THE TEKU THAPATHALI RESEARCH GROUP REPORT

In October 1993, The Teku Thapathali Research Group (TTRG) was established with funds from the British Embassy to carry out a preliminary research project. The projects goal was to assist local efforts in a long-term rehabilitation programme within the project area –a triangle of land bordering 2km of river ghats between Teku and Thapathali (see the site plan below). TTRG has undertaken archaeological and social research and identified a programme of appropriate rehabilitation and urban design of the area, in collaboration with the local community and Municipal bodies. During the research period TTRG undertook comprehensive assessments, including social and physical surveys of four temple complexes across the site. In each case a temple complex comprises a temple, its surrounding courtyard and sattal.

The main goals of the project are;

Conserving religious and cultural sites within an active community context
Encouraging community participation in upgrading their living condition
Enhancing the riverbank for public use

Towards these project goals the TTRG has recommended the following initial objectives:

Creation of Teku Thapathali Monument Zone
Rehabilitation of four temple complexes
Establishment of community training programmes
Further research into housing and urban design proposals

These objectives are presented in the body of this report which has been packaged as a fund raising tool.