HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND PLANNING

P.Mathiyarasi
723815251030
 KOLKATA – URBAN SETTLEMENTS
Kolkata is also known as Calcutta is
the capital of the Indian state of West
Bengal. According to the 2011 Indian
census, it is the 7th most populous city.
The city had a population of
4.5 million, while the suburb
population brought the total to
14.1 million, making it the 3rd most
populous metropolitan area in India.
SITE CONTEXT : Presence of natural
fortifications,
 North-Plateau
 East-Maratha ditch
 West-Hoogly River
 South-Marshy suburbs
Ancient Origins:
 Though archaeologists believe that Kolkata has been inhabited for over
two thousand years, its documented history begins only after the arrival of
the British East India Company, in 1690.
 Ancient evidence suggests that Kolkata was an established trading hub
much before the arrival of the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughals, the
Portuguese, the French or the British.
 The city's origins date back to the Maurya and Gupta period. The city has
also been mentioned in the ancient epic Mahabharata.
Kalikata to Kolkata:
 Kalikata was the ancient name of the city and was derived from the
Bengali word 'Kalikshetra', which means "Ground of Goddess Kali." There
is also a belief that the city derives its name from the location of its
original settlement on the bank of a canal (khal).
 The British gave the city, the name Calcutta, which is an anglicized version
of the Bengali name Kalikata. In 2001, the Indian government renamed
Calcutta to Kolkata
Architecture and Structure:
 Kolkata is home to many historic buildings and structures that have been
declared as "heritage structures". The Victoria Memorial, Raja Ram Mohan
Palace, Fort William, Belur Math and Writers Building are some of the
most significant heritage buildings in the city.
 Many structures adorn the classic Indo-Islamic and Indo-Saracenic
architectural motifs.

Victoria Memorial Fort William

TOWN PLANNING

1690- Three small villages Satauti

Gobindhapur and kalikata , flanked
the banks of River Hoogly when Job
Charnock arrived with the proposal
of trade with British East India
company in the mughal courts.

1698- The East India Company

bought 3 villages from a local
landlord family of Sabarna Roy
Choudry.The next year company
began developing the city as a
President city.
 1785- The storm of Fort William in 1756 led to Calcutta
acquiring its most characteristic feature-a large open called
Maidan at the centre and a centrak business district roughly
placed around it.
 1798-1858- Calcutta was divided into
4 sub areas
European Kolkata
Residential villlage at Gobindhapur
 Traditional Market
 Riverine cloth Trade mart
 1839-The city started to grow on the western fringes of Ganga
with Jute Industries coming up, led to the construction of the
old Howrah bridge in 1874.
 URBAN STRUCTURE
North kolkata: Central Kolkata: South kolkata:
 Characterised by  Central kolkata hosts  Developed after India
19thcenturyarchitecture, the central business gained Independence in
dilapidated district. It contains 1947 , it includes
buildings,over B.B.D.Bagh and the Upscale
populated Esplanade on is east, neighbourhoods
slums,crowded bazaars strand road on its west.
and narrow alleyways.