The “City of Temples,” Jammu is fondly remembered for its ancient temples and majestic backdrops by pilgrims, from across the country, who have stayed here, in the course of their pilgrimage journeys to the Mata Vaishno Devi temple and the Amarnath Shrine. The city had a rich architectural identity given by the efforts of Dogra rulers, which used to be the pride of Jammu’s citizens. But today, a dilution of the rich heritage is underway in favor of characterless “Dabba Architecture” (Box Buildings) in Jammu City. The monotony created by the modern construction trends is pacifying the once flourishing-built heritage. The architecture of past and present is to be critically reflected upon to highlight the challenges that are currently agonizing Jammu’s architectural landscape.
The Dogra Legacy
Historically, Jammu has been a small foot-hill town with temples and forts being an ever-present imagery in its skyline. Iconic structures like the Mubarakmandi Palace and the Hari Niwas Palace have stood for years, reflecting the architectural brilliance of the Dogra rulers, who were masters in integrating cultural and contextual values into their buildings. The Dogra rulers were eclectic in taste, with Mubarakmandi being a perfect example. The complex houses various architectural styles, including Rajputana, European Baroque, Mughal, Victorian, Greek, and Roman.
These styles weren’t just collaged together for the sake of it, they were contextualized with regional influences and local building techniques to project a sense of belonging. The use of these particular styles satisfied the royal aspirations of matching imperial and Mughal might. Beyond this complex, the old city remains a repository of heritage, characterized by human-scale bazaars and narrow streets. Other structures such as the enormous Bahu Fort, Science College buildings, and the Ranbir High Secondary School are gems of Dogra heritage, each serving as a memoir dedicated to the history, events, and residents of Jammu.
The Fall of Jammu’s Architectural Brilliance
In the last couple of decades, Jammu City has embraced global architectural trends, with “elevation-driven” yet functionally stunted infrastructure dominating its skyline. These ‘developments’ lack sensitivity to the city’s unique cultural context. A pressing issue, that is allowing such developments to happen, is the absence of regulatory frameworks promoting contextual design. The existing local bylaws focus only on technical parameters like setbacks and FAR, offering little guidance on preserving Jammu’s visual or spatial character. These codes are only followed in municipality approval drawings, while on-site practices often violate them; rear offsets are encroached upon, and inspection officers are bribed, resulting in ecological stress on localities. The form-based code followed by Chandigarh’s administration is a benchmark that should be studied, and a similar code for practice should be devised and implemented in Jammu City.
This issue is further aggravated by the mismanagement of the existing built heritage. There is a feeling among the locals that Jammu City has always been overshadowed by Kashmir, which has consistently received more financial and infrastructural support from the center. Despite being a transit hub for religious sites like Amarnath Ji and Vaishno Devi, Jammu has struggled to fully develop its tourism potential. Mubarakmandi Palace was designated a protected monument status in 2005 but has been poorly managed, with slow and underfunded restoration efforts. With the palace’s condition deteriorating daily, Jammu may lose one of its Dogra crown jewels forever.
The Missing Foundation
There is a lack of a supportive architectural ecosystem in Jammu City. For decades post-independence, there was no architecture college in Jammu City until one was recently started, but it is now on the verge of closure. The School of Architecture in Jammu has been mismanaged, with no efforts made to fill permanent faculty vacancies or proper execution of architectural paedology. This has resulted in batch sizes having dropped to as low as 5 out of an intake of 40. The absence of locally produced young architects has negatively impacted the city’s architectural ecosystem. Most architecture firms in Delhi and Chandigarh rely on interns and freshers to handle their working drawings and 3D renderings. These cities attract young talent through established colleges like CCA and SPA New Delhi, whereas in Jammu, architects don’t have this advantage. Even Jammu-born architecture students studying elsewhere prefer internships and jobs outside Jammu.
Due to the absence of a local architecture institution, most practitioners in the city until recently were architectural diploma holders, pretending to be architects. These diploma holders dominate the market with low fees, which undermines qualified architects’ capacity to demand fair compensation for their designs. Clients’ unwillingness to spend much on architectural consultancy further frustrates local architects. Clients who have larger budgets, tend to hire Instagram-famous architects from Delhi or Chandigarh, undermining local talent. Though instances like the Hotel Aureum Grand in Vijaypur, which is a direct imitation of a Dubai Metro station, show a lack of responsibility and inspiration in these so-called ‘Star Architects’.
Turning the Tide- A Call for Action, Reflection, and Change
The Jammu and Kashmir state was under special political status, limiting foreign investments. This status has now been revoked, and new avenues for a better Architecture are anticipated. This development urgently requires policymakers to establish regulations prioritizing contextual and sustainable design. The city’s future lies in empowering its young architectural community to build a memorable image of the city with due respect given to the region’s cultural and contextual legacy. Local firms like Arcon Design Consultants, Aviral Design Studio, and Agama Studio are putting in passionate efforts to redirect Jammu’s architectural landscape toward contextual sensitivity. An architectural institution needs to be set up and supported by the government to foster a supportive ecosystem for budding architects. With growing awareness about climate consciousness and contextual design among Jammu’s youth, architects of the region are poised to be the flagbearers of change, building a unique and sustainable image of Jammu City, a city built by Jammuites, for Jammuites!
Sources:
Sharma, Anoop & Garg, Rajeev & Hazarika, Arshia. (2019). Conventional Architecture of Jammu: An Analytical Review. 10. 114-122.
