Page 9 - Apr-Jun 2018

VOL. 15 No. 2
Unique Uttarakhand Homes

Location: Uttarakhand; Rural
Physical Factors: Varies from Semi-Tropical to Alpine; Earthquake and Landslide prone
The traditional homes of Uttarakhand found in the hilly areas of Kumaun and Garhwal are unique in
their structure. The Koti Banal structures in Uttarakhand are utilitarian. These buildings are known
for their stability, long life span, and resistance to adverse weather conditions.

ROOF SHAPE WALL
The houses are rectangular,
The roof is made of wood and stone The walls are made of stones
with wood used to create the
and tilted so that the water doesn’t inside and outside, plastered with
frames of the structure.
collect. mud and husk that insulates the
home during cold winters. Stones
Roofs of Kumaoni houses are laid using
are stacked one above the other
pipes, logs, stuff ed with split up logs
without any cementing.
embedded in mud. It is then laid using
local stone called pataal, sealed with
mud.

DOORS AND WINDOWS
FLOOR
The windows and kohlis (main
The fl oor is mostly made entrance door) of the Kumaon
of wooden planks and and Garhwal homes are mostly
covered with carpets. made of wood with beautiful
carvings.

DECORATION

The doors have fi gures of Gods and Goddesses made LAYOUT
for protection from evil spirits and on either sides are
windows with painted details. The carvings on the door Houses are in a linear pattern called Bhakli.
narrate the stories of the people who resided here. They are mostly double storeyed separated
into two equal halves with a straight fl ight
Aipan is a traditional folk art specifi cally made by women of stairs. The ground fl oor is usually for
done on the fl oor over brick red background with white cattle without any windows, and the fi rst
paste made out of rice fl our. fl oor, ‘math’ is where the people live.

Photo Credits: Mr. T. S. Randhawa, Advisor (INTACH
Knowledge Centre & Information Technology)
ACTIVITY: HILL WISDOM
FEATURES OF KOTI
Describe the traditional
BANAL homes which are

earthquake and fl ash
• Use of horizontal wooden
beams fl ood resistant. What
are the features of such
• Low roof height
• Shear walls homes? Illustration by: Aditya Khanduri, VI C, Scholars
Home Sr. Sec. School, Dehradun
• Small openings
Text credits: Vaibhav Bhist, IX, Khushi Rautela, VIII, Raksa Anusandhan
Illustration by: Yug Jadly, VI E, Scholars Vidyalaya, Dehradun; Pranshu Panwar, V, Divyanshi Sonkar, VII, Scholars
Home Sr. Sec. School, Dehradun Home, Sr. Sec. School, Dehradun

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