REDEFINING IMAGEABILITY THROUGH THE LENS OF ORAL NARRATIVES

OF PROCESSION BADSHAH KI SAWARI, NATHDWARA

ABSTRACT-American architect Kevin Lynch's theory of imageability and legibility primarily

emphasizes the role of visual senses to understand the urban form of a city. He has explained
imageability and legibility through the cognitive maps developed by people to connect with the place
using five elements: nodes, edges, landmarks, paths and district. The theory was explained by taking
three cities in America. To understand the theory of imageability in context of a pilgrimage city, the
lens of oral narratives s

This research attempts to relook at the theory of imageability by Lynch, taking the case of an annual
event of the pilgrimage town Nathdwara, Rajasthan. A religious cum political procession “Badshah Ki
Sawari” is an annual procession taken out in commemoration of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The
oral narratives about the procession are used as a tool to rethink about the urban design oriented
approach and the concept of representation of time in place and visual perception of urban form by
Kevin Lynch such that the historic urban landscapes are not just experienced through legibility but by
many intangible assets which makes the HUL a living heritage site. As living heritage site has the
concept of continuity by the communities (ICCROM,2003). And the key to continuity is not
understandable just by visual senses and legibility.