Towards Resilient Urbanism in a Himalayan Urban Landscape: the case of Mandi, Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

In Himalayan Hill towns like Shimla, Manali, and Kullu, this ecosystem is grappling with issues of tourism, urbanization, and ecological loss. This thesis focuses on Mandi, a historic hill town in the Western Himalayas, serving as the district headquarters of Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh. With a rich history spanning over 500 years, Mandi attracts daily visitors for education, jobs, and leisure activities. It houses 50,000 Mandyals, and numerous people travel to Mandi daily for education, jobs, administrative work, and commercial, leisurely activities. Every year, numerous students and families move from their villages to Mandi, the urban centre, for better opportunities and education. The town hosts a renowned Mahashivratri festival, drawing nearly 20,000 attendees annually. With the increasing population in recent decades, the town's growth has been unplanned, leading to development on steep and dangerous slopes, encroachment of ecological reserves, and urban mobility problems. The town is growing daily, and its challenges must be addressed. Enhancing the town's resilience is the need of the hour. This thesis focuses on bettering the lives and the town of Mandi for all those associated with the Mandi Town. This thesis looks at resilience through three lenses: socio-cultural, ecological, and disasters. First, socio-cultural resilience focuses on exploring opportunities and urban solutions to better the lives of those most vulnerable to the town's challenges including Tibetan refugees and those reliant on commercial activities and agriculture. Trade and religion are deeply ingrained in Mandi's history, shaping its evolution over time. As a historic town, these factors have evolved over the years. Some residents rely solely on commercial activities and directly depend on them for their livelihood. In the event of disasters, their sole source of income dissolves. There are also communities in the Himalayas that have practised agriculture for ages, which amounts to a significant component of their earnings even today. These communities are also the first to face problems when disasters hit. This thesis looks into creating opportunities through urban design that can enhance disaster risk resilience and open up livelihood-related opportunities. As a historic town, the heritage of this town is also facing threats. Second, Mandi is home to ecological reserves that house avifauna. However, rapid construction and deforestation threaten these reserves. These are routinely visited by wildlife and nature enthusiasts. These reserves hold untapped tourism potential, offering economic opportunities for locals. Agriculture has been practised on the town's steep slopes with terraced farming and other indigenous practices. Within ecological resilience, this thesis talks about the indigenous ability of urban areas to withstand and adapt to environmental disturbances while maintaining or enhancing their ecological functions. It involves integrating principles of resilience from ecology into urban spaces. Third, due to the landform of the town and urbanization patterns, disasters like flash floods and landslides have surged, posing threats to towns like Mandi. Recent events in May-July 2023 caused significant loss of life and property. Given tourism's economic importance, protecting livelihoods is crucial. This thesis explores urban design solutions to enhance the resilience of the town and envision it as a safe and vibrant town for its citizens and visitors that focuses on quality of life, ecological integration, and tourism by anchoring itself on its heritage, cultural, and natural assets.