Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Hampi, India

Built between 1336 AD. Abandoned 1565 medieval city
  • Vijanayagara Empire
  • the last great Hindu Kingdom in India
  • site was developed around river
  • nearest airport is 38 miles away
  • nearest train station is 9-10 mi away
  • doesn't have immediate connectivity
  • connected by national and state highways
  • iconic architecture, stone, granite
  • regular residences brick, wood, didn't last as long, easy to burn
  • there was a lot of war in this area
  • rocky, rough, rugged landscape
  • the historic built and the natural environment blend seamlessly
  • advantage against invading armies
  • sacred pond with pillars
  • rocky landscape, cultural resources and agricultural activity co-exist
Bureaucracy
  • created resettlement plan
  • go into community, come up with strategies to resolve situation
  • the local district (like a county) administration
  • district administrator evicted people
Problem
  • tunnel-vision. Local administration thinks that people cannot live in this area. People have lived in the area for 50-60 years. They don't value that connection. The centuries old monuments are more important to the administrators. The displaced did not have political clout
  • UNESCO, said no to bridge. India put pressure to let UNESCO build the bridge


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