The Journey of the Gods

Abstract

The impact of urban morphological changes on heritage structures and their surroundings is investigated in this thesis. To accomplish so, the thesis focuses on and investigates the case of Shree Jagannatha Temple in Puri, which was built in the 12th century. The temple serves as the spiritual heart of Hinduism, one of the world’s oldest religions. As one of the country’s ‘Char Dhams (four prominent Hindu temple locations),’ it is crucial to the city’s economy. The inflow of pilgrims to the temple on significant occasions like the Ratha Yatra (Chariot Journey) surpassed the support system’s basic capacities. Grand Road (main road) for key religious rites degraded over time as a result of commercialization of the surrounding area, leading to illegal settlements as well. The urbanization of the area surrounding the temple has also adulterated the temple’s pinnacle’s visibility. The government of Odisha has presented a plan by Puri Konark Development Authority to transform the city of Puri into a world heritage city by 2031 in order to protect the temple and its significance. The thesis examines three architectural dimensions – setting, scale, and space – to better comprehend the factors that influenced the government’s decision. The research is limited to the urban changes in the 19th century, 20th century, and latest developments because considerable urban growth occurred in the last few decades. Site visits, photographic documentation, and comparative analysis were all part of the research for developing Serial Vision using the method of Gordon Cullen. Furthermore, Kulke and Hunter W. Stirling’s publications, as well as news articles, were useful resources for understanding history and stakeholder perspectives. Finally, the thesis explores the government’s document plans and how they may aid in the restoration of the temple’s monumentality.