Rethinking Nilsagar : a fusion of archaeological and socio- cultural hub Nilphamari

Abstract

Our country has a long history of enriched civilization and culture. Many historical and archeological places didn’t get focused and conserved. Nilsagar is from 10 to 11 century and built for the general people. The archeological evidence of the ghat and other findings of that area is the evidence of their culture, tradition and their way of life. In order to stay close to the fundamentals of the site, the local context played the key role in paving the design development. For instance, following the diction in which temples and traces of embankment have been found since its inception in 2016, the possibility of excavating yet another temple in the vicinity is undeniable. Predicted to be built during the Gupta and Pala reigns, and hence of substantial archaeological significance, this factor has been catered to with utmost importance. In fact, in light of this, the preexisting religious center consisting of a temple which serves as the heart of the Mela and hence acts as a socio cultural hub, has been shifted to the opposite side of the embankment. The dighi serves as a core deciding factor of the process – while it divides the archaeological hub and the socio-cultural hub visually, it also connects them and thus enhances the experience and promotes people’s participation. The design essentially explores the possibilities of a culture rooted deep in history while emphasizing on the archaeological prospects by exposing it to a wider population.