Hindu temples and development of localities in Tamil Nadu (South India)

Abstract

Based on six case studies carried out in the region of Tamil Nadu (South India), the chapter demonstrates that Hindu temples play an active part in the development of their settlements and that they locally produce a certain level of centrality, which can trigger different forms of local development. The case of the old temples shows that these places of worship can structure urban morphologies, and that economic activities are often set up on temple lands. The study of new temples confirms these observations and sheds light on several strategies employed by actors associated with local development processes, such as commercial or real estate development around temples, or the purchase of lands and the creation of medical and educational establishments by the trusts managing the places of worship.