Repurposing the Traditional water elements of Vijayapur as Social node

Abstract

Vijayapuris a treasure house of cultures and customs, religions and traditions, art and
architecture. Endowed with rich cultural heritage and bestowed with majestic monuments,
handicrafts etc. Vijayapur The Great Historical city of Karnataka, It is the treasure of
Islamic architecture.
Vijayapur(Karnataka) is noted for its historical monuments of architectural and social
importance, which also include the water systems (Bawdis, talabs, ganjs, tanks and khane)
taken up during the Adil Shahi times. Apart from providing source of water for the city the
water monuments also worked as a center for cultural, social and religious practices.
This paper is an attempt to understand Traditional Vijayapur water systems in contrast to
present time piped network. The traditional water system had large footprint within the city.
Due to the loss of its function, it now remains as mere artifacts and many of the water
monuments are abandoned and are being used as dumping grounds and many of the
monuments properties have been encroached. Few of the monuments are being protected by
ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) and Wakf Board.
This paper is an initiative to keep alive these water elements and to promote them by giving
them a new purpose and by merging these in the existing tourist network. This will help in
connecting dispersed Traditional water elements and tourist destinations by connecting them
with surrounding open space network with the blend of traditional art, craft and
communities. This will help in showcasing traditional water elements in the background of
historical monuments and enhance connections of neglected Monuments and thus help in
revitalizing
The Identity Of Water Elements of Vijayapur.
Vijayapur is one of the most heritage rich cities in the world, but because of rapid
urbanization, changing governments and modernization of the city infrastructure, the water
ecology of the valley is negatively affected, water bodies have been polluted and groundwater
has dried up from overuse. A dramatic difference between wet and dry seasons in the city
further exacerbates this problem as inadequate storage solutions for water in the winter
means inadequate supply in the summer.
The water spaces of Vijayapur used to function, and still do to a certain extent, as the arteries
of water supply in the city. Unfortunately, due to rapid urbanization and the adoption of
Western ideas about how a city should function, these traditional Bavadis (well spaces) are
rapidly being forgotten and destroyed by the expanding city. The community structures that
once maintained them have disintegrated due to changing ideas of community and public
space.