Full text: Proceedings, XXth congress (Part 5)

   
  
  
  
   
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
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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University) New Delhi, INDIA 
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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 
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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 
896 
  
	        
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