When we see any river and want to go from one bank to the other, we take the help of a bridge, which connects the two banks. In our life, some people become like bridges for us, like we know one person and another person, but the first person does not know the friend of the second person, but he is the friend of the second person, so he starts getting to know the third person because the second person becomes a bridge between the first and the third person.
Our language also works as a bridge, it conveys the experiences, feelings, and personality of one person to the other person.
Thus, language also works as a bridge between the two people; it assists. Thus, bridges also have a very big contribution to our life, which works to connect, be it in business, in people, or emotions. Yes, but here we will talk about a bridge that has retained its history even today. We are talking about “Stari Most”.
History of Stari Most
The name Mostar was first mentioned in 1474 as the Monastery (the Bridge Keepers). The city of Mostar, whose history begins with the development of an Ottoman frontier town in the (15)fifteenth and (16)sixteenth centuries and then under the Austro-Hungarian rule for a short period in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, is considered to be the most famous and well-known for its The Old Bridge- Stari most and Turkish houses.
Among them, Stari Most is an example of a bridge construction. It is believed that the design of this bridge was by Mimar Hayruddin, a student and apprentice of architect Mimar Sinan, who built many beautiful buildings near Istanbul for many sultans.
It is also believed that this bridge was made of wood, but it was deteriorating, so a replacement was made so that the flow of people on the Neretva River could continue. Work on the new bridge began in 1557 which took nine years to complete. This time, the bridge was made of stone, which was stronger and more durable.
This stone bridge is a single arch 90 feet (27 meters) wide, which is a masterpiece of Ottoman engineering. Then, during the Bosnian civil war in 1993, Stari Most was also affected by its effects. The artillery fire of the Serbs and Bosnian Croat forces destroyed the bridge. The Old Bridge Areas and the surrounding buildings were also damaged. But as a man stands firm by the values of his culture, the Stari Most was rebuilt and renovated. On 23 July 2004, the bridge was reopened to the public with great fanfare. Stari Most is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Characteristic
The bridge spans 98 feet (30 m) and towers 78 feet (24 m) above the river. The arch rises 39 feet (12 m) and encloses an elegant roadway 13 feet (4 m) in width, and on either side, another arch protects the magnificent bridge. This bridge is probably the first arch bridge in the world to be so wide. When this bridge was opened, it was called a wonder of the world by tourists. This bridge has a history of more than 400 years. Thus, its features are becoming unique.
Conclusion
Thus, Stari Most is a unique example of Balkan Islamic architecture. Such a bridge that connects humanity in the world, no matter how big the distance or deep the valley, plays its role. Such a bridge always works to connect everyone. Thus, Stari Most stands firm, giving a message of harmony and its history. You, too, can be a Stari Most for someone with whom you can connect, be it through history or emotion.
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Rudra
Rudra Vala is a PhD researcher in architecture with academic roots at MSU Baroda and current work at Gujarat University, Ahmedabad.