IHCNF Newsletter November 2017
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Newsletter of Indian Heritage Cities Network Foundation (IHCNF) In – Heritance For the Future of Our Cities VOL.2 ISSUE NO.11 NOVEMBER. 2017 GreetingsFrom to all!IHCNF Desk in Bangalore Presenting to you In-Heritance IHCNF’s Earlier on 30th October, IHCNF Chairman Inside this Issue monthly newsletter for the month of convened a meeting in Bidar which was November. Through our monthly newsletter attended by the two trustees Dr Kulwant we strive to keep our avid reader base Singh and Prof Ajay Khare and the Executive Feature Article Pg 2 updated about all our activities every month. Director to discuss preparatory work for the On the 7th of November, Executive Director Biennial Conference. A glimpse into the historically rich IHCNF visited Bhubaneshwar, Odisha Starting on the 15th of November the IHCNF town of Banavasi, notified as a regarding the conduct of 5th IHCNF Biennial. team working on the World Heritage ‘heritage area’ by the Government During this visit meetings were held with Shri Nomination of the ‘Monuments and Forts of of Karnataka in 2012-13. Prem Kumar Jha (IFS), Special Secretary, the Deccan Sultanate’ embarked on 2-week Housing and Urban Development site visit to the Bidar, Bijapur and Gulbarga. Activity Report Pg 3 Department, Shri Sudhi Ranjan Mohanty, The IHCNF team was joined by Dr. Shikha Planning Member, BDA, Shri Debi Misra, Jain, IHCNF Advisor for the preparation of the Section Officer, Housing and Urban IHCNF teams visit to Bidar, nomination dossier. Development Department and Shri Gurudutt Gulbarga and Vijayapura under Khuntia, Communications Expert, BDA. world heritage dossier The IHCNF team also met Dr. SS Ray, Director preparation for ‘Monuments and of School of Architecture and Planning, KIIT Forts of the Deccan Sultanate’ In University to discuss KIIT hosting the Student Karnataka. Design Competition, an outreach activity of the 5th Biennial Conference. For more News and Information Pg 4 information on the Student Competition visit Page 4! News from our Partners On 23rd of November, a meeting was held at Events, conferences, seminars and the UNESCO New Delhi office to review the lectures organized by our partners. ongoing preparations for Biennial Conference to be held in Bhubaneswar in 2018. The Events Chairman IHCNF, ED IHCNF, and several Information on upcoming Biennial trustees including Dr. Kulwant Singh, Prof KT Conference to be held in Ravindran, Dr Rohit Jigyasu and Ms. Moe Bhubaneswar, Odisha in February Chiba, Programme Specialist UNESCO New 2018. Delhi Culture Sector were present at the meeting. The IHCNF team with Dr Shikha Jain Photo credit: Ms. Arya S Pradeep, IHCNF 1 IN-HERITANCE VOLUME 2 Issue No.11 9999 Feature Article Heritage Village: Banavasi In 2012-13, the Government of Karnataka declared 20 new towns and villages as Heritage areas in the State of Karnataka. Every month one heritage town or village of Karnataka is featured in IHCNF’s newsletter focusing on the significance and various heritage aspects of the place with the aim to enrich our readers with knowledge and bring awarenessabout the rich heritage of Karnataka. “It is a virtue to be born in Banavasi as a One of the most famous temples in Banavasi is Banavasi is also a town of festivals. Festivals human. If not as a human then at least one the Madukeshwara temple. It was originally such as Lakshadeepotsav, Ratha festival and should be born as a bee or a cuckoo in the built by the Kadambas but underwent additions Mahashivrathri are celebrated with immense garden of Banavasi” during the Chalukyan period. This temple is zeal and enthusiasm. However, the main - Aadi Kavi Pampa dedicated to Lord Vishnu who according to festival of the town is a a three-day festival Puranas, killed a demon, at request of Lord called Kadambotsava held every year Once the capital city of the Kadamba kings, Shiva in Banavasi. The temple is a treasure honouring Banavasi’s glorious past. Banavasi is one of the most ancient towns trove for sculptures and has the has the famous Renowned classical musicians, yakshagana located in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka five hooded Naga sculpture with inscription in artistes, drama troupes, folk dancers and renowned for its historicity, natural beauty and Prakrit. Apart from the Madukeshwara temple, eminent literary personalities assemble for craftsmanship. there are many other popular temples adorning Kadambotsava and make it a huge cultural the Banavasi’s landscape such as the History fete. Known by names such as Vanavasika, SithiKantheshwar, a Shiva temple situated next Jayanthipura,Konkanapura,Nandanavana, to the Ratha of the Madhukeshwara temple; Present Scenario Jaladurga, Banavasi has been featured in many the Kadambeshwar Temple which holds the historical literatures including the epic, biggest Shiva idol in Banavasi and the Mahabharata. Moreover, foreign travellers such Neelkantheshwar Temple. as Ptolemy, Huen Tsang, Al- Beruni have all Pampavana, is a small grove dedicated to one mentioned Banavasi in their books. It is said of the most famous Kannada writer, Aadi Kavi Banavasi’s natural beauty inspired Kalidasa’s Pampa.There is also evidence of an old fort, famous poem, Meghaduta. The famous Aihole though not much of it survives today. inscriptions of Pulakeshin II speaks of Jaladurga There have been other important or water fort which is another name of archaeological findings in Banavasi such as- 3rd Banavasi. Owing to successive reigning century pottery with Brahmi scripts, coins from dynasties Uttara Kannada is not only ancient the Satavahana period, 5th century copper but one of most culturally rich parts of coins with Kannada script. Karnataka. The Directorate of Archaeological Survey of Banavasi has been under influence of Hinduism, Banavasi even today is an important cultural India, based on the evidence of this 5th century Jainism, Buddhism. It is also believed King centre of the Yakshgana art form. Local coin confirms existence of a mint in Banavasi. Ashoka sent missionaries to Banavasi. artisans excel in the Yakshagana mask making. Apart from this Banavasi has a versatile craftsman community specializing in artistic carpentry, sandalwood carving, basket making, pottery, black smithy, shoe-mending, and Rangoli. Traditional houses are still surviving in Banavasi, some as old as 150-200 years old with traditional sloping roof, timber staircase with open or semi open verandahs. Unfortunately, due to lack of awareness the vernacular landscape of this ancient town is fast Pampavana disappearing. 2 IN-HERITANCE VOLUME 2 Issue No. 11 ACTIVITY REPORT: SITE VISIT TO THE DECCAN SULTANATE SITES IN KARNATAKA “As most researchers believe that heritage is Ibrahim Rauza: This is the tomb of Ibrahim Adil Jami Mosque: It is regarded as one of the best linked to the past and symbolizes some sort of Shah II (ruled 1580-1627), the fifth king of the examples of mosque architecture in South Asia. gift to be passed down to the current as well as dynasty and known for religious tolerance. The arches design of Jama Masjid Gulbarga future generations, both in terms of cultural reflects in the interiors of Spanish Mosque of Built on a single rock bed, it is noted for the traditions and the physical object itself’’ Hyderabad, India. These are only two mosques symmetry of its features. Henry Cousins called in India which have interiors similar to the the building as “The Taj Mahal of the Deccan”. As part of our Nomination Dossier preparation Cathedral –Mosque of Córdoba in Spain. of “Monuments and Forts of Deccan Sultanate” IHCNF WHS Team visited Bijapur, Gubarga and Bidar in the midweek of November, to facilitate our work on the most representative, authentic and best conserved examples of Deccani Sultanate monuments in India. While the Bidar Fort complex comprising of The Deccan Sultanate sites are a visual treat for Palaces and Ceremonial Structures, Mahmud tourists, witnessing a union of past and present Gawan’s Madrassa (partly damaged) are while major part of the monuments is in ruins equally remarkable in context of art, now. The protection, management, architecture and cultural heritage. authenticity and integrity of the properties are also important considerations that needs to be Located in the dry, semi - arid region of N-East Bidar Fort Complex: Sultan Alla-Ud Din focussed on. It is disheartening to see that Karnataka these historical places gave an Bahman of the Bahmanid Dynasty shifted his some people, forgetting that they are doing an opportunity to explore them through their rich capital from Gulbarga to Bidar in 1427 and built irreparable damage to invaluable cultural traditions, heritage, art and history. his fort along with a number of Islamic archaeological masterpieces, inscribe their To name a few, the renowned Gol Gumbaz and monuments. There are over 30 monuments initials, names, places, addresses or messages Ibrahim Rauza in Bijapur provides a picturesque inside Bidar fort. on these national treasures. The conservation setting and a centre of attraction for the city. and protection of these monuments cannot be Madrassa of Mahmud Gawan : Founded by the neglected any further. prime-minister of the Bahamani empire in the late 15th century. It functioned like a residential University which was built and maintained on the lines of Madrasa of Khurasan.The imposing and spacious building of the institution is considered as an architectural gem and an important landmark of Bidar. On the other hand, the first Bahmani capital city of Gulbarga in the 14th CE showcases impressive fortifications, religious monuments like the Jami Mosque, Dargah of Hazrat Gol Gumbaz : The 17th century monument of Khawaja Bande Nawaz etc. in living conditions Bijapur, Gol Gumbaz is the mausoleum of and preserved. The Haft Gumbaz tombs Muhammad Adil Shah. It is said to be an include that of Mujahid Shah, Daud Shah, astonishing feat of engineering with its Ghiyath al-Din Shah and Shams al-Din Shah of The very reason why a property is chosen for enormous 'Whispering dome', which is second the Bahmani dynasty.