Reviving the traditional water system through cultural heritage conservation based on traditional knowledge system: kunda of govardhan

Abstract

Water has long been a key concern of people. Water is often considered to be a purifier in many religions. Traditional knowledge has been created in India in water collection and management of many types. Not just cultural relevance but also long-term protection was supplied by Religious Associations. These systems are still very important and functional in many regions and threaten growing urbanisation and contemporary advances in water infrastructure. Background study has been done to understand the ecological and mythological context of the Govardhan hill, its parikrama, Kunds, etc. and how the synthesis of nature and culture have come into existence and the role water system has played. To protect and conserve these water systems, it is important to visualize kunds as a system of multiple elements coming together - as trends have been seen on site, the conservation of built fabric is done extensively, but the ecological and cultural continuum of practices is not taken into consideration. This thesis proposes to use a nature-based traditional knowledge approach to rejuvenate the natural and water heritage of Govardhan and to explore its applications pertinent to the present needs, use it for groundwater recharge, improve groundwater quality, and rainwater harvesting as it was originally designed for. In this cultural landscape, heritage conservation-based approach can be used as a tool for water and ecological rejuvenation.