Varanasi is among the oldest towns in the world. It is located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh and is most famous for the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and the sacred Ganga River. In the eleventh century, Hari Chandra constructed this temple. In the 1780s, Ahilyabai Holkar built a second temple at this site. The shivling at Kashi Vishwanath temple is one of the twelve most important jyotirlingas in the world. Because of its proximity to the revered Ganga River, the temple gains even greater significance.
Dense, haphazard, low-rise construction steadily expanded over this area of the city as time passed, intruding on public spaces and significantly restricting access to the Mandir. Local people and visitors were suffering due to a lack of infrastructure and facilities. To carry out this rehabilitation the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Special Area Development Board was established in 2018. The Mandir and its surroundings up to the ghats of Lalita, Manikarnika, and Jalasen are part of the Vishwanath Dham redevelopment project by HCP.
The Redevelopment Project
The Kashi Vishwanath Mandir is located axially in the centre of a path that links it with the ghats. The ease of mobility in this city, sometimes referred to as “galiyon ka shahar (city of lanes),” is significantly different when one traverses the corridor from the ghats to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. The temple, which has retained its importance within the complex, is surrounded by an elegant colonnade that forms the large and revered Mandir Parisar. The major route going to the Ghats descends from the Mandir Chowk, a spacious open area in front of the Mandir Parisar. Significant municipal and cultural landmarks include the Varanasi Gallery, a multipurpose hall, a spiritual bookshop, a food court, mumukshu Bhawan, and a city museum.
The rehabilitation project took into account the demands of pilgrims, residents, and visitors. It offers a pilgrim rest house, yatri Suvidha Kendra, and public restrooms. There are four entries in the mandir parisar, one for each potential access.
The mandir Chowk, which is accessible from the ghats’ side, is one point of entrance. The remaining three originate from the many avenues or galis encircling the Kashi Vishwanath Complex. Because entries are separated, there is less chaos inside creating a calm experience for every user. The mandir parisar is a colonnade that provides shade and shelters people within the confines of the temple. The large area that surrounds the main shrine now gives devotees more opportunities to admire the deity and even relax. The stone used to build the temple is also used to construct the new Parisar. Users can remove their shoes and use the lockers for personal things in the designated area outside the mandir parisar. The experience is appropriate for all weather conditions because the waiting spaces are covered.
The mandir Chowk is a tranquil space where big crowds may congregate. Spiritual gatherings and bhajans might be held in this space. Many mandirs that were found in people’s homes after the demolition of the urban fabric are located in the mandir Chowk. The Mandir Chowk is accessible by the four main entrances of the Dham. The intricate carvings and ornamentation on these entrances enhance the campus’ overall splendour. The colonnade and gates are made completely of native Chunar stone, with no reinforcement from steel or concrete, and include traditional Hindu architectural elements.
The Ghats are a significant aspect of the entire campus. Three ghats—Jalasen, Lalita, and Manikarnika—are connected to the campus. One of Varanasi’s four most significant ghats is Manikarnika Ghat. After death, bodies are burned there since it is said that doing so at the Ganga Ghats liberates the departed from the cycle of reincarnation.
A public performance space has been established at the Ghats for cultural events and shows. Boats coming on pilgrimages and tourists dock at the provided jetty. Additionally, a rooftop café with views of the Ganga River’s immense expanse is built. An upper-level viewing gallery is housed in a different structure near the Ghats. The renovated campus of Kashi Vishwanath Dham is marked by this building as well.
Maintaining the design’s context was a key consideration, and it was accomplished by using the same Chunar stone from Mirzapur that is utilised in the temple to construct the whole Parisar, giving it a Banarasi touch. Although the outer court, or temple Chowk, is contemporary, it integrates with the temple architecture through the use of traditional arch-shaped torans, or gates. The Chowk gateway is inspired by the Ramnagar entrance gateway. The remaining structures, which include recently constructed pilgrim amenities, are contemporary, practical structures that blend in with the height and mass of the surrounding construction.
User Impact
The accessibility to the temple from the ghats is well-managed, taking into account the demands of the people. The location is naturally sloping; thus, one must climb several stairs to get to the temple. The site is equipped with ramps and escalators to address this issue and facilitate the movement of elderly pilgrims and those with disabilities. All of the campus’s amenities have been designed to meet the requirements of pilgrims and visitors alike, although locals are given priority. Many stores that offered both regional goods and those needed for the temple’s pooja have been moved and given designated spaces. This lessens confusion and gives each store owner a suitable location.
The Redevelopment Project in Essence
Rebuilt in 2019, the temple complex spans over 5 lakh sq ft, linking the Ganga at Lalita Ghat, from a meagre 2,700 sq ft in previous years. The transformation is nothing short of enormous, thanks to the generous use of red sandstone, Chunar stone, Kota granite, and Makrana marble.
The head of HCP’s reconstruction project, Bimal Patel, asserts that it is impossible to arrive in Varanasi and not be struck by its charms and character. However, after doing further research, the crowd in the region along with difficulty in accessing the temple was noticed. For the temple to function properly, despite its appeal and character, the urban fabric would need to be changed. Varanasi is composed of many layers of blended architectural styles, even though it is an ancient city, he adds. It was necessary to create a new typology of buildings and urban spaces that would both complement the temple and blend in with its context. In essence, the final design is a journey towards self-discovery expressed through architecture.
Citation:
Kashi vishwanath Temple (2024) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashi_Vishwanath_Temple (Accessed: 27 July 2024).
Kashi vishwanath temple: The grand makeover (2021) Open The Magazine. Available at: https://openthemagazine.com/cover-story/kashi-vishwanath-temple-the-grand-makeover/ (Accessed: 27 July 2024).
Vishwanath Dham (2023) HCP Design, Planning and Management Pvt. Ltd. Available at: https://hcp.co.in/urbanism/vishwanath-dham-varanasi-3/ (Accessed: 27 July 2024).
