SS15 Sikkim

Summer School 2015 Landscape Assessment of Gangtok Region

Landscape Assessment of Sikkim Region

Summer School 2015

Prof. Dr. Deepa Maheshwari

Ms Divya Shah

Mr Sandip Patil

Mr Tapan Modi


Introduction

Gangtok is the base for tourists travelling to Sikkim. The city is growing

exponentially due to increase in tourist infrastructure in the recent years,

especially towards the south (towards New Jalpaiguri).

The unique natural landscape of the region is under threat due to uncontrolled

development activity. It is important to assess and identify the various

landscape typologies of the region in order to conserve them.

The landscape character assessment study shall identify the important and

scenic landscapes of the region through visual mapping techniques, and

provide guidelines for conservation.


Introduction

A base line study at the campus shall provide basic understanding of the

region and its landscape typologies, along with introductory lectures on visual

character assessment techniques.

On site, students shall be divided into groups and conduct visual assessment

surveys for the entire region. Baseline documentation of the region shall be

collected for study & documentation.

Upon return to the campus, students shall organize the various landscape

typologies into groups using visual assessment tools and develop a

comprehensive visual landscape character assessment document.

Students shall document above information in three formats - an A3 sized

print document, a powerpoint presentation, and display sheets of A1 size.


Schedule

11-05-2015 to 15-05-2015 - Introduction, baseline study & document

acquisition at CEPT 10:30 - 13:30 daily

16-05-2015 to 19-05-2015 - travel to Gangtok via train

20-05-2015 to 26-05-2015 - visual surveys & document acquisition (Average

8 contact hours / day) 09:00 - 19:00 daily

27-05-2015 to 30-05-2015 - travel back to Ahmedabad by train

01-06-2015 to 06-06-2015 - data organization & document creation (Average

5 contact hours / day) 08:30 - 13:30 daily


Schedule

11th May 2015 Mon - Introduction to study & region, Visual assessment

lecture (Sandip) & sampling within CEPT, discussions with student groups,

announcement & discussions on base maps preparation group wise, contact

govt offices & initiate discussion on map / data collection group wise

12th May 2015 Tue - floristic mapping lecture (Prof. Deepa) & sampling

within CEPT, discussions with student groups, review of previous day’s

sampling

13th May 2015 Wed - mapping of urban areas (Divya) & sampling within city,

discussions with student groups, review of previous day’s sampling


Schedule

14th may 2015 Thu - review of previous day’s sampling, discussions with

students groups

15th may 2015 Fri - student presentation on base maps, preliminary regional

understanding, standard assessment toolkit & sheets, students shall take 2

copies of full size prints of all work to Gangtok, as well as small sheets

common to each group as required


Schedule

20 May 2015 Wed- study of Gangtok town & base maps collection

21 May 2015 Thu - study of Rumtek & its surroundings & base maps

collection

22 May 2015 Fri - study of Sikkim Zoo & base maps collection

23 May 2015 Sat - study of Tashi Viewpoint & nearby waterfall

24 May 2015 Sun - discussion day, review of previous days’ works / edits

given till lunch, day free after lunch

25 May 2015 Mon - trip to & study of Nathu La & Tsongmo lake

26 May 2015 Tue - final review of all works, time to revisit places above if

missed anything


Schedule

1 June 2015 Mon - review of all work, data & drawings, collating data &

surveys, faculty members to distribute groups within themselves

2 June 2015 Tue - lecture on documentation methodology, format discussion,

discussion with each group

3 June 2015 Wed - allocation of each place to one group, documentation

review

4 June 2015 Thu - pre final review

5 June 2015 Fri - general discussions & queries

6 June 2015 Sat - final pin up review & submission of complied document


Notes to Students

Students are responsible for their own safety, finances & comfort. You are

also responsible for your own travel & stay arrangements. Please behave in a

civil & courteous manner with others, do not shout or create ruckus. Please

carry a government approved identification with you at all times. You should

also carry bonafide & information request letters provided from CEPT

University. Food shall be managed by students on their own as per

convenience. Two half days are allocated for students’ personal travel /

errands. Schedule shall be strictly followed on all days.

Sandip - 9537938015, temporary BSNL - 9426319510

Tapan - 9913931580

Place of Stay - Tashi Thendup Hotel (room no to be provided later), MG Road


Notes to Students

Eastern India has early sunrise & sunset. A typical working day shall start at

07:00, students are expected to meet at allocated meeting point by 7:00.

Breakfast shall be on way as available. In addition each student is expected

to pack light food. Excursions shall be done together, while local trips shall be

allocated by faculty members to each group. Visit shall be finished by 16:00

hours, except if excursion is longer. Students shall gather back at 18:00 hours

for review of day’s work, and instructions for next day’s work. Each student is

expected to undertake two activities - collection of data / maps from

government / other organizations for relevant group data, visual assessment,

sketches (plan, section, views) & photography of place visited. Each student

shall summarize day’s work each evening.


Site Assessment

Assessment for each landscape area -

1.Make a proportionate sketch map using google base, site measurements

(measured on foot is fine) & visual understanding

2.Photo documentation of entire site with locations marked on plan including

human activities, if any

3.Make sketches of important views & individual elements (natural or man-

made)

4.Conduct a landscape character assessment of the site providing a valuation

5.Make an abstract sketch of the site that presents the qualities of the site

6.Note down a SWOT analysis of the site


Selected Sites

Gangtok City

M G Road Commercial Area

Any one residential area

Any one institutional area

Fringes

Gangtok Zoo

Rumtek Monastery & surroundings

Tashi Viewpoint & waterfall

Tsongmo Lake & if possibe (permits required) Nathu la

PHOTOGRAPHY IS RESTRICTED IN SOME AREAS. PLEASE FOLLOW

RULES


Introduction - Sikkim


Sikkim is one of the north-eastern states of India, well known for its scenic beauty & related tourism. Sikkim is sandwiched between Nepal to West, Tibet to North & Bhutan to East. A large part of northern Sikkim is inaccessible for most parts of the year, which is also a part of the Khangchendzonga National Park shared between Nepal & India.

Sikkim, with an area of 7,000 sq km has a population of just 6,10,000 (2011 Census). It is a largely agricultural economy with its main export being cardamom. Terrace farming is practised in South Sikkim, which falls in the lower Himalayas. There is no working airport or railhead in the entire state. The nearest railhead of New Jalpaiguri & airport of Bagdogra are connected via NH-15 to Gangtok and rest of Sikkim.

Sikkim is blessed with adequate water resources from river Teesta on which numerous dams & hydel power stations are located, but the agricultural productivity is low due to poor soils & hilly terrain. Lately, tourism is becoming the main economy of Sikkim.



Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim is home to 15% of the state's population, situated at 1,650 mamsl. Gangtok is the base for tourists travelling to Sikkim.

The city is growing exponentially due to increase in tourist infrastructure in the recent years, especially towards the south (towards New Jalpaiguri).

Gangtok lies on a hill ridge with two rivers running to east & west of the hill in north-south direction.

Number of tourists arriving in Sikkim has increased from 3.5 lacs in 2005 to 6 lacs in 2013-14, equal to the state's population.

The main economy of Gangtok being tourism, most of the infrastructure & development is geared in that direction.

Introduction - Gangtok


The unique natural landscape of the region is under threat due to uncontrolled development activity. It is important to assess and identify the various landscape typologies of the region in order to conserve them. The landscape character assessment study shall identify the important and scenic landscapes of the region through visual mapping techniques, and provide guidelines for conservation.

A base line study at the campus shall provide basic understanding of the region and its landscape typologies, along with introductory lectures on visual character assessment techniques. On site, students shall be divided into groups and conduct visual assessment surveys for the entire region. Baseline documentation of the region shall be collected for study & documentation.

Upon return to the campus, students shall organize the various landscape typologies into groups using visual assessment tools and develop a comprehensive visual landscape character assessment document. Students shall document above information in three formats - an A3 sized print document, a powerpoint presentation, and display sheets of A1 size.

Introduction - Brief


Climate


Geology


Rock Types & Minerals


Population Distribution


Watersheds


Teesta River Basin




Soils


Topography & Slopes


Land Use






Forest Types


Protected Areas






Transport Networks


Toposheet


Toposheet


Satellite Image

City is developed on a hill ridge with two river valleys each to east & west.

Highway from West Bengal (to south) is main entry to city.

There is a protected area to north of city

Population is 98,000 (2011 Census)

MG Road running east-west is main road in the city

Rumtek monastery is to south of city


Issues

1. Super Regional - only to understand topography and tourist links

2. Regional level - south sikkim, all layers, quantification, overlays and imp tourist spots and ppl rate

3. Sikkim town level(mastet plan, watershed)

4. Floating ppl, Tourism and residential schools / colleges

5. Find population projection tourist and normal for 50 yrs

6. Dependance on natural resources, agriculture

7. Resorts in valley, construction

8. Economical study of state, comparison between tourism and local occupation.

9. Inpult lecture on evaluation on natural resources

10.Input lecture on development of town, history of gantok, construction techniques.

Data to be searched on site

1. Ppl, Development Plan, Agricultural Pattern, Local Occupation, Imp flora and fauna, Dependance of

resources water and food, waste water management, solid waste management,

2. Forest Department, Water Department and Town planning department

References

1. Theis to be referred - Shimla, Mt Abu, Saputara, Pavagadh (Lajja), Kumbalgadh (Jobin)


Study Groups

1. Natural Resources (4)Mathew, Joyita, Suchi, Chaitali1.1. Soil1.2. Geology1.3. Topography & Slopes1.4. Climate

2. Water Resources - (3)Akash, Sneha , Prachi2.1. Ground water2.2 Rivers & Catchments, Lakes, Dams (data and

calculations)

3. Forest - (2)Amrita, Divyajyoti, Shivansh3.1. Flora3.2. Fauna

4. Tourism - (4) including site assessmentVishal, Dishin, Sandesh4.1. City level4.2. Regional level

5. Society (3)Sampada, Brijesh, Bhagyashri5.1. Society & Culture including regional history5.2. Census and occupation5.3 Agriculture & Plantation

6. City Development (3)Brinda, Shreedevi, Khushboo6.1 City Expansion6.2 City History6.3 Development Plan

7. Regional level landuse and infrastructure (Base Drawings) (2)

Ramya, Janki

8. Visual Assessment & Literature Studies (3)Anirban, Salonee, Jyotsna8.1 Visual Assessment of sub-region8.2 Literature studies


Thank You

Summer School 2015

Prof. Dr. Deepa Maheshwari

Ms Divya Shah

Mr Sandip Patil

Mr Tapan Modi

Documents

SS15 Sikkim