLOW PLAINS
3500 MM ABOVE
2500-3500
1500-2500
900-1500
D ISTURBED F OREST
S EMI E VERGREEN & E V E R G REEN
M OIST D ECIDUOUS F OREST
D RY D ECIDUOUS F OREST
Dense Canopy Deciduous Trees Presence of Bamboo
Thorny Vegetation Presence of Thick Climbers Epiphytes Evergreen Trees Deciduous Trees
No Ground Cover
Presence of Bamboo Sparse Ground Cover
Low Shrubs
Dense Shrub
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: IInd yr. students, 2019-20 Batch, PG-LA, VIT’s PVPCOA, Pune
Birds
Snakes
Frogs
Ants
Spiders
Insects
Lizards
Glowing Fungi
Butterflies
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: Omkar Pai’s Blog, a resource person at Sirsi
https://www.ancient-asia-journal.com/articles/10.5334/aa.126/
1st Century
Saatvahana Dynasty 3 BCE - 255 AD
3rd Century
Kadamba Dynasty 325 - 540 AD
KALBURGI
Paithan VIJAYPURA Sirsi
Sirsi
6th Century
BELGAUM
Banavasi
BAGALKOT HALIYAL KADAMBA DYNASTY (325 - 540 AD)
SAATVAHANA DYNASTY (3 BCE - 255 AD)
HAMPI
YELLAPUR
9th Century
BELLARI
Chalukya Dynasty 973 - 1138 AD
SIRSI KUMTA BANVASI
CHITRADURGA
12th Century SHIVAMOGGA SHIMOGA BANGLORE MANGLORE
KOLAR
15th Century
Sirsi
Sirsi
Vijayanagar Dynasty 1336 - 1565 AD
Hampi
Haider Ali Dynasty 1761 - 1799 AD
MYSORE
Badami CHALUKYA DYNASTY (973 – 1138 AD) VIJAYNAGAR DYNASTY (1336 - 1565 AD)
Mysore
18th Century HAIDER ALI DYNASTY (1761 – 1799 AD)
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: IInd yr. students, 2019-20 Batch, PG-LA, VIT’s PVPCOA, Pune
WESTERN GHATS RIVER BASIN PHYSIOGRAPHY HYDROLOGY
P ROCESSES
GEOLOGY AND SOILS FOREST TYPES EVOLUTION CONNECTIVITY
P ATTERNS
INTRODUCTION (SIRSI)
ECOLOGICAL LANDMARKS FOREST MYRISTICA SWAMPS YANA ROCKS BHIMANGUDDA UNCHALLI FALLS
CULTURAL LANDMARKS
P LACE A SSOCIATIONS
BANAVASI SAHASRALINGA VADDINAKOPPA
DEVANHALLI HEGDEKATTA
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Conceptualized & Prepared by Aanchal Vidyasagar
UNIQUENESS of a place defines its IDENTITY And thereby signifies the POWER OF LANDSCAPE
Ecological Landmarks
Cultural Landmarks
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: IInd yr. students, 2019-20 Batch, PG-LA, VIT’s PVPCOA, Pune
F OREST D R ON GO N A T U R E C A MP
S IRSI T OWN
Y ANA R OCKS
B HIMANGUDDA
M YRISTICA S WAMPS U NCHALLI F ALLS
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: IInd yr. students, 2019-20 Batch, PG-LA, VIT’s PVPCOA, Pune
These forests are a integral part of the lives of residents of the village. People here own forest as they closely relate to it and hence fear is completely missing.
the
Each forest type has a peculiar sense of enclosure and this sense of the forest is mainly due to the various layers of vegetation, amount of sunlight penetrating, degree of humidity etc. Deciduous Forest forms an enclosure that is more compact in nature, beams of sunlight penetrating inside lighten up the space.
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: IInd yr. students, 2019-20 Batch, PG-LA, VIT’s PVPCOA, Pune
Myristica Swamps is a type of freshwater swamp , which predominantly consists of members of Myristicaceae. It has stilt and knee roots which are the breathing roots of these trees. It is a forested wetland having a high water table and occurring near rivers, streams, and lakes. The soil is thick, black, and nutrient-rich and is saturated (or soaked) with water. It provides an environment for water tolerant trees and other organisms.
Swamps lie on the interface of land and water and hence are one of the most productive ecosystems on Earth.
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: IInd yr. students, 2019-20 Batch, PG-LA, VIT’s PVPCOA, Pune
Amidst the Western Ghats, there is a creation of 61 monolithic rocks of which Bhairaweshwara (120’) and Mohini (90’) form the site of Yana rocks, located in the Yana village which is nestled in the Kumta Forest. The Yana Rocks are an unusual karst rock formation . Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. Observed two types of soils here; black soil deposited near to the caves and red laterite soil deposited at a distance from the caves. It is a live rock , supporting may faunas like bats, honey bees, birds, monkeys etc.
It seems as if the Bhairaweshwara has a dialogue
with the
surroundings. R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: Landscape Architect – Shivram Somasundaram
Bhimangudda or Bhimanavre gudda is a hill top which has a picturesque view of the Agnashini River. It is located in the Siddhapur Taluk, 2 kms from Nilkunda Village. At this point a 360°
view is revealed and we realize our micro-existence due to its vastness. A feeling of Reverence is triggered.
Natural patterns are observed beyond and far.
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: Landscape Architect – Shivram Somasundaram
A magnanimous waterfall on the Aghanashini river. The mountain tracks, the steep mountain slopes, deep gorges, chilly breeze, the amazing flora and the rare avian species accompany us until we reach the roaring Unchalli Falls plummeting down. The Aghanashini river meanders through thick woods and makes a spectacular waterfall. Situated nearly 35 kms away from Siddapur Taluka. A waterfall is formed on the less resistant or soft rocks that due to erosion, form a cliff. Laterite rocks can be observed on the cliff. Vegetation pattern is peculiar near the waterfall, broadleaf shrubs, small plants growing in the crevices of the rocks can be observed.
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: Landscape Architect – Shivram Somasundaram
B ANAVASI S AHASRALINGA
S IRSI T OWN H EGDEKATTA
D EVANHALLI
V ADDINKOPPA Q UEEN ’ S T ANK
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: IInd yr. students, 2019-20 Batch, PG-LA, VIT’s PVPCOA, Pune
At the entrance of the village the road is narrow and all the mixed type of houses are placed very densely near to it. The houses have shops at the ground level in front of the road and residences on the upper level. As well when we move towards the temple the road widens and the houses are linearly placed, guiding us to the temple. It located 25 km from Sirsi in a picturesque location, at the border of Shimoga and Sirsi, deep in the rain forests of Western Ghats on the banks of River Varadha.
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: IInd yr. students, 2019-20 Batch, PG-LA, VIT’s PVPCOA, Pune
Sahasralinga on the banks of the river Shalmala near Bhairumbe village, is 15 kms from Sirsi. There are thousand Shiva lingas carved on the rocks, some present in the river and some on the river bank. Each rock has carved Shiva linga on it and Nandi facing it. It was in the year 1969 that this holy place got discovered by Jean was an ethnologist.
Boulbet
who
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: IInd yr. students, 2019-20 Batch, PG-LA, VIT’s PVPCOA, Pune
A small village with 25-30 houses, on Sirsi - Banvasi road in the midst of tropical moist deciduous type of forest. The community primarily living here is Jogi. Paddy and Banana are primarily cultivated in this settlement. Also some families practice fishing. Each house have a small garden comprising of fruits and vegetable, for
sustenance. People practice joint farming , i.e. the entire land is cultivated and harvested by all community members collectively. This way the field work is effectively distributed.
Typical Section of this Settlement
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: IInd yr. students, 2019-20 Batch, PG-LA, VIT’s PVPCOA, Pune
The primary community living in this settlement is Kunbhi . These people are believed to have migrated from Maharashtra. The major crop grown in the fields is paddy. The village is located at the midst of tropical moist deciduous forest. The village has a relatively flat land with gentle slopes. The pattern of the settlement is such that the cattle shed is situated in front side little away from of the house.
Typical Section of this Settlement
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: IInd yr. students, 2019-20 Batch, PG-LA, VIT’s PVPCOA, Pune
This settlement lies between one of the oldest trade routes developed by Tipu Sultan from Kumta port to Banavasi. Suggesting that this settlement dates back to 16th century. This settlement primarily belongs to Hegde Community. These people primarily sustain their livelihood on areca nut plantations. The areca nut plantations here are one of the oldest plantations in the Sirsi taluk (more than 100 years old). Along with areca nut, these people also grow Black pepper and Banana. For each acres of Areca nut plantation, these people are allotted 7-8 acres of Betta land forest on which they can generate alternative source of income and also conserve them at the same time.
Typical Section of this Settlement
R EADING L ANDSCAPE Credit: IInd yr. students, 2019-20 Batch, PG-LA, VIT’s PVPCOA, Pune
Decoding the DYNAMIC WEAVING of this place,
Comprehending the meanings imparted by the CONTEXT,
Capturing the uniqueness of the place,
Observing the concerns which need to be addressed;
We READ how the fabric of this place adapted and SUSTAINED through TIME.
Credit: IInd yr. students, 2019-20 Batch, PG-LA, VIT’s PVPCOA, Pune
Suneet Mohindru Landscape Architect Advisor
Isha Umrani Landscape Architect Program Co-ordinator
Aanchal Vidyasagar Landscape Architect Year Co-Ordinator
Shivram Somasundaram Landscape Architect Visiting Faculty
Landscape Conservation and Planning
Meenal Rohankar Landscape Architect Visiting Faculty Landscape Conservation and Planning
Landscape Management
Landscape Design Studio Team
Studio Working & Discussions :: within the classroom, and beyond (on site at Sirsi) Sayali Bhate
Adv. Gouri Joshi
Anagha Paranjape-Purohit
Landscape Architect
Environmental Lawyer
Environmental Planner
Visiting Faculty
Visiting Faculty
Visiting Faculty
Environmental Legislation
Environmental Assessment Ecology and Biodiversity
Landscape Management
Kedar Champhekar Environmental Planner Visiting Faculty
Dr. Gurudas Nulkar Environmental Economist Visiting Faculty
Environmental Assessment Ecology and Biodiversity
Environmental Assessment Landscape Economy
Team of Experts from Allied Fields
Rucha Bhandari
Suhas Hegde
Omkar Pai
Balchandra Sayimane
Dr.R Vasudeva
Shridhar D. Bhat
Lawyer, Herpetologist Director of Tropical Rainforest Ecological Camp, Founder of Drongo Nature Camp
Team Leader of Tropical Rainforest Ecological Camp
President & Co-founder Tropical Rainforest Ecological Camp
Plant Geneticist, College of Forestry, Sirsi Member of MoEFCC, IIFGTB
Assistant Professor, Wildlife Management, College of Forestry, Sirsi
Ameya Bhosekar
Rohan Dalvi
Manasi Harisangam
Ketaki Jugoolkar
Utkarsha Kulkarni
IInd yr. Students, Masters in Landscape Architecture 2018-20
Resource Personnel at Sirsi Jayshree Patel
Shubham Patil
Kartik Paturkar
Nikita Surana
Apeksha Ubale
Vivekanand Institute of Technology’s Padmabhushan Dr. Vasantdada Patil College of Architecture, Pune Published by: Research and Design Cell, PVP College of Architecture, Pune. we believe in creating sensitive and socially conscious architects who can contribute in shaping our built environment