VERNACULAR

ARCHITECTURE
CHAMBA

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Chamb
a • Chamba is situated on the north western part
of Himachal Pradesh.
• The territory is wholly mountainous from
altitudes ranging from about 2000 to 21,000
feet above sea level, the inhabited area
reaching upto 10,000 feet.
• A fascinating Hindu town with cultural and
physical heritage.
• So sheltered by snow-clad mountain barriers
that its monuments escaped destruction at the
hands of invaders, which is why it still remains
one of the best preserved heartlands of the
Himalayan arts.
• Shares boundaries with many states on almost
all sides, Chamba offers a beautiful view of Pir
Panjali hill.
• Historically, Chamba has been ruled by many
kings of Maru Dynasty. Prior to Chamba town,
Bhamour was the capital of Maru Dynasty;
however on the demand of Champavati,
daughter of Raja Sahil Varman, the capital as
shifted to Chamba in 920.
Ravi Valley Architecture
(CHAMBA)
PIECES of ATTRACTION
• OLD TEMPLES
o Bear a strong resemblance to Rajput temples (shikhara
style- from which the design was probably taken).
o Mostly dedicated to Lord Shiva and Vishnu and goddesses.
o Elaborate and ornate carvings on stone and wood.

• CAST METAL WORK

o Done from the Bronze age period.
o Presence of minor copper mines in Chamba.
o Alloy compound- brass commonly used for casting metal
ware. Huge plates used for wall decoration.
o Temple cupolas made in copper and brass- golden kalasa
or vessel on top.

• WOOD CARVING
o Door panels, decoration under the eaves, and huge wooden
statues.
o Main doorway including the door posts richly carved with
traditional motifs. One or two niches to hold lamps at night
made near the front door.
o Wooden cantilever construction- Protruding wooden
verandas.
THE DOMESTIC GADDI
ARCHITECTURE OF CHAMBA
 GADDI LAND
• Chamba - base for Gaddi shepherds who, though nomadic in their
way of life, return to Chamba periodically to stock supplies.
• Gadderan, the enchanting homeland of the Gaddis, deep in the
Ravi valley of Chamba, - one of the most rugged terrains of the
mountainous western Himalayas.
• Bharmaur and Chitrari - the nerve centres of the Gaddi land.
• Traditional Architecture in locally available materials - Dry stone
masonry and random rubble construction - supported and
intersected by wooden beams and rafters have the ability to
absorb a lot of shocks from earth quakes.
• The old aged wooden houses, raised multi storeyed on thathara
pillars and farque walls.
• Use of wood in construction of thathara style walls is lesser than
its consumption in kath-kuni walls common in rest of Himachal.
• Slate roofs are used since ages due to the availibility of slate
quarries.
 GADDI VILLAGE
• The villages houses largely spread in cluster
formation where reasonably flatter stretches are
available.
• Built in linear formation on different terraces along
the contours, facing the valley where flatter stretches
are not available.
• Usually the houses are divided forming mohollas for
lower caste and upper caste communities separately.
• The orientation of the houses regulated more by the
specific local site conditions rather than cardinal
parameters.
• Multi storeyed (2 or more) houses, because of lack of
leveled ground to expand horizontally.
• Houses connected by kuttcha and muddy or flagstone
paved lanes.
• The houses form certain architectural and
constructional features, not found else where in
interior Himachal.
i. These differ in construction (thhathar and faraque
style)
ii. These differ in interior planning
iii. These differ in openings
A Typical Gaddi House
 FOUNDATION
• Rarely goes beyond 30 cm in the ground.
• Large heavy stone slabs well packed together.
• On the foundation so raised, pillars (thatharas) erected on
corners or in between forming a grid.
 THATHARAS
• Thick and roughly hewn wooden planks, (45 cm length x 40
cm width x 4 cm thickness) placed on the edge of two sides,
with a gap of about 40 cm that defines the thickness of the
walls.
• Over it, same arrangement is repeated, but thatharas are
now placed across. The process is repeated until proposed
height is obtained.
• The hollow space within the pillar is filled with hand packed
stones.

A traditional house of
gadderan valley
 A Typical Gaddi House
 WALLS
• The thatharas are connected with each other by horizontal
planks, spaced one to one and a half metre apart vertically. The
intervening space is filled with dry irregular stone pieces.
• The Thatharas have small holes with wooden pins inserted
into them so that the planks do not move and retain their
position. Another way is having mortise and tenon joints
between two planks placed in alternate course.
• Later, exposed faces of walls are treated with mud-cow dung
plaster.
• At times, the gaps between the thatharas are covered with
thick and roughly hewn wooden planks. Such wall is known as Oldest house built in bharmour
Faraque.
• Sometimes, dhajji wall is also provided between the thatharas.
To make dhajji wall, framework of wooden battens, braced
with the wooden diagonals, is made between the thatharas.
• The farque and dhajji walls are preferred for upper storeys
only. Being light weight, they exert much less load on
foundations.

Dhajji wall was typically used in

upper chamba region touching
kashmir valley A typical stone filled pillar of wooden planks (tthatthar)
 CONSTRUCTION
TECHNIQUES
• Dhajji-Diwari construction is also used for
partition, in which diagonal braces are used in
wooden frame. In the uppermost storey,
generally wooden frames and planks are used as
partition material to reduce the seismic weight
of the building.
• These are mostly found in upper chamba region
influenced by kashmir valley architecture.
• The original construction practice involving use
of wooden planks for roof covering was also
motivated from the concept of reducing mass at
the top.
• In verandahs, where larger openings are
required, wooden frames are used in place of
masonry walls. These wooden frames result in
reduced seismic mass and better lateral load
resistance
 CONSTRUCTION
TECHNIQUES
• Dhol-Maide walls are used when the
use of wood for constructing walls is
to be minimised, dry-stone masonry
walls are raised with the wooden
cheol vertically widely spaced apart,
so that there are a number of courses
of stone between cheol.
• This type is also called as chanai-
khandh in Churah area of Chamba.
• The pillars are same as kaath-kuni
pillars
• These houses are not raised beyond
2 storeys. The dhol-maide walls are
built only in the ground floor and
wood walls are constructed above
A Typical Gaddi House
 STOREYS
• The lowest floor called obra - necessarily used for
cattle and storage of fuel and fodder.
• Small holes called tohlu left on the side walls for
ventilation.
• The upper floors generally residential which were
connected by manjhi or the staircase.
• The first floor called obri, second floor- bhor and
third floor- mandeh.
• At times, third floor kept open on two sides to give it
a verandah type appearance, and is called sal.
• No window to the outside, but only a small entrance
door called dwari on obra. Thus these multistorey
houses look more like castles than dwellings.
• Independent kitchen on each floor.
A Typical Gaddi House
 FLOORING

• The floor of the obra is made up of rough

flat stones. The gaps between stones filled
with mud and cow dung mixture.
• Upper floors made by spanning joists and
beams on the walls. The post is known as
thumbi. Thick wooden planks are laid on View of a gaddi house built with faraque style
these joists. Sometimes, thick layer of mud covered with mud
and cow dung mixture is applied over the
wooden planks.

 ROOFING

• They employ age old method of supporting

roof rafters (nhas) on the wall plates
(kanaran) on the sides and the ridge pole
(baranda).
• Over the nhas, thick wooden planks
(thathsari) are laid. Over them, thick slates
of irregular sizes are nailed.
• The roof is projected considerably beyond Roofing of old traditional buildings
the supports to protect the exterior of the
building from direct effect of snow and rain.
RAVI RIVER VALLEY
Major settlements in Ravi river valley are:
CHAMBA
BHARMAUR
CHATRARI

Meandering Ravi River

 CHAMBA TOWN
Chamba is a small town in himachal pradesh where the britishers established the first
power house of the state in 1904.
Chamba town is one of the largest conglomerations of stone temples and votive
structures.
Most of the temples are clustered within the Lakshmi Narayan temple, located
towards the southeast of the Akhand -Chandi palace.
Some of the notable temples of Chamba town are:
• Champawati temple.
• Chamunda Devi temple.
• Lakshmi Narayan temple complex.
• Basaki Nag temple.
• Narsimha temple.
Elaborate and ornate carvings on stone and wood are prominent.

CHOWGAN-The hub of
all commercial
activities, Chaugan
has a number of
administrative
buildings and
shopping complexes
that were
constructed during
the colonial period.
 CHOUGAN, CHAMBA
• The chougan bazar building has British
construction. It has a greek influence on
its pillars with ancient corinthian style
orders.

• Building features double pillars, deep

verandah and green roof sheeting.

• In 1890, the British converted five small

chaugans into a single chaugan for use as
an esplanade and sports complex, and
today it is commonly used for cricket
matches, picnics and promenades during
the mid summer months.
 LAKSHMI NARAYAN TEMPLE
• Lakshmi Narayan temple is the main temple of
Chamba town built by Sahil Verman in 10th century
A.D.
• The temple has been built in shikhara style.
• The wooden chhattries, the wheel roofs, atop the
temple were in response to the local climatic
conditions.
• A general feature of the classical stone temple of
Chamba is that most of them have unicellular
nirandhar layout, i.e having only a garbh-grih
without circumambulatory around, with multicity
of raths (offsets) that tend to make them look like views
circular in plan rather than square.
•Various temples in this complex are:
i. Radha Krishna temple.
ii. Shiva temple.
iii. Gauri Shankar temple.
iv. Bhuteshwar Mahadev temple.
v. Trimukh temple.
vi. Lakshmi Narayan temple.
vii. Hanuman temple.
•In most of these temples, the antaral has been
extended frontward by later improvisions.
HAMPAWATI TEMPLE, CHAMBA

•It is devoted to the guardian Chamba

Devi.
•Erected by Sahil Varman, in memory
of his daughter Champavati.
•Situated in a large open space with no
flooring.
•Shikhara style temple, elaborate stone
carving and wooden chhatris.
•Priests reside in the temple, while
Mandapa is in a broken state and
resides cows.

CHAMPAWATI TEMPLE

Overlooking the city of chamba
view
CHAMUNDA
DEVI TEMPLE
•Under the protection of ASI.
•Located on the spur of a hill overlooking town to
its south-east. •One of the oldest in Chamba,
behind main temple is a small Shiva temple.
•Constructed on a raised platform, which in turns
stands on a chabuttara.
•Flight of steps from chabutra lead upto the
temple.
•Ridge of slate stones rests on deodar wood planks
and rafters.
•Load of roof transferred to carved solid wood lintel
which transfers to stone pillars.
plan
HARI RAI TEMPLE
•Under the protection of ASI.
•North west corner of the main Chowgan.
•Devoted to Vishnu and made in 11 century AD by Salavahana.
•Shikhar type temple built on a raised platform. The shikhar is made up of finely carved stone

plan
view
RAJA BHURI SINGH
MUSEUM
• Bhuri singh museum is situated in the heart of Chamba town

• Raja Bhuri Singh, the ruler of the erstwhile Chamba state, gifted his inherited art
collection and Dr. P. H. Vogel imparted his invaluable services for setting up the Museum

• The art, craft and cultural heritage of Chamba have been preserved in the museum.

• Wood was widely used for the architectural and sculptural art in this area. So, ornate
and beautifully carved doors, window frames, balconies, carved panels, brackets, pillars
are showcased.

View of the museum

 Chhatrari Village
• Chhatrari is 45 km from Chamba via road is this famous village of Chhattrari. The village is
inhabited mostly by the Gaddies who are semi-postral lot engaged in rearing of sheep and
goats.
• This village, situated at a height of 6,000 feet (1,800 m), it is famous for its remarkable
hill-style temple dedicated to Shakti Devi.
• Chattrari has a beautiful Deodar forests in the back drop and small and ancient town ship.
• This village, situated at a height of 6,000 feet (1,800 m), it is famous for its remarkable hill-
style temple dedicated to Shakti Devi.

• The temple complex was constructed during 680 AD, the temple has specific sculpture
using wood and slate roof.

• The outer walls of Sanctum sanctorum, are painted with vegetable dyes mainly depict
Gods like Vishnu, Narsingh (The God with human body and Lion head, the avatar of Lord
Vishnu) and other goddesses.

• Every year in the month of September on the third day of Mani Mahesh Fair in Bharmour,
water from Mani Mahesh Sarovar (Lake) is brought and the idol of Shakti Mata is
performed a holy bath.
 SHAKTI DEVI TEMPLE
• King Meruverman fulfilled his vow, after defeating the enemy, by getting constructed a Shakti Devi Temple at
the height of 996m.
• It has capturing wood carvings and an attractive metallic idol of Devi, 54 inch in height, constructed by an artist
by the name of Gugga in the 8th century.
• 45 kms from Chamba via road is this famous village of Chhartrari. The village is inhabited mostly by the
Gaddies who are semi-postral lot engaged in rearing of sheep and goats.
• Its famous for its remarkable hill-style temple of Shamti Devi.
• The temple of Chhatrari is regarded as one of the holiest ones competing with well known temples of "Lakshna
Devi" at Bharmour.
• The construction of the temple is simple. It consists of a small Cell or sanctuary in which one of the rare
brasses by the master craftsman Gugga is enshrined. The walls of the temple are built of rubble masonry
alternating with beams of wood.

• The structure is surmounted by a sloping

roof of slate. The roof is supported by richly
craved wooden posts which form a VARANDAH
or circumambulatory path round the sanctum.

• The Shakti Devi temple is of interest

owning to the elaborate decoration of its
facade, ceiling and pillar.The main idol in the
temple is that Shakti.

Shakti Devi temple complex, Chhatrari

THE PANGWAL and CHURAHI
DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE

Way from Chamba to Pangi valley

 Pangi Valley
• Pangi Valley in the upper part of Chamba District is one of the most tribal areas in
Himachal Pradesh.
•This rugged and remote hidden valley is located between Pir Panjal and the Greater
Himalayan Zanskar ranges. Pangi valley is divided into Saichu, Hudan Bhatori and Sural
Bhatori valleys having an elevation ranging from 2,100 m to 3,400 m above sea level.
•Pangi is 173 km from Chamba via Sach Pass which is situated at an altitude of 14,500 feet
(4,400 m). Also known as Trekkers Paradise.
•Pangi Valley offers spectacular scenic beauty with drastic road conditions. Pangi valley is
mostly inhabited by Hindus with a little population of Buddhists .
•These people are called Pangwals and Bhotis.
 Villages in Pangi

 140 kilometres away from chamba, the

district headquarters of the district of that
name, is the village Kilar in Pangi or
Chandrabhaga( the chenab ) valley.
 This multicaste village comprises of different
mohollas or 4 peripheral hamlets-
• KULPHA (for Brahmins)
• PARMAS (for Rajput)
• THAMOH (for Arya)
• MALET (for Lohaar)
Which converge at the chowki (the central post)
administrative headquarters of Pangi.
 The pangwals have evolved a typical lifestyle
and belief system centred on the worship of
serpents
 Dehant Nag is a very powerful god of this
valley. He has a small but beautiful wooden
temple at Kilar.

The wooden temple of Dehant Nag at Kilar

 House planning:-
•The houses in Pangi Valley are generally double storeyed with a single large
multipurpose room on each floor.
•In this room the food is cooked and the family lives. It also acts like a store for grains.
•An additional accomodation is provided on the ground floor for the livestock.
•The outer structural walls of the ground floor have not been raised to support the
roofs of first floor, but independent walls to support the heavy mud roofs have been
built on the first floor.
•The load bearing structures were taken upto 2 storey height. No staircases were
provided from the ground to upper floor and and flagstones are laid on steps along the
mountain slope on one side of the building to serve the purpose.
•The pangwals did not stick to one arrangement round the year. They live on the first
floor only for the brief summer .
•To protect themselves from the harsh winters, the family shifts to the ground floor and
live with their livestock.

Construction:-
•The pangwals locally arrange most of the material, such as stone, wood , birch- bark,
kangasi grass , etc, for constructing a house.
• the foundation is taken to a depth of about a metre. Then hand filling is done till 30cm
above the ground and then the masonry work starts.
Present conditions

• Lack of availability of wood and natural resources.

• Diminishing traditional building craftsmenship.
• Rapid introduction of modern building material.
• Decreasing value of heritage and local traditions.
• No Seismic resistance check for new buildings.
Refrences

www.chambaheritage.net, www.google.com, www.wikipedia.org, www.triphills.com,

www.hillstationsofindia.com, Himalayan Traditional Architecture by O.C Handa,,Panorama of
Himalayan Architecture – O.C. Handa.,www.imsharma.com,Discover Dalhousie, Chamba,
Bharmaur,www.chambaheritage.net
www.Wikipedia.org, www.mapsofindia.com,www.maps.google.com, Vernacular built form of
Himachal Pradesh - Matra
Thank you