Dogra Architecture

• Over a century-old market at Maharaj Gunj locality in Downtown is getting a much-awaited facelift by the authorities under the Srinagar Smart City’s Downtown Urban Renewal Project.
• The Maharaj Gunj market area has a rich mix of vernacular and colonial architecture.
• Other projects taken on in this area include Bohri Kadal and Zaina Kadal markets under the project.
• Initiative by – Srinagar Smart City Limited and the Kashmir chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).
  • To conserve vernacular elements of Kashmiri architecture, including colonnaded walkways, decorative pilasters, and exposed moulded brickwork.
  • It aims to conserve elements introduced in Kashmir by Dogra Hindu kings between 1846 and 1947.

ABOUT DOGRA KINGDOM

• Dogra dynasty was founded by Maharaja Gulab Singh Jamwal (1792-1857).
• He was Jammu and Kashmir’s first Maharaja, a princely kingdom.
• From the 19^th century until October 1947, Jammu was ruled by the Dogra Rajputs, who belonged to the Jamwal clan.
• Under the 1846 Treaty of Amritsar, British gave away Kashmir to Gulab Singh.
• He also annexed Ladakh and Baltistan areas.