Regions
Himalayas and the Hills
An amazing variety of vernacular architecture exists in the northern Himalayas and further eastwards – from Islamic elements of Kashmir to Buddhist Zanskar and Ladakh. After that are the Hindu styles in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and on to Buddhist Sikkim again.
Northern Indian Plains
In this northern belt one finds some remarkably traditional houses with regional variations. Those in Lucknow have the symbol of Oudh and a pair of fish on the entrance door. The religious cities of Varanasi and Vrindavan were home to people coming from different parts of India who brought with them their tastes and styles. The banks of the Ganges in Varanasi are lined with residences of princely states, erstwhile nobles and rich traders who wanted to have a place in this holy city. They opened out to a view of the holy river and have steps leading to the waters.
… the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi are lined with residences of princely states, erstwhile nobles and rich traders who wanted to have a place in this holy city.
West and Central India
Rajasthan has the greatest diversity in vernacular residence styles, which are constructed mainly in stone. Jaisalmer has exquisite stone havelis inside the fort as well as outside it. Fine carvings embellish the sand stone with which the havelis are constructed. The more well known ones in Jaisalmer are the group of Patua havelis, Nathmalji’s haveli, and the haveli of Salim Sinh with its singular tower. Bikaner and Jodhpur also have remarkable havelis in stone. There are also the elegant havelis of Jaipur and the painted ones in the Shekhawati region, where the technique of fresco painting runs wild.
… in Rajasthan a tremendous variety of materials were used depending on local availability in the various regions – honey or golden coloured sandstone in Jaisalmer and red in Bikaner, Phalodi and Khichen. Jodhpur has lime surfaced stone and rubble painted light blue. The colours of Udaipur are white, signifying purity
Southern India
South India has a rich history of vernacular architecture, comprised as it is of the historical civilizations in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. Other influences were there due to the extensive Malabar and Coramandal (Cholamandal) coastline and trading links with the Romans, Arabs and other countries. It was a very eclectic architecture that prevailed and even the mosques were made in a local style.
Eastern and North-East India
West Bengal in eastern India is the land of the ubiquitous bangla hut that went on to influence mainstream Hindu and Mughal architecture all over India. It is doubtful if any other architectural feature anywhere in the world has been so widely adapted as this simple bangla or bangaldar hut. Complete architectural structures have been adapted to this graceful form, in whole or in parts, like bangaldar roofs and eaves.
The Islands
The islands of Andamans, Nicobar and Lakshadweep have vernacular traditions unique to their tribal cultures and based on available building material. The lifestyles on the islands vary from the hunting and food gathering existence of the negroid Jarawa and Onge to the mongoloid Nicobarese. The Sentinelese are still unapproachable on their islands and they appear to be in the hunting and food gathering stage. Lakshadweep with its turquoise waters has its own remarkable lifestyles and huts made of daub and thatch.
