Brain Booster for UPSC & State PCS Examination (Topic: Bundi Architecture)

Current Affairs Brain Booster for UPSC & State PCS Examination

Bundi Architecture

The Ministry of Tourism’s Dekho Apna Desh Webinar series titled “ ” on 24th October 2020 focused on Bundi, Rajasthan.

Bundi is also known as City of stepwalls blue city and also as Chotti Kashi.
Name, Chotti Kashi owing to presence of over hundred temples within and around the hada capital.
Best example of medieval Indian city exhibiting water harvesting methods adopted at settlement level as well as finest examples of water architecture. Location of Baoris and Kunds outside the walled city was also influenced by social considerations as ascess to baoris and kunds were located within walled city was controlled.
Most houses in Bundi have Jharokhas with some screens on upper floors opening on to street, providing light and ventilation. Apart from enabling movement and connectivity, these streets also performed the important role as facades of settlement fabric of walled city.
Six typologies in Bundi Architecture are: Garh (Fort); Garh Mahal (Royal Palaces); Baori (Step wells); Kund (Stepped tanks); Sagar mahal (Lake Palaces); and Chhatri (Cenotaphs).

Temples constructed in early phase of Bundi’s growth were is classical Nagara style, while in later phases new temple typologies emerged from amalgamation of architectural form of traditional haveli with the classical Nagara style.
Jain temples formed third type of temple type constructed in an introvert form, integrating typical Jain temple features like serpentine Torna gateways at entrance, large cuboid opaque mass and central courtyard with and Nagara style shikars on its garbhagriha.
Another temple type emerged in the form of raised or elevated temple. Absence of monumentality in their scale is a distinctive feature of temples in Bundi.
One of the reasons for this was close relationship. The diversity in temple forms and liberty exercised in this creation departing from classical, established norms is indicative of freedom and involvement of local communities.

Dekho Apna Desh Webinar Series is an effort to showcase India’s rich diversity under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
The Series is presented in technical partnership with National e Governance Department, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme aims to enhance interaction & promote mutual understanding between people of different states/UTs through the concept of state/UT pairing. The states carry out activities to promote a sustained and structured cultural connect in the areas of language learning, culture, traditions & music, tourism & cuisine, sports and sharing of best practices etc.
Ministry of Tourism’s Incredible India Tourist facilitator certification programme act as an enabler for transforming a local citizen with no specified skills having proficiency in a regional language into a potential bread earner for their households.
This will further help citizens to own up the local heritage, folklore and culture and show it to the visitors.