The Department of Science and Technology (DST) recently rolled out ‘Project Digital Poompuhar’. This initiative aims to digitally recreate the ancient port city of Poompuhar, which thrived during the Chola Dynasty in Tamil Nadu. Now part of DST’s Indian Digital Heritage (IDH) project, this initiative follows the successful display of the first project ‘Digital Hampi’ at the National Museum. The second phase of the IDH project focuses primarily on underwater heritage sites in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
A Journey through Time: Historical Influence of Poompuhar
Famous literary works from the Sangam era mention Poompuhar, a city located 30km away from present-day Poompuhar. This trading hub thrived due to its intercontinental business connections but had to be relocated over time. The city was eventually re-established around 3000 years ago near the mouth of the river Cauvery. Rising sea levels and continuous flooding led to these shifts.
Unravelling the Mystery: Previous Studies on Poompuhar
Findings from Indian Remote Sensing Satellites suggested that the city was initially situated in the Cauvery Delta, nearly 30km away from modern Poompuhar. These studies revealed the existence of harbour-like structures, sea walls, and possible bridges in the region. Further studies unveiled Poompuhar’s timeline stretching from 3000 years to 15,000-20,000 years. However, despite extensive research on Tamil literature, archaeology, underwater exploration, and geosciences, the exact location and age of Poompuhar, along with reasons for its extinction, remain elusive.
Decoding the Past: Project Digital Poompuhar
Project Digital Poompuhar employs underwater surveys and photography by remotely operated vehicles, as well as remote sensing-based geodynamic studies. It aims to compile comprehensive information on the chronological evolution and extinction of the city. This initiative also offers a visual play-through of geodynamic processes from the past 20,000 years – including land subsidence, sea-level rise, flood, tsunami, cyclones and erosion. It hopes to shed light on the socio-cultural evolution, science, technology, and disaster history of the region.
Preserving Heritage: Indian Digital Heritage Initiative
The Indian Digital Heritage is an initiative by DST that uses digital tools to document and interpret both tangible and intangible heritage. The project showcases the art, architecture, and cultural legacy of historical sites such as Hampi in Karnataka, the medieval capital of Vijayanagara dynasty.
Legacy of the Cholas and their Influence on History
The Chola Dynasty reigned over central and northern Tamil Nadu, with their primary area of rule being the Kaveri delta, also known as Cholamandalam. They had two main hubs – Uraiyur and Puhar (or Kaviripattinam), which served as alternate royal residences and chief port towns. Noted for their navy strength, the Cholas were headed by King Karikala, who is mentioned frequently in Sangam poems. His reign marked a period of flourishing trade and commerce. He is credited with founding Puhar and constructing a 160km embankment along the river Kaveri.
