Page 6 - Apr-Jun 2018

Beautiful Kutch Bhungas

Loca on: Gujarat; Rural
Physical Factors: Desert climate; Earthquake prone
The traditional homes in Gujarat are known as Bhunga. It is said that after the 1819 earthquake, architects came up
with the Bhunga design to make homes earthquake resistant.
FLOOR
ROOF WALL
The fl oor is made of mud, with
Being situated in a region which The thick mud walls are suitable a regular application of lime
is mostly hot, the roof of these for thermal insulation which is plaster for maintenance.
houses is thatched and conical in necessary in this region with arid
shape. This keeps the inside of the climate where extreme temperature
house cool during the summers. It variations are observed daily.
is also very light, made of materials DOORS AND WINDOWS
like straw and dried grass.
A Bhunga house generally has
only three openings, one door
and two small windows. The
SHAPE windows are low, in order to

Bhunga homes are individual allow cross ventilation, while also
cylindrical structures placed avoiding the sun with the help
close to each other to of the roof.
form a house, so each
bhunga would be a separate LAYOUT
room. The diameter of each
is approximately 18 feet. The The house stands on a plinth
circular shape resists wind to avoid water entering during
pressure and earth quakes. the rains. The rooms are not
attached, as that would cause
cracks during earthquakes.
DECORATION They usually have separate

The outside walls are decorated rooms for diff erent purposes. The
with indigenous paintings, while the inside open area between all these rooms is
Illustration by: Aditi
walls have mirror work. In a traditional Gujarati Gupta, VIII G, Delhi Public a social gathering space.
living room, one will see intricate woodcarvings in all School, Sec-45, Gurgaon
kinds of furniture. The Gujarati embroidered toran is
believed to bring wealth and prosperity into the home. BE MY GUEST

Tourism has been a major
activity for Kutch, particularly
after the earthquake of 2001.
The tribes here living in their
ACTIVITY: TASTEFUL TORANS YY TASTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUL TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTO vibrant bhungas attract
tourists from all over the
Torans are decorative textiles of Gujarat hung above world. Looking at the picture,
doorways. They are often embellished with fi ne
what activity do you think is
embroidery and mirror work.
also practiced here?
Make a colourful toran for your door using waste Text credits: Tathya Barot, VI A, Global Indian International School,
materials. Ahmedabad; Utsav Hirani, VII, Shri L. G. Haria School, Jamnagar; Shwetaba
Rathod, VIII A, Bhavan’s Shri A. K. Doshi Vidyalaya, Jamnagar

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