Form follows faith: city of Puri in Odisha, India
- Vol.89(12), Dec
- Mumbai The Indian Institute of Architects 2024
- 23-31p.
Across the world, many cities have traditionally developed around religious cores. The South Asian cities have many with a temple at its core. Unlike the Cathedral cities of the West, these continue to attract huge numbers of pilgrims. Domestic tourists traveling for religious rituals continue to be the highest contributors to tourist influx in many Indian cities. The urban form of these cities continues to be changed by a social determinant of ‘faith’. In India, there are cities which have developed radially from a temple core as well those which had a linear form of development along major streets. In the latter form of urban development, these streets could be either access streets to the core temple or streets known for a religious ritualistic procession. Puri city in Odisha is an example of the latter form of development.