Cities And Towns In India

"The vernacular building and techniques are fast losing ground. These crafts have made great contribution to the traditional architecture in an Islamic city like Srinagar, Kashmir. The techniques included wood work in lattice range, pinjrakari, khatamb and ceilings, mud plasters as insulation, carved doors, designed windows, doors and windows."

"A historical city known for its rich culture, architecture and built heritage situated on the bank of Mandovi estuary, Panaji is the important centre in terms of Indo-Portuguese cultural heritage, having a number of natural, built, tangible and intangible sites and monuments."

"The river Mandovi and the hillock of Altinho have historically been the determining factors for the city. During the 3rd century BC, Panaji and the rest of Goa were part of the Mauryan Empire."

"Archaeologically, the St Inez Roman mooring stone with a distinct carving of Neptune reveals a story of booming Roman trade voyages touching Panaji port. Panaji was always respected as a relatively safe port and a hilly, wooded place with natural springs, lakes which supplied fresh water to the ocean going ships. The Portuguese did try to create a miniature Lisbon when they raised the city of Panaji to capital status in 1843 but while doing this they maintained a fine balance between open and developed spaces, land and water and created tree-lined avenues where only swamps existed."

"After Goa’s independence the city was renamed Panaji...a new flashy assembly complex was built, on a hill to its north in 2000."

"Panjim loses much by close inspection."

"In 19th century, as Panjim developed, in 1834 it became known as Nova Goa...and in 1843 it was recognized by the Portuguese government as capital of Goa."

"The small church built, around 1540 (where the present huge church Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception stands), was the first stop for the Portuguese sailors celebrating their safe arrival in India."

"Afonso de Albuquerque took the fort in 1510 and reinforced it initially after occupation and again in November after reoccupation... It is said that he was in such a hurry to complete the strengthen the fortifications before the next Muslim attack that even his officers were pressed into manual labour. **Paul Harding, in “Goa (2003)”,"

"Much of the area on which Panaji stands was originally marshland...in around 1500 came under the control of Muslim leader Yusuf Adil Shah who built a fortress to guard the entrance to the Mandovi, which was later known as Idalcoa’s palace under Portuguese rule."

"Among Goa’s cities, Panaji is great place simply to wander with the old quarters, Fontainhas and Sao Tome still bearing a distinctive Portuguese influence."

"Historical accounts of this place date back to Kadamba King Shasthadeva (1007-1050). An inscription of the Kadamba King Vijayaditya I, dated 7 February 1107 refers to Panajim as Pahajani Khali. Another interpretation of the name is that Panji or Ponji is said to mean the “land that never gets flooded”. Yet another interpretation is that it is a variation of Pancha Yma Afsumgary or five wonderful castles where the Muslim King Ismail Adil Shah and his wives used to live. The name was later changed to Panjim by the Portuguese and when Old Goa collapsed in the 19th century, Panjim was elevated to the status of a city on 22 March 1843 and was renamed “Nova Goa”. After Liberation in 1961 it was known as “Panaji”... Panjim was originally a neglected ward of Taleigão village. The only conspicuous construction was the 15th century castle built by Adil Shah on the left bank of the Mandovi. Viceroy Dom Manuel de Saldanha de Albuquerque, of Ega, remodelled the old castle and a palace was built which was later used as the Government Secretariat."

"Episodic flooding in Panaji even during low tides is directly linked to rapid urbanization and consequent damage to existing drainage systems."

"Panaji during relatively dry season-December to May is an architect’s, traveler’s, painters’, photographers’, poets’ dream."

"The Fontainhas area continues to be a focal point for Heritage tourists and travellers with a taste of past glories. Interest in Panaji’s heritage buildings is worldwide. There are still clusters of quaint old houses in particular on one street in Portais and around St. Sebastian Chapel..."

"Panaji is to be developed as a city that is environmentally and economically sustainable, a city that is a mixture of heritage and modernity, a city that cares for its citizen, a city that cares for its tourist, a city that maintains it culture, a city that provide high quality infrastructure services and facilities, a well managed clean, green and safe city that provides and better present and bright future to its people."

"18 October – ... Onor is a small place by the Sea-side, but a good Port of indifferent capacity, which is formed by two arms of Rivers, which (I know not whether both from one or several heads) running one Southward and the other Northward meet at the Fortress, and are discharg'd with one mouth into the Sea. The habitations are rather Cottages than Houses, built under a thick Grove of Palms, to wit those which produce the Indian Nuts, called by the Portugals Coco; and by the Arabians Narghu. But the Fortress is of a competent circuit, though the walls are not very well designed, being just as the Portugals found them made by the people of the Country. It stands upon a high Hill of freestone, and, it being very capacious, not onely the Captain lives there, but most of the married and principal Portugals have Houses in it, very well accommodated with Wells, Gardens, and other conveniences. The streets within the Fortress are large and fair, besides a great Piazza sufficient to contain all the people of the place in time of a siege. There are likewise two Churches, one dedicated to Saint Catherine, and the other to Saint Anthony; but ordinarily there is but one Priest in Onor, who is the Vicar of the Arch-Bishop of Goa; and therefore in Lent other religious persons always go thither. Out of the Fort, in the country, is the Bazar or Market, but a small one, and of little consideration; nothing being found therein but what is barely necessary for sustenance of the inhabitants."

"...the strange and compelling statue of man bearing down upon a supine female form depcits one of Goa’s most famous home grown talents, Abbe Faria, an eighteenth century Goan priest, father of ‘hypnotism’ and friend of Napolean in full melodramatic throes."

"Chapel of Saint Sebastian, has crucifix first brought to Panaji in 1812 from Old Goa after the Inquisition was suppressed. It is considered an unusual piece since Christ’s eyes are open – rather than shut as is customary - and legend has it that this was done to instill fear in the hearts of those being brought before the dreaded Inquisitors."

"Secretariat building dating from the sixteenth century, colonial era building originally the palace of the original ruler Adil Shah, which was the Viceroy’s official residence in 1759, now houses less exciting government offices."

"The city’s architecture is the surest sign that Goa evolved independently of the rest of India. In the small old quarters of Fontainhas and Sao Tomé, winding alleyways are lined with Portuguese-style houses, boasting distinctive red-tiled roofs, wooden window shutters and rickety balconies decorated with bright pots of petunias."

"The city of Panaji is on the verge of getting developed from being part of fishing village of Taleigao in 1510 to a developed city in Goa. The evolution of the city has marked the achievement with the rise of many high rise buildings as a benchmark."

"The unique cultural atmosphere is the result of the long absorbed 450 years of Portuguese rule. The influence has left a deep impact on the local traditions in all spheres and has formed a distinct cultural identity of the people. St. Francis Xavier was an instrument to carry with him the gospel of Jesus but more than that he also carried a way of life of people, their ethos and a rich culture."

"Bhubaneshwar’s history from the 3rd century BC is represented in the nearby Dhauligiri rock edict of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka at the site of his famous conquest of the Kalingas. Between the 5th and 10th centuries CE it was the provincial capital of many Hindu dynasties and a centre of the Shaivite faith. Its many temples (including the Mukteshwara and Parashurameshwar), displaying every phase of Orissan architecture, were built between the 7th and 14th centuries."

"Bhubaneswar, well connected with the city of Cuttack (30 km) through rail and road linkages (NH-5 and Howrah-Chennai Rail route), has tremendous potential to act as a complimentary growth center to Kolkata in the Eastern Region for trade and commerce."

"Administrative and institutional activities have contributed to the increase in the volume of trade and commerce activity."

"The Bhubaneswar region, conceived after independence, has experienced tremendous growth."

"...was conceived as a modern new town based on neighborhood planning concept by the internationally acclaimed urban planner, Dr.H. Otto Koenigsberger."

"I do not know if they [Health Ministry] will be able to spare him [Koenigsberger], for any length of time but I suppose he can go to Orissa from time to time."

"I am looking forward to the opportunity of helping you in this bold and interesting scheme."

"We want a good architect and Town Planner to help us in preparing a scheme for [Bhubaneshwar]...The remuneration which will be paid to Dr. H Otto Koenigsberger, may be settled by mutual agreement."

"...Orissa government had taken the decision for placing the capital at Bhubaneshwar in September 1946...Dr. H Otto Koenigsberger, a German Jew, was first mentioned as a town planner, who had fled Germany and arrived in India at the invitation of Diwan (Chief Minister) Mirza Ismail of Mysore in 1939."

"What makes Bhubaneswar a special case is the fact that there are wide areas inside the city limits that can be developed into modern urban, densely populated quarters rather than allowing the city to sprawl excessively."

"...the modern administrative city that only came into being after 1948, [is] now capital to around 37 million Orissans."

"...history is reflected in the present-day appearance of the city, with the old city centre in the vicinity of the Lingaraj temple , and the far bigger new part of the city, the core of which was planned by German architect Otto Königsberger in the late 1940s. The layout of the new streets is very spacious, as are the parcels of the government buildings, with many trees and green areas along and inside them, respectively."

"The Lingaraja temple in Bhubaneswar, built in the eleventh century, has two classes of priests: Brahmins and a class called Badus who are ranked as Sudras and are said to be of tribal origin. Not only are Badus priests of this important temple; they also remain in the most intimate contact with the deity whose personal attendants they are. Only they are allowed to bathe the Lingaraja and adorn him and at festival time (...) only Badus may carry this movable image (...) the deity was originally under a mango tree (...) The Badus are described by the legend as tribals (sabaras) who originally inhabited the place and worshipped the linga under the tree.'"

"There is also an open air Tantric temple to the south of Bhubaneshwar that is dedicated to the sixty-four yoginis, each of whom is associated with a particular yogic ability. It is said that people still worship the sixty-four yoginis here on New Moon (amavasya) nights."

"This temple, Lingaraja Temple is an important pilgrimage site for all Hindus. Pilgrims from North India and Assam, and Bengal, in particular make a point of praying here before going on south to worship at the Jagannath temple."

"The temple town of Bhubaneshwar is predominantly saiva, and the Oriya Hindus who live here belong, for the most part, to families of hereditary servants (sevaka) of Lingaraja, the form in which Shiva is worshiped here."

"How do you ignore history? But the nationalist movement, independence movement ignored it. You read the Glimpses of World History by Jawaharlal Nehru, it talks about the mythical past and then it jumps the difficult period of the invasions and conquests. So you have Chinese pilgrims coming to Bihar, Nalanda and places like that. Then somehow they don't tell you what happens, why these places are in ruin. They never tell you why Elephanta island is in ruins or why Bhubaneswar was desecrated."

"...the city’s character alternated with Buddhism, Jainism, Shaivism, and Vaishnavism – religions which found a home in Bhubaneswar at one time or another with the changing dynasties of Kalinga, the ancient name for Orissa. The presence of different religions gave Bhubaneswar its pluralistic character, but not without making the Oriya people suspicious of outsiders;m and it also gave Bhubaneshar its definite religious character, which has endured into the present."

"Bhubaneswar before becoming the capital of Orissa in 1948 had been a temple town. As a temple town it prospered and thrived, becoming an important Hindu cultural and religious center...it is generally believed that the town probably developed around the Lingaraj temple, erected to commemorate Lord Shiva. Thus the name Bhubaneshwar – the Lord of the Three Worlds: Tribhuvaneshvara."

"The city consists of the old quarter, containing about 30 ancient temples, and a planned township built after 1948, when the capital was moved there from Cuttack."

"While Hyderabad was founded on love, Secunderabad was an offspring of coercive diplomacy. Hyderabad was a quintessential Oriental city renowned for its planning; Secunderabad was a cantonment which grew into a replica of an English town."

"In India got independence on August 15, 1947, the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, refused to merge with India, opting instead to remain independent or merge with Pakistan. Home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel got Indian Army to take control of Hyderabad. With the Indian Army having reached Secunderabad, the Nizam saw it prudent to sign the instrument of accession."

"It was in 1769 that Hyderabad got preeminence after Nizam Ali Khan Asaf Jah-II, the second ruler of the dynasty, made it the capital of his kingdom instead of Aurangabad. By then, two bloody battles had been fought for Hyderabad."

"Through out its 420-year-old history, Hyderabad has been irresistible for those who coveted it, and they ended up either taking the city by force or fighting till end for control. The "city of pearls" is now going through yet another challenge that has ended up as a new chapter in its chequered history."

"I have resided in Delhi, Bhopal and Hyderabad (Deccan) for many years. In all these places I could hardly locate any temples left of the medieval period. Hindu learning was dependent on schools and Brahman teachers, and both were attached to temples mostly in urban areas. And all the three - schools, teachers and temples - were systematically destroyed."

"It was in 1591 that Hyderabad was founded by Mohd Quli Qutub Shah, the fifth king of the Quli Qutub Shah dynasty, based in Golconda fort. The Shah decided to build a new city on the banks of the Musi river because Golconda posed a problem of drinking water and raging epidemics. Over the next few decades, while Golconda continued to exist, Hyderabad, with Charminar as its centrepiece, became the new hub. It [is] 25km away from Golconda."

"In 1591, the fifth Qutb Shahi Sultan of Golconda, Mohammad Quli (r.1580-1612) built a city as ‘a replica of heaven’. He named it Bhagnagar, after his beloved Bhagmati. In 1983, the German architect Jan Pieper quoted chapter and verse to argue that the city was indeed an architectural metaphor for the Quranic heaven."