Rediscovering The Past: A Journey Along The Chatrams of a Forgotten Pilgrimage Route

Cultural routes have emerged as a vital means of uncovering and preserving hidden cultural gems in remote rural areas. Pilgrimage routes involving journeys to sacred or religious sites fall under the umbrella of cultural routes. This paper examines the cultural significance of the Kashi-Rameshwaram Pilgrimage Route in India, with a specific focus on historical resting places called Chatrams built along the Route during the 17th-century Martha rule in Thanjavur, a city located in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, India. The study examines the Chatrams' contemporary condition, influence on the surrounding neighbourhood, and the challenges they face amidst the landscape that once played an essential role in shaping the region's cultural landscape along the Pilgrimage Route. It employs qualitative data from interviews with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) with Historians and the local community, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach, as well as on-site observations. The findings scrutinize the contemporary condition of these Chatrams, their profound influence on the neighbourhood, and the challenges they confront amidst the surrounding landscape, along with the current policies of stakeholders, which often prove ineffective in preserving and revitalizing these Chatrams. Community participation emerges as a crucial factor in revitalizing these sites. The research concludes that restoring Chatrams can preserve cultural heritage, enhance cultural tourism, and improve the overall aesthetics of the landscape.