Flood risk management questioning urban planning and architectural practices concerning built environment conception in numerous cities of India. This work focuses upon vernacular architecture of riverbanks of the city of Benares which are located under the annual flood water-level. Hydrological process of the water-level rise of the Ganga (Ganges) River during the monsoon season remains well understood. However, architecture located on submerged banks is staying astonishment unknown and relationship between river water-levels and architectural design is still unexplored. Does vernacular architecture of flooded banks integrate annual variations in water level? Here, we explore reveals features of vernacular architecture compared with hydrological dataset form literature review. Architectural surveys were carried out during a five-month period of fieldwork in Banaras. Graphical documents have been drawn up on the basis of direct measurements that were taken in the field. A numerical modelling has been carried out on vectorial software using descriptive geometry, complemented by conventional notation were reported measurement results. The annual variations in water levels are represented on plans and sections in the architectural surveys. In addition, the mapping process identifies the highest flood levels and incorporates them into the built environment. Vernacular architecture can be divided into two types, based on geographical and architectural criteria. Ancient movable structures and recent permanent built forms can be observed on annually submerged spaces during the rise of water level. Our results indicate that vernacular architecture on submerged banks is composed essentially in regard of low-water level, whereas ancient movable structures follow variations in water level.
Keywords: architectural surveys, variations in water-levels, sacred space, water symbolism, Ganga (Ganges) River.