Uttarakhand Architecture on Wood : By BC Joshi

Due to purely rural or even tribal lifestyle of Uttarakhandi people they had always been far from the ill effects urban life and close to the nature. This phenomenon reflects in every aspect of our culture and lifestyle, be it �Muruli ki taan� in calm and dense forest or �jhora� , �chachari� types of group singing / dancing in village fairs (melas).

This aspect of our mindset also reflects in our architecture and construction technology. If we see the old styled rural houses, its windows and gates, they have great imprints of our cultural heritage in the form of woodwork or carvings on the wood.

Beam under the window has flowery designs to represent a happy mood

Close - up of the pillar of main entrance

A view of windows of a traditional house

Arc of the main entrance

Animals were an integral part of rural life. Our art seems to have been influenced greatly by their usefulness. These animals shown here were found carved on top of the main entrance above the arc where �Shree Ganga Dussera Dwar Patra� was pasted.

Apart from animals, some geometrical figures are also drawn on the top of entrance door.

Some humanly figures are also found drawn there which seems to be the �Matrika�

Lower portion of a Window

This is a photograph of Main Entrance of an old styled house. Every inch of the pillars of Main entrance has beautiful design carved on it.

Article by B C Joshi