CONTENTS Abstract i Acknowledgements iii CONTENTS v List of figures vii 1 Historical significance of Ghats in Serampur 1 1.1 Location 1 1.2 Trade routes 4 1.3 History of Serampur . 5 1.4 Historic significance of Ghats 6 1.5 Important festivals of the place . 9 2 Understanding of Ghats 15 2.1 Ghat-Street connectivity 15 2.1.1 Rajbari Ghat . 15 2.1.1.1 Cultural history 16 2.1.1.2 Observations on Activity 16 2.1.1.3 Mapping Historic elements and relationship . 21 2.1.1.4 Condition of the Ghat 21 2.1.2. Champotola Ghat . 22 2.1.2.1 Cultural history . 22 2.1.2.2 Observations on Activity 27 2.1.2.3 Mapping historic elements and relationship 27 2.1.2.4 Condition of the Ghat 27 2.1.3. Seal Ghat 27 2.1.3.1 Cultural history 33 2.1.3.2 Observations on Activity 33 2.1.3.3 Mapping historic elements and relationship 33 2.1.3.4 Condition of the ghat 34 2.1.4. Ferry Ghat 73 2.1.4.1. Cultural history 76 2.1.4.2. Observation on activity. 76 2.1.4.3. Condition of the ghat 76 2.1.4. Roy Ghat 79 vi Aathirai.S.K 2.1.5.1. Cultural history 82 2.1.5.2. Observation on activities 85 2.1.5.3. Mapping historic elements and relationship 85 2.1.5.4. Condition of the ghat 85 2.1.5. Nishan ghat 87 2.1.6.1. Cultural history 87 2.1.6.2. Observation on activities 89 2.1.6.3. Mapping historic elements and relationship 89 2.1.6.4. Condition of ghat . 89 2.1.6. Padree ghat 90 2.1.6.1. Cultural history 90 2.1.6.2. Observation on activities 90 2.1.6.3. Condition of ghat 90 2.2 Rituals-Ghats 91 2.3 Value Assessment 92 2.3.1. Historic Value 92 2.3.2. Architectural Value . 93 2.3.3. Emotional Value 94 2.3.4. Social Value 94 2.3.5. Cultural Value 94 2.3.6. Use Value 95 2.3.7. Aesthetic Value 95 2.3.8. Educational Value . 95 2.3.9 Statement of cultural significance 96 3 Conservation strategy-Barriers for conservation 107 3.1 Inference through interview 107 3.2. Cultural Mapping 107 3.3. Potential site for Architectural Conservation 111 3.4. Sense of the place-Imagibility of Serampur 113 3.5. Design obligation 117 4 Bibliography . 133 5 References 135