Laterite Temple Tanks of North Malabar: Documenting A Continuing Tradition of Building Community Waterscapes: A Case of Vadakara

Sacred tanks are an important typology of open spaces associated with religious historic precincts in India. They have architectural, recreational as well as ecological significance, pertaining to each region. Kerala too has had a tradition of constructing tanks/‘kulams’ associated with ancient temples. Laterite temple tanks/‘kulams’ of northern Kerala—are distinct from granite temple tanks of the south and central parts of the state. They are unique examples of designed historic open spaces—combining aesthetics and engineering, through its definite geometry, vaastu based planning and the versatility of indigenous laterite stone as a building material visible in details and minimal decoration. The tradition is still prevalent in several areas, with variations in detail and scale over time, keeping the basic principles more or less unchanged. This research paper is a preliminary enquiry towards identifying and understanding the continuing laterite kulam making practices of North Kerala as an indigenous knowledge system. The chosen region of study is Vadakara, a municipality and Taluk in Calicut district, approximately 24 km² region possessing many historic as well as new kulams, being built and repaired over many years, in vicinity to each other and actively used. The research intends to examine their geographical distribution, evolution of types and construction systems, adaptations in the newer kulams, and the role of current determinants like material availability, site context, use patterns and costs. This will be done through exploratory methods, which includes connecting inputs from master masons who construct kulams, vaastu experts who provide initial guidelines and through architectural documentation and analysis.