BRIJGHAT REDEVELOPMENT AT GARHMUKTESHWAR

AADYA AGRAWAL
M.ARCH, RECREATIONAL ARCHITECTURE

ABSTRACT
Known for ages for its rich ancient traditions, Uttar Pradesh abounds in places of
religious importance. There are also a large number of places which cannot be only
called places of pilgrimage but which have great importance from historical and tourist
point of view also. The State is specially known for its cultural centers.
Ghats are series of steps leading down to a water body derived from the sanskrit word
ghatta, meaning a landing place or quay, or steps by a riverside. Various activities are
associated with the ghat that link people and the sacred river as- a) Holy dip b) cremation c)
children ceremonies d) fairs/festivals e) ritual ceremonies f) local community livelihood etc.

AIM
To develop the facilities and infrastructure at Garh to a high level so that
besides its importance as a pilgrimage center, it is also a place with enough activities to
make a person stay over rather than make a day visit only.

OBJECTIVES
To develop religious tourism at sites where such potential already exists.
To increase flow of tourists in the region with a view to provide employment and
income to local people.
To provide recreational facilities for tourism growth.
To popularize areas of historical interest in the region and to examine possibility of
developing some of them as major tourism circuits and hubs.

SIGNIFICANCE
The place has considerable religious importance of the Hindus, a bathing fair being held
here on the full-moon day of Kartika when about six lakh persons, from far and near , come
to have a dip in the river Ganga which they consider to be holy. Another fair, held (in
Jyaistha) on the ocassion of Dasahra, attracts about one 50,000 persons.
Places of interest include: Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple, Meerabai-Ki-Reti, Nahush
Koop ( Nakka Kuan), Ganga Temple, Old Mukteshwar Temple and Jama Masjid

WHY BRIJGHAT?
Ganga has been a symbol of Indias age long culture and civilization, ever changing, ever
flowing and yet the same. Brij Ghat, Garh Mukhteshwar has been a venue of great
importance in India, its been a venue of a religious congregation every Kartik Purnima For
over 5000 years. The star attraction is the Holy River Ganga and Kartik Purnima Mela held
each year.
Also, this historically and culturally rich place may well turn out to be Uttar Pradesh answer
to Haridwar, which it lost to the hill state of Uttaranchal in Year 2000. Brij Ghat Special Area
Development Authority created on October 19, 2001 is to oversee the development of this
area.
Brij Ghat is ideally located with easy access via NH - 24 to cities like Gajrola, Meerut,
Moradabad, Hapur, Delhi and Nainital.

SITE LOCATION
The area of intervention is located at BrijGhat, Garhmukteshwar. Located at National
Highways 24 joining New Delhi with Lucknow.

It is proposed to develop a Ganga Dham Complex whose centre piece will be a live
working model with water flowing through it. It would depict the story of Ganga and the folk
lore surrounding the holy river. This model may cover an area of about 2 acres and will show
the journey of Ganga River from the Himalaya to the Bay of Bengal.

RAILWAY
LINE

NH-24

RAILWAY
LINE

NH-24

GANGA
RIVER

GANGA
RIVER

INTERVENTION
STRETCH OF
GHAT
IS 300mts

BASIC DRAWINGS (BASE PLAN)

PROBLEMS:
1. The existing ghat condition is very bad, not maintained properly.
2. No tourist facilities like changing rooms, lodging, restaurant, interpretation centre,
etc.
3. The place is unhygienic and unplanned in tourism point of view.
4. No proper marketplace for local people growth.
5. No religious complex which can attract tourists.
6. No proper tourism infrastructure.

SCOPE
The scope of the project will be:

GHAT DEVELOPMENT WITH LENGTH OF 300 mts, Ritual terraces, changing

rooms, toilets, viewing platforms.
CRAFT/TRADITIONAL MARKET
RESTAURANTS AND FOOD COURT
BUDGET HOTEL
BOATING/RIVERSIDE FACILITY
GANGA RESORT-MEDITATION CENTRE/RELIGIOUS COMPLEX
PROMENADE
PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION

CASE STUDIES
1. VISHRAM GHAT, MATHURA
2. VRINDAVAN GHATS

ANNEXURE