Along the Ganges : Rishikesh 2018 by BSSA Editorial

R I S H I K E S H ALONG THE GANGES

BALWANT SHETH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE BSSA aspires to be a school of contemporary thought. Learning architecture at BSSA is about the people, processes & technology. Architecture is about the holistic understanding between people, culture, heritage & art. BSSA wants understand people to be able to build for them. Architecture is about understanding processes than products. BSSA focuses on understanding processes in nature, science & society. It is a process based designed school. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This book would not have been possible without the guidance of our Dean Trilochan Chhaya, Janki Shah Rohit Anchan and Prachi Donde, their valuable and experienced critiques helped us gain a deeper understanding and assimilate the essence of the spaces in our drawings and result in this compilation. We would also like to thank our class for co-operating and consolidating all the work. Copyright 2022 Balwant Sheth School of Architecture SVKM’s NMIMS All rights, no part of this publication, may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any other information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. 01

Fg. 1

PREFACE The book contains documentation of Rishikesh during the year 2018. The comprehensive study trip includes documentation, sketches and measure drawings of places such as Ram Jhula, Lakshman Jhula, the Ashrams, the Ghats and several other places around them. In the second half of the study trip, the class was divided in groups of five students, where each group had to study the above mentioned places. Following which measured drawings of the same were produced. Published by Publication Cell, Balwant Seth School of Architecture Editor Atrey Chhaya (I C Dean), Balwant Seth School of Architecture

Fg. 2

INTRODUCTION

PARMARTH ASHRAM

GEETA BHAVAN

RAM JHULA

LAKSHMAN JHULA

MURALS

Beign located in the foothills of the Himalayas, Rishikesh is one of the key national heritage cities.

It is one of the largest ashrams in Rishikesh, where hundereds of visitors attend the arti at sunset each day, at the shore of Ganga.

This is one of the mainly ancient shrine complexes in Rishikesh. It’s walls bear the writings from well known epics such as Mahabharata and Ramayana.

It is a 450 feet long iron suspension bridge over holy river Ganga, connecting Shivananda Ashram with Swargashram.

Initially built as a jute rope bridge, today connects the Pauri district with Tehri district.

Located at the outskirts of Rajaji National Park, the Ashram consists of several devotional graffiti as tribute to the celebrated rock band, The Beatles.

01 LAKSHMAN JHULA 02 RAM JHULA 03 GEETA BHAWAN 04 PARMARTH ASHRAM 05 BEATLES ASHRAM

03 04

SITE PLAN

INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW Rishikesh is situated on the banks of the Ganges River, surrounded by Shivalik hills(Himalayas) on three sides, not far from Haridwar in Uttarakhand. The whole town is considered to be sacred and it’s believed that meditation there leads to salvation. Latitude - 30’6 degree North Longitude - 78’18’ degree East 356 m above Sea Level Earthquake magnitude - 5.8 The entire town actually arranges itself along the banks of the river where, the banks are dotted with ashrams, temples and facilities for pilgrims. Narrow lanes with shops on either side sell religious paraphernalia; creating axises of movement.

Fg. 3

LAND USE

City is divided into main 8 major Sectors Ram Jhula is a place with huge number of ashrams while Lakshman jhula has more cafes and restaurants. Rishikesh lies in a hilly terrain, and city expansion is naturally restricted by the amount of available land in the flat parts of the landscape. In 2000, the government enacted a 200 metre buffer zone from the bank of the Ganga River where no construction is to be made. Rather than having a 200 metre buffer zone along the full river, the State Government has addressed the need to scientifically devise a more precise boundary for the buffer zone

TEMPLES IN TAPOVAN AREA

HOTELS

SHOPS

TEMPLES BELOW GANGA

RESTAURANTS

POLICE STATION

AASHRAMS

SUBSTATION

POST OFFICE 06

PARMARTH ASHRAM

Fg. 4

P 0 5 10

A 20

N 60

S E C T I O N A A’

Fg. 5

The ashram is situated in the lap of the lush Himalayas, along the banks of the Ganges. It was founded in 1942 by Pujya Swami Shukdevanandji Maharaj.

AXONOMETRIC VIEW

GEETA BHAVAN The design and planning of the Bhavan is such that it consists of several discourse halls and over 1000 rooms for the comfortable stay of devotees free of cost. Geeta Bhawan is a major place for devotees from far away places as they get free stay during their holy dip in river Ganga with listening to discourses and meditation.

B C

B ’ S E C T I O N

BB’

D ’

C ’

S E C T I O N D D’

P 09

0 5 10

L 20

N 60

S E C T I O N C C’

AXONOMETRIC VIEW

R A M

J H U L A

The Ghats at various places are for Human interaction and Spiritual connection. Ghat meaning embankment, are generally characterized by a flat area followed by a staircase that leads to the holy river. Ganga Ghats are spread across all the towns and cities that share the banks of the holy river. Triveni Ghats in Rishikesh has a special place in the hearts of devotees. Triveni means merging point of three sacred rivers - the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the Saraswati river.

P 0 5 10

L 20

N 60

E L E V A T I O N A A’

AXONOMETRIC VIEW

LAKSHMAN JHULA The Lakshman Jhula end of the end of Rishikesh was bustling with activity on the main road. Abutting the main road were souvenir shops with restaurants and bakeries on the upper floors, often facing the river. As one moved through the by lanes and onwards to the river, the crowds began to disperse with the land use changing to large temples and multi storied housing. Additionally, it was interesting to note the constantly changing fringe with the river ranging from large ghats for religious use, recreational beaches and inaccessible rocky clifs with bath houses.

Fg. 6

13 E L E V A T I O N B B’

Fg. 7

Fg. 8

Fg. 9

Fg. 10

The master plan of Rishikesh is prepared based on a watershed approach. It ensures no attempt to tamper with the natural boundaries of river and tributaries. However, to meet the residence needs due to the natural growth of existing local population, strictly limited conversion of agricultural lands is permitted, with the prior approval of the Central Government. The Lakshman Jhula, 137m in length is an iron suspension bridge across the river Ganges, crossing it from West to East. Initially the bridge was built using jute ropes but after failing twice, it was replaced by a iron suspension bridge in 1927.

Fg. 11

15 E L E V A T I O N C C’

Fg. 12

Fg. 13

pg no 16

The murals are from all over Rishikesh primarily, The Beatles Ashram. The ashram was built in 1968 after the Beatles visited the ashram of Mahrishi Mahesh Yogi. The place today has a spiritual, eerie and creative vibe to it. Artists have continued the creativity that had been practiced in these walls so many years ago.

Fg. 14 - 28

Some of the murals includeSadhu in pose of meditation. His lower body is shown as roots depicting his connect to nature. The Beatles with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (on the wall of Beatles cathedral gallery). A cathedral in a Ashram (Influence of the western culture seen in the mural). Hindu mythological figures, portraits of the Beatles, and typography form an varied mix in the Beatles cathedral. A foreign woman represented as one who has adapted to Indian culture and attire.

2018