How mohallas were formed: Typology of mohallas from the viewpoint of spatial formation and the urbanization process in Varanasi, India

Abstract

This paper focuses upon some mohallas in Varanasi's old urban area. The mohalla is a traditional neighborhood unit common in North Indian cities. Mohallas were elemental components of the city in the Mughal period as administrative tax units as well as autonomous organizations. Currently, however, they have lost their administrative meaning, and their geographical extent and boundaries are becoming unclear. Based on field surveys, this paper reveals features of the spatial formation of mohallas such as size, boundary form, distribution of facilities, and street pattern, and links them to the historical urbanization process of the city. Mohallas in Varanasi can be broadly classified into two types. One has a linear or tree shape along streets, and the other has a broad territorial shape. The spatial features of those two types are different in various aspects and reflect the degree of urbanization at the time when the mohallas were established.