A group of architectural students recently embarked on an enriching educational tour to Pachmarhi and Bhopal, two locations in Madhya Pradesh rich in heritage, culture, and architectural significance. The visit provided students with valuable insights into historical and modern architectural practices, landscape design, and urban planning.

Pachmarhi – The Queen of Satpura

The tour began with a visit to Pachmarhi, a hill station known for its scenic beauty and colonial-era architecture. Key highlights included:

• Colonial Architecture: Students observed the British-style bungalows and churches built during the colonial period, noting features like pitched roofs, wooden verandas, and stone masonry.

• Natural Landscape Integration: Visits to sites like Bee Falls, Jatashankar Caves, and Dhoopgarh provided an opportunity to study the relationship between architecture and natural terrain.

• Heritage Structures: The group explored old structures and military buildings, analyzing how construction was adapted to the hilly terrain and climate.

Bhopal – City of Lakes and Cultural Fusion

The second part of the journey took students to Bhopal, a city that offers a unique blend of Mughal, colonial, and contemporary architecture.

• Bharat Bhavan: Designed by architect Charles Correa, this cultural center allowed students to explore concepts of spatial sequencing, material usage, and site context.

• Sanchi Stupas The great stupa at Sanchi is probably the most iconic stupa ever built. It was initially built by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka the Great in the 3rd century BCE.

• Tribal Museum: Known for its contemporary interpretation of tribal lifestyles, the museum served as a study in experiential design and storytelling through space.

• Bhimbetka Caves,They have evidence of dwellings of pre-historic man during the Paleolithic era. Rock paintings in the caves are specimens of pre-historic settlements in India.