Reclaiming integrity through landscape design interventions: a case of maa sheetla chaukiyatemple, Jaunpur U.P.

Abstract

Maa Sheetla chaukiya temple is a very famous temple of maa sheetla in Jaunpur as well as in surrounding region. This temple was built in 14th century under the Bhars, when a bhar ruler found the deity in a natural spring which was later converted to a stepped kund and the deity placed on a chauki hence called chaukiya. Every Hindu resident of Jaunpur has a great reverence for this temple and thousands of visitors come during navratri. Chaukiya temple often encounters the hazardous impact due to the unplanned development, rituals performed or the increasing visitors resulting in ecological damage and fragmented spatial arrangement. A landscape management plan for the areas surrounding the temple intends to conserve the natural landscape and heritage value of the place simultaneously facilitating visitors with the involvement of the community dependent on the temple.