SPATIAL DATA MODELING IN GIS F
CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL HE
Madan Mohan
Department of Geography, Faculty of Natural Sciences,
Jamia Millia Islamia (Central
roshnlal@ndb.vsnl.net.in,
OR HISTORICAL RESTORATION AND
Commission V, WG V/4
KEY WORDS: History, Human Settlement, Change, Structure,
ABSTRACT
Delhi is one of the ancient historical and greatest cultural ci
Humayun's Tomb have been declared the World Cultural Heritage sites. Delhi was built and rebuilt seven times on different sites
through out the history within a triangular area of about 142.20 sq. kms. lying between the last ridge of the Aravalli Range and the
River Yamuna. The remains of the seven cities of Delhi can still
Tughlugabad, Jahanpanah and Firuzabad of the Sultans and then Purana-Qila and Shahjahanabad of the Mughals. Moreover, the New
Delhi is historically the ‘eighth city’ built by the Britishers. The present Delhi is a complex agglomeration of built fabric which exists
as evidence in the form of layers of various historic time per
expansions have adversely been affected the historical areas as
independence period in Delhi. Therefore, the widened role is not only to meet the challenges of development, but also to preserve and
protect the different facets of the Delhi's personality. In lieu of
search for hitherto unknown areas of historical importance on the
of known historical monuments and cultural heritage sites in Delhi on the other.
1. INTRODUCTION
Delhi has rich history of cultural heritage and historical
monuments sites of the World. On reviewing the magnitude of
cultural heritage of the Delhi, one would find that historically it
commenced with the habitation by 736 A.D. It has remained
been a centre of socio-cultural, economic and political activities
and is now functioning as a centre of innovation and diffusion
of these activities in the country, India. Delhi is one of the
greatest and oldest capital cities of the World. It is situated on
the west bank of the River Yamuna. It was built seven times on
different sites throughout the history (Hearn, 1974). The
previous seven cities do not exist anymore, except as remnants
of historical ruins of the Lal-Kot (10^ Century), Siri (1303),
Tughlugabad (1321), Jahanpanah (1327), Firuzabad (1354),
Purana-Qila (1533) and Shahjahanabad (1639). Reasons for
their demise range speculatively from lack of sufficient water,
to epidemics, to migrations, to poor governance and to land
encroachment etc. In addition, presently formed New Delhi
(1911), of course, is eighth one situated on the bank of the River
Yamuna. All these cities shifted from one site to another over a
time within the triangular area of about 142.20 sq. kms. lying
between the last ridge of the Aravalli Range and the River
Yamuna to the east. From the earliest records, it is known
Indraparastha, the capital of the Pandavas of Mahabharata.
Presently, Indraparastha estate evokes the old memories. The
British built New Delhi south of Shahjahanabad, and shifted the
capital city from Kolkota (Calcutta) in 1911. The capital city of
India, after independence, has grown in size and density -
engulfing all the ancient cities, and overflowing across the River
Yamuna and the Northern Ridge. According to the urban
sociologists and historians (Mumford, 1966) all cities are
“living entities”, which go through a life-cycle: birth, growth,
consolidation, expansion, decline, and quite often some kind of
RITAGE OF SEVEN CITIES OF DELHI p
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ties of the World. Delhi's two monuments the Qutb Minar and ;
th
oi
be seen across the landscape from the Tomar city of Lal-Kot to Siri, ar
né
be
iods. It is noteworthy to mention that the vertical and horizontal ec
well as several cultural heritage sites particularly during the post- M
si
"this, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been started a ny
one hand and is also entrusted with the restoration and conservation
=
end, or state of decay, unless they are “turned-around” and
“revived” by combined human effort.
1.1 Urban Culture Heritage
Delhi has more layers of culture, civilisation, history and built
fabric extant in it than any other city in the World. It cradled
and nurtured seven cities, and was built and rebuilt to meet the
demands of different emperors and the people of each of those D.
times. It is the enthralling and enigmatic feature of this ancient
modern city, that today it is a complex agglomeration of built
fabric which exists as evidence in the form of layers of various
historic time periods. These layers can be easily distinguished
on the basis of their design, construction techniques, materials >
and architectural elements that add diversity to the basic or
typology. These range from domes, brackets, chhajjas, columns, >
ir
plinths, finishes, etc. So, Delhi is one of the most historic
capitals of the World and two of its monuments the Qutb Minar
and Humayun's Tomb have been declared the World Cultural €:
Heritage sites.
In Delhi, the developmental activities during the post-
independence period adversely affected several historical and
cultural heritage sites. It also diluted the ambience of the Delhi.
So, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) widened its role
not only to meet the challenges of development, but also to
preserve and protect the different facets of the Delhi's
personality. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been
entrusted with the preservation and protection of known
monuments as well as started a search for hitherto unknown
areas of historical importance in Delhi.
"Delhi, is a city of incredible contrasts combining the ancient
and the modern, Old and New Delhi each reflecting the images
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