Experts flag threat to heritage from urbanisation, climate change
A workshop on Mysuru heritage and urbanism held here on Saturday noted that historic cities were grappling with mounting pressures from rapid urbanisation, encroachment and the negative impact of climate change.
The workshop was organised by the School of Architecture and Planning, University of Mysore, Institute of Town Planners India (ITPI) Karnataka Regional Chapter, Bengaluru, and the Mysuru Regional Centre.
Titled ‘’From Royal Vision to Modern Urbanism: Heritage of Mysuru, conservation architect Pankaj Modi stressed the need for approaches that are sensitive to both heritage and the evolving urban landscape, and said that these aspects have to be borne in mind during heritage conservation.
Mr. Modi cautioned that without recognising the cultural landscapes and living traditions that shape the historic centres, conservation efforts risk becoming superficial, leaving cities vulnerable to irreversible loss.
He said conservation efforts in India often remain confined to protecting select markers such as palaces, temples, or iconic buildings. ‘’Such an approach ignores the deeper cultural landscapes shaped by natural resources, topography, ecology, rituals, trades and community practices,” he added.
Citing examples from across the country, including Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Madurai, Jodhpur, Srirangapatana, Shravanabelagola, and Hampi, among others, Mr.Modi said cities are shaped by natural resources and topography and the community’s response over time.
Thus it acquires distinct structure and character influenced by political priorities, economic forces, religious customs and hence each city evolves differently, he added.
Hence, heritage cannot be reduced to palaces, temples, or impressive facades alone, though these structures are major markers of the cities, said Mr. Modi.
Describing cities as living entities, he said conservation should coopt different layers of a city and not one aspect of it in isolation. Failing to do so would result in lopsided development in which the structures are preserved but the cultural and ecological context around them disappears, he added, citing the examples of Chamundi Hills in Mysuru and Anjanadri Hills in Hampi.
Mysuru City Corporation Commissioner Shaikh Tanveer Asif said structures and buildings are reflective of a culture of a place and in India it was the concept of sustainability that had taken deep roots in Indian architecture.
The character of a city like Mysuru, Jaipur etc reflect the natural and local representation in terms of material used, of local imagination, climate impact etc. However, the modern architecture with use of glass was not reflective of the local character of the city, said the Commissioner.
Mr. Asif pointed out that Mysuru earned the distinction of being India’s cleanest city in the 2016 Swachh Survekshan, not due to any administrative effort but to the city’s inherent character, with its wide boulevards, greenery, and where cleanliness was a natural outcome rather than a forced exercise.
The MCC Commissioner urged architecture students to re-imagine urban spaces and help reclaim Mysuru’s cultural character while adapting to modern development.
M.K.Savitha, Registrar, University of Mysore; S.B. Honnur, council member, ITPI, New Delhi; Prof. D.B. Shankar, convenor, ITPI Mysuru regional centre, and others were present.
Published – November 29, 2025 06:32 pm IST
