Conservation plan for ambala lake and the surronding temples, Ramtek

Abstract

Heritage structures perform vital role in nation’s history, culture and signify the richness of it. Heritage buildings and monuments in any country are mute testaments of its glorious past .India has a very rich historic background which is evident from various buildings, forts, temples, landscapes, objects of historic era. Temples are considered as one of the source to connect to the God in which people feel the sanctity in that particular place of worship. Holy temples in India which were constructed by the great kings, who ruled India are continued to worship still today and are sustained due to tremendous structural style of constructing a Temple. Some of these Indian temples are known for their architectural magnificence and sculptural splendour, and the associated cultural landscape which enhances the glory of the built structure. This study focuses on historic and religious importance of the Ambala Lake and the temple architecture surrounding the Lake in Ramtek ,Maharashtra . Ramtek is a place in the Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra approximately 45 km away from Nagpur, known for its historic and religious Temples which attracts the pilgrim from different region of India to worship the Place where Lord Rama rested on the hills of Ramtek in exile. The Marathas ruled over most of Maharashtra from the mid 17th to the early 19th centuries. Their religious activity took full shape and soon the skyline of Maharashtrian towns was dominated by the rising temple spires. Ramtek in the Nagpur district has a Religious importance because of the historical stories evident in the literature have evolved the town as pilgrimage centre for worship as well as the place is also known for pitru pooja around the Temples of the Ambala Lake. The importance of Ambala lake and the temple's has a marked a great significance today due to its profound history ,Therefore the place today is known for the rituals after death in the vidharbha region of Maharashtra. To achieve the significance of the place a systematic methodology is adopted such as to understand the historic place, evaluated the significance of the place, potential impact on the place and to prepare conservation policies for the place.