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The Jhelum Riverfront in Srinagar

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The Jhelum Riverfront in Srinagar INTACH Jammu & Kashmir Chapter I Vol: 1 I Issue: 2 I Month: December, 2016 The Jhelum Riverfront in Srinagar Jhelum Riverfront during the late 19th century (image source: Facebook page Old Kashmir Images, original source not known) Hakim Sameer Hamdani Saima Iqbal The city of Srinagar, a historic urban habitat century AD by King Lalitaditya. more than 2000 years old, evolved and Of all the various locations that emerged & fell expanded over centuries through various during various Kashmiri Kings, Parvarapura (or present Srinagar) rose to unprecedented historical periods. The city’s foundation is said to have been laid down during the reign of prominence. The city was established mostly on Emperor Ashoka around 250 BC, at the the right side of the River Jhelum and included location, presently known as Pandrethen, close vast areas for building activity. The site chosen to present day Badami Bagh Cantonment area. was at a relatively higher ground and assured a The advantage of selecting this site for the certain protection against floods – which was a persistent problem the Kashmir had to deal capital has been attributed to its close vicinity to the River Jhelum as also protection against with. the frequent floods, which the hill-slopes must The main development along the riverfront took have afforded. The earliest period of King place from the 14th Century onwards with the Ashoka was followed by numerous kings of establishment of the Sultanate rule in the Kashmir who moved the capital city to other region, resulting in a settlement that is locations – of prominence among which are the illustrated by close-knit mohallas, interwoven cities of Parvarapura, founded by King with narrow, organic maze-like streets and Parvarasena in the 6th century AD close to the alleys. Over a period of time the city evolved Hariparbat hillock, and also for a brief while to and expanded to its present form, stretching Parihaspora, close to present day Pattan from Ompora Karewa in the south to Omerheir on Srinagar-Baramulla road, founded in the 7th in the north. I N D I A N N A T I O N A L T R U S T F O R A R T & C U L T U R A L H E R I T A G E 1 INTACH Jammu & Kashmir Chapter I Vol: 1 I Issue: 2 I Month: December, 2016 While the serpentine course of River Jhelum was the defining feature along which the city grew and sustained, there were a number of smaller canals that the river spilled into and helped regulate its flow. On the banks of these canals, smaller, secondary settlements developed in good nature. The Jhelum riverfront, as also the canal front consists of a high stone embankment wall lined with a series of ghats and dotted with prominent religious buildings like mosques, shrines, khanqahs, temples, and secular & public structures. Abutting each other and lining the riverfront are linear stretches of three or four storey residential buildings that could be approached through the narrow cross-lanes which were in turn approached from a wide flight of steps (ghats) rising from the river’s edge. The continuity and variety of the building One of the more prominent houses along the Jhelum Riverfront facades facing the river give the city its unique (source: INTACH, Kashmir) characteristic features. The traditional riverfront Mazar-i-Salatin stretches along both the banks of river from Badshah’s Dumath Zero bridge up to Safa Kadal. It is this part of the Purshyar Temple city that contains the most of vernacular The riverfront also includes prominent civic buildings, based on taq and dhajji dewari in structures like mohallas, alleys, ghats and Srinagar. traditional wooden bridges. Today, even after the passage of eight centuries Significance of Jhelum Riverfront the Jhelum riverfront survives as a cohesive and The site is a prominent historical and urban landmark of the historic city. continuous urban unit marking the peak of -The riverfront represents the physical and urban Kashmir’s art, culture and vernacular development of the city. architecture that continue to remain in use. As -Represents the most prominent architectural such it is of utmost importance to preserve this achievements of Kashmir. urban landmark for the coming generations. -Marks a unique synthesis of different usages The riverfront has been identified as a Grade I namely public, private and religious. heritage site, on the basis of its historical, -Marks a balance between the natural and the built environment. archaeological and architectural significance, in -Represents the traditional historic face of the the Cultural Resource Mapping of Srinagar City Srinagar city. (2004-2005) carried out by INTACH, J&K -Is inextricably linked with the socio-cultural Chapter. achievements of the region. Some of the most prominent buildings located The urban structure of the Srinagar city shows a along the riverfront are; close connection the city had with the Jhelum River. The ghats, alleys and the main road parallel Khanqah-i-Mir Syed Ali Hamdani Shergadi Palace complex to the river are the original urban elements of Divisional Commissioners office Srinagar city along the river. On the connection SPS Museum points where the parallel roads of the Jhelum River Erstwhile Loyds Bank Lalded Memorial school meet the streets at bridge crossings, major I N D I A N N A T I O N A L T R U S T F O R A R T & C U L T U R A L H E R I T A G E 2 INTACH Jammu & Kashmir Chapter I Vol: 1 I Issue: 2 I Month: December, 2016 trade and commerce. included removal of encroachments along the banks as well as constructing retaining wall and beautifying the river front. However,. many of the buildings, alleys and ghats along the river front still show an advanced state of decay. PROPOSALS The Proposal invited by the Jammu & Kashmir Government, entails the preparation of revitalization plan of Jhelum river front in its historic setting with a view to restore/preserve various buildings/structures along the river front. The revitalization proposal envisages undertaking steps which will help in reviving the riverfront and also help in rejuvenating its lost The Nallah Mar Canal, filled in 1950s, it linked the waters of glory. The main thrust of these proposals is to Brari Nambal to Jhelum River and Anchar Lake (source: encourage visitation in the inner traditional city www.bl.org.uk) and consequently generate income for the economic centers are located which highlighted people in these areas. Since this part of the city thriving trade & commerce. has been traditionally associated with arts and crafts of Kashmir, such proposals will also help Revitalization Proposals for the in reviving these crafts in their historical setting. Jhelum River Front The various proposals are: The Jhelum River Front is suffering from lack of Shikara Rides: maintenance, inappropriate additions, vandalism, and ill-advised development Revival of traditional waterborne transport together with the impact resulting from political system by organising shikara rides along the conflict. The River Jhelum is also getting riverfront. The rides can also incorporate increasingly polluted by solid household waste wider circuits of travel via-Tsunth Kol-Dal Lake and untreated liquid waste. or Shah-Kul-Kut – Kol. As part of this programme it is proposed to revive certain To address these and various other issues of select major ghats along the riverfront. conservation, a revitalization scheme of the river front launched which also included the restoration of the weir at Chattabal for maintaining the water level of the river (the Heritage Walks: Chattabal weir is a barrier inside the Jhelum Reviving tourist activity along the interiors of River that controls the flow of water. It was the settlement parallel to the Jhelum constructed between 1903 and 1907 by British riverfront by designing heritage walks. These engineers during the British colonial period). walks can be co-ordinated with the proposed In 2002 and onwards, a broad based shikara rides and will include trips to major beautification program was undertaken by the historical sites in the old city, significantly State Government for the river front. This has improving awareness about the socio-cultural resulted in improving the ambiance of the river importance of the riverfront. front along the areas wherever the work has been completed. The improvement scheme also I N D I A N N A T I O N A L T R U S T F O R A R T & C U L T U R A L H E R I T A G E 3 INTACH Jammu & Kashmir Chapter I Vol: 1 I Issue: 2 I Month: December, 2016 Revival of Traditional Artwork Showrooms/Workshops: To generate income for local residents engaged in various local crafts it is proposed to set up traditional craft workshops and showrooms within the old city. The travel itinerary of the various shikara rides and heritage walks should be organized in a manner that will entail visit to these showrooms. Various abandoned private residences can be reused and converted into Existing interiors of Guzarwan building before it collapsed during 2014 showrooms, workshops or tea houses or floods (source: INTACH) interpretation spaces. The Proposal will also determine a strategy for better maintenance, management of the riverfront along with reuse strategies for the abandoned buildings and sites. - Conservation/Reuse Plan for approximately 20 historic buildings along the river front as tea houses, cafes, restaurants as well as Craft Centers etc. - Restoration of Ghats - Face lifting/conservation proposal for Proposed reuse interiors of Guzarwan building (source: INTACH, Kashmir) identified public heritage buildings from Peerzou to Safa kadal including major shrines, mosques, khanqahs as well as temples.
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