Abstract i Acknowledgements iii CONTENTS v 1. Introduction . 1 1.1. Introduction to the site 1 1.2. Thesis Proposal . 2 1.3. Conservation Plan . 3 1.4. Derived methodology for the people centred approac to conservation for Delwara 4 2. Theoretical Framework . 5 2.1. Cultural Heritage and Conservation 5 2.2. People-Centred Approaches To The Conservation Of Cultural Heritage: 13 2.5. People-centred conservation in practice: 21 3. Understanding the site – Delwara . 23 3.1. Location 23 3.2. Topography And Natural Features . 24 3.3. Historic Significance . 26 3.4. Social and cultural Significance . 34 3.5. Built heritage of Delwara 40 4. Need to conserve . 61 4.1. Present condition. 61 4.2. Threat 63 5. Community and its relationships 65 5.1. Identification of living Community and their distribution on site 65 5.2. Present Socio -economic status and relationship 66 5.3. Mapping Places of associative value 67 5.4. Condition and value assessment of the identified areas of significance . 72 5.5. Community participation in identification of central issues, values and interests 74 5.5.1. Ethnographic study . 75 5.5.2. Qualitative and quantitative analysis 77 5.5.3. Conclusion 82 6. Assessment of cases 83 6.1. Case 1 : Baikunthnath Mandir Chowk 83 6.1.1. Identifying intrested groups, communities and primary stakeholders for participatory decision making. 85 6.2. Case 2: Sadar Bazaar (Traditional Market) . 87 6.2.1. Identifying intrested groups, communities and primary stakeholders for participatory decision making. 89 7. Proposal/ Recommendations . 91 7.1. Community- Asset Based Development . 91 7.2. Desing guide for respectful rehabilitation of built heritage : 93 7.3. Suggested Design Intervention . 99 8. Conclusion 101 References . 102