VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF KULLU

Submitted by:
Jagriti
13622
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE is a category of
architecture based on local needs, construction
materials and reflecting local traditions.

It tends to evolve over time to reflect

the environmental, cultural, technological, economic,
and historical context in which it exists.

The term vernacular is derived from

the Latin vernaculus, meaning "native".

In architecture, it refers to that type of

architecture which is indigenous to a specific time or
place.
Introduction to VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
OF KULLU

 In Kullu, elements of nature shape the spatial order

and man has to adapt himself to these forces.

 Over the ages it has evolved unique traditions of art

and architecture with foreign influences.

 In the post independence period it has been marked

by almost complete break from traditional and
colonial style of architecture.
Geographical features OF KULLU

 Altitude : 1,278 m

 Latitude : 31° 20‘N to 32° 25'N

 Longitude : 76° 56‘E to 77° 52'E

 Climate : Cold

 Maximum Temperature : 38.8° C

 Minimum Temperature : 5.2° C

 Average rainfall : 80 cm
LOCALLY AVAILABLE MATERIALS

 Availability of forests implies high

preference to wood for construction
purposes.

 Due to the Beas river passing through the

district, mud is available easily.

 Since it is hilly area, stone is available in

abundance.
Climatic influence

 Low ceiling height for warmer interiors.

 Small size windows to prevent heat loss.

 Sloping roofs for efficient drainage in heavy

rainfall and snowfall areas.

 Use of wood mainly for building purposes to

keep the living warmer and comfortable.
ARCHITECTURE OF KULLU

Architecture of Kullu can broadly be

divided into 4 categories:

 Architecture of houses

 Temple Architecture

 Architecture of Monasteries

 Architecture of Palaces
ARCHITECTURE of houses

 Double storey houses with pitched roof, oriented

towards South to reduce heat loss.

 Linear arrangement of rooms, connected by a

verandah or balcony on both the floors.

 Timber and stone are used widely as both have high

thermal capacity and low conductivity.

 Inner walls thickness is 4 inch and outer walls

thickness is 9 inch.
SECTION OF A TYPICAL HOUSE
Kath-khuni
architecture

This style of layering

and interlocking timber
with stones in the walls
provides strength,
stability and flexibility.
Different types of
Pitched Roofs
TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

 Himachal Pradesh is a land of the Gods.

 Hindu temples of many types are found in this
spectacular land of the Himalayas.
 This valley of Kullu has 368 temples.
 There are three styles of temple architecture
in the valley:

 Pagoda style
 Shikhara style
 Pahari style
 PAGODA STYLE

 These are rectangular stone and wood structures

with successive roofs, placed one over the other
making them in some cases look like multi-storey
edifices.

 Hadimba Temple (Manali) , Tripura Sundri

Temple (Naggar) and Adi Brahma Temple
(Khokhan) are examples of such architecture.
 HADIMBA
TEMPLE

Interiors of
the temple
Adi-brahma temple
 Shikhara style

 It refers to the rising tower over the sanctum

where the presiding deity is enshrined and is the
most prominent and visible part of a Hindu
temple of North India.

 Bishweshwar temple (Bajaura), Shiv Temple

(Naggar), Gauri Shankar Temple (Dashal), Shiv
Temple (Jagatsukh) are built in this style.

 Of these Bishweshwar temple, Bajaura is the

largest stone temple in the valley.
Bishweshwar temple
Pahari style

 Pahari style is a mixture of all other

temple forms.

 Bhuvneshwari Temple and Bijli Mahadev

Temple in Kullu are excellent examples of
this form of temple architecture.
Bijli mahadev temple
monasteries

Dechen Choekhor Monastery

palaces

Naggar castle
Interior view of naggar castle
Chehni kothi
Main construction techniques

 Rammed earth technique

 Adobe construction

 In the former style, the mud is filled into the wooden

forms and rammed into the place slowly building up
the wall.

 In the later style, sun dried mud blocks are used in

the construction of the wall. The roof is kept flat
and comprises a closely packed layer of sun twigs
supported on wooden beams and joists and resting
on the wooden columns.
Thank you…