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Changing heritage imageability of an ancient Indian sacred city – a case of Puri

Rabi Narayan Mohanty (Department of Architecture, Planning and Design, IIT(BHU) Varanasi, Varanasi, India)
Ashaprava Mohanta (School of Architecture and Planning, KIIT Deemed-to-be University, Bhubaneswar, India)
Prabhjot Singh Chani (Department of Architecture and Planning, IIT Roorkee, Roorkee, India)

Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development

ISSN: 2044-1266

Article publication date: 1 November 2024

66

Abstract

Purpose

India is an abode of several ancient heritage and sacred cities. However, limited heritage sites have been appropriately documented to date. Hence, limited information is available on the historical development, existing settings and challenges of ancient heritage cities. Puri, a prime sacred and heritage city, is selected to demonstrate the historical and spatial development and current issues of ancient Indian heritage cities.

Design/methodology/approach

Site visits, documentation of the existing settings and interviews with stakeholders and historians were conducted to understand this city's evolution and existing issues. Also, content analysis is administered to rank the stakeholders’ perceptions of the current challenges in the town.

Findings

The results reveal that the scarcity of resources, encroachment of public spaces, insufficient infrastructure and lack of maintenance of heritage structures are the major challenges for Puri. Also, the absence of collaboration between the involved agencies and heritage site-specific guidelines hinders the city’s redevelopment.

Practical implications

This research discusses the development phases and current issues of a prime heritage city in India. This knowledge will help urban planners and policymakers formulate policies for Puri's holistic development.

Originality/value

This is the first comprehensive research on historical development, current issues, and the reasons for any heritage city in Odisha state of India. This paper will help the academic literature to understand the chronological growth pattern in ancient, medieval, colonial, and post-colonial periods, as well as current issues and changing heritage imageability of Indian heritage sites of a similar nature.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This research is funded by the Indian Knowledge Systems Division, All India Council For Technical Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India (File number: AICTE/IKS/REP1/2021-22/03).

Citation

Mohanty, R.N., Mohanta, A. and Chani, P.S. (2024), "Changing heritage imageability of an ancient Indian sacred city – a case of Puri", Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCHMSD-02-2023-0015

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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