Post-disaster redevelopment of Kedarnath, Uttarakhand

Abstract

The Himalayan region of Uttarakhand is the one of the most disaster prone regions in the world with frequent flooding, earthquakes and landslides. These disasters have been further aggravated by Climate change which has been all the more active in this region, causing rapid melting of glaciers and a disruption in ecological processes. Maximum inundation takes place along the course of the River Ganga and its tributaries, which is considered to be the embodiment of all sacred waters, and is worshipped by millions as a living entity. It is here in this highly vulnerable region that the Hindu Pilgrimage Circuit of ’Char Dham’ (four holy abodes) is situated. The Kedarnath Temple is one of these four sacred shrines, situated amidst the pristine Mandakini Valley. Thousands of devotees flock to the temple town each year, exclusively or as a part of ‘Char Dham Yatra’, in order to seek Lord Shiva’s blessings. In June 2013, Uttarakhand faced unusual heavy rainfall, series of cloud bursts and glacial lake outbursts all within a hundred hours, leaving the sacred valley of Kedarnath completely ravaged. The flooded Mandakini river swept with it pilgrims, inhabitants, houses and flora/fauna, wreaking havoc. However, the 3000-year-old Temple shrine at Kedarnath miraculously survived the calamity, along with a few Traditional Structures. Unchecked tourism and unregulated urban sprawl in the valley further aggravated the calamity to an apocalypse causing severe damage to infrastructure and the religious landscape of the valley. The ‘Genius loci’ (‘spirit of the place’) of Kedarnath was so affected that the pristine aura of the valley was transformed into a construction site with silt, boulders, and dilapidated structures. Even the state economy which heavily relies on religious tourism was left defunct, snatching away the bread and butter of majority of Uttarakhand’s population. Therefore, the project aims to reinvigorate the post-disaster religious landscape of Kedarnath by creating an ecologically sensitive, disaster resilient architectural framework derived from the ‘Cultural landscape’ of Kedarnath and the ‘Collective Memories; of its inhabitants. The overall infrastructural component will be based on the Traditional Knowledge Systems and reinterpreting vernacular practices of the region. The project further aims to provide the opportunity for local villagers and seasonal workers to indulge within the economic system while simultaneously providing flood resilience structure and stability to the landscape.