In India, the city square makes a comeback

Several cities are working to restore their city squares to their past glory, while others plan to create entirely new ones

- Manoj Sharma

City squares are more than just bustling public spaces they mirror a city's history, politics, and culture; they blend echoes of the past with the energy of contemporary urban life. From the ancient Greek Agora and the grand Roman Forum, to the bustling squares of European cities such as Trafalgar Square in London and Dam Square in Amsterdam, to the lively chowks of India, these spaces have been the thriving cores of their cities.

Over the decades, most city squares in India lost their essence as vibrant hubs of urban life, devolving into mere traffic nodes. Now, however, there is a renewed focus on reclaiming these public spaces as the beating hearts of their respective cities some, such as Mumbai, Gwalior, and Srinagar, are making efforts to restore their historic city squares to their past glory, while others, such as Ahmedabad and Gurugram, have announced plans to create new city squares to reshape the cityscape.

"City squares in India have a distinctive character and are deeply linked to the city's historical roots. They are the heart of the city, the nucleus from which the city originated or grew. In princely kingdoms, these squares often flanked palaces, while in religious towns, they typically surrounded temples," said Vikas Dilawari, a conservation architect.

"A city is a tangible expression of a civilization or society coming together, and a city square serves as a physical representation of the nucleus or core of that society. From a social, cultural, and historical perspective, a city square embodies the soul of a city," said urban planner and architect Dikshu Kukreja, whose firm, CP Kukreja Architects, is a part of the consortium that drew the master plan for the redevelopment of Ayodhya.

History of city squares in India