Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
Documentos de Cultura
INDIAN ARCHITECTURE
AASTHA TALWAR
HISTORY
• The fort & town of JAISALMER was founded by Maharawal Jaisal in the
year 1156 AD after having shifted his capital from Ludharva (18 Kms
away from Jaisalmer) to a safer place.
• The ruling family of the erstwhile Jaisalmer State belongs to Bhati Clan
of Yadu Rajputs of Chandrawasnshi (Lunar) race who claim descent
from Lord Krishna,the defied hero who ruled at Dwarka.
• The historical origin of Bahttis can be inferred from the couplet which
says that the Yadu Rajputs ruled and constructed Forts at
Kashi,Mathura, Pragvad, Gajni,Bhatner,Digam,Dirwal,Lodurva and ninth
in Jaisalmer.
• Jaisalmer was merged into the state of Rajasthan, there was no
important change in the area of the state.
• On October 6,1949,the region was given the status of an independent
district in Jodhpur division.
INTRODUCTION
• Set in the arid plains of western Rajasthan, in the midst of the vast
Thar desert, the city of Jaisalmer is a living fortress, perhaps the
only one of its kind in India.
• There are many spectacular forts in India, particularly in Rajasthan,
reflecting a martial history of which the local people are self
consciously proud.
• These forts have tremendous tourist potential, and proposals are
afoot to convert some into ‘heritage hotels’ or museums.
• To the visitor, almost every nook and corner of this richly crafted
town in the midst of the desert is fascinating, because a medieval
aura is still palpable in the streets, architecture and the traditional
society of Jaisalmer.
• Today this town consists of two major components:
The fortified upper citadel, elevated on a ridge, with more: than
400 houses, groups of temples and a palace complex,
the lower town, also fortified, set on the north-eastern slopes of the
ridge in the wind shadow of the citadel.
CLIMATE & LOCATION
Longitude 75°55'E
Latitude 26°55'N
The average rainfall is only 16.4 cms as against the state average of
57.51 cms.
SOCIO-CULTURAL /LIFE STYLE
OF PEOPLE
• Jaisalmer district is bestowed with art,
architecture, culture and traditions full of
color and music and thereby attracting
hordes of Domestic and foreign tourists.
FLORA
1. Khezada, Bavla, Lora, Rohida, Van, Phog, Kumbhar, Jal, Neem, Babul
and many other trees are to be found among sparse vegetation.
2. Orchards are luxury and can be seen occasionally in a very rare sport.
Grass-beds or lawns are never seen anywhere.
FESTIVAL OF JAISALMER
From the city, the annual sand dunes
festival is set up an hour’s drive into
the desert towards the southwest.
2. It has festooned the city with marvellous temples, especially the temples
dedicated to 23rd Tirthankara, Parshva and the 16th Tirthankara, Shantinath
which all counts for the beauty of the Jaisalmer.
• It is a city within a city. The inner city is more protected with a stronger wall and is
set on top of a hill about 100 meters higher than the surrounding area. The city is
triangular in shape due to the shape of the hill on which it is built.
• The Royal Palace with the Royal Square forms the nucleus of Jaisalmer.
The market square with its bazaar structures in the lower city and the Royal Square
with the temples holds the upper city together. Streets act as linkages, activity and
interaction spaces.
TOWN LAYOUT
• Narrow winding streets with
densely built construction on
both sides.
• All Major streets were oriented
in the East-West direction at
right angles to the direction of
dust storms.
• The height of the building
compared to the width of streets
is large to create shaded cool
environment for the pedestrians
and other social activities on the
streets.
A street
showing
additions
and
Alterations
in Jaisalmer
A typical cobbled street in Jaisalmer
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE IN
JAISALMER
DESIGN: Jaisalmer fort is a traditional
settlement, not exactly a vernacular
settlements. The design layout shows
a network of space in which :
HIERARCHY OF SIZE: When the space
dominates in architectural design by being
significantly different in size from all other HIERARCHY
elements, dominance by size of elements Exceptional size -dominance seen by
such as the size of the space .form in design.
"C-Royal Square" A unique shape-visually dominant
HIERARCHY OF SHAPE: Visually and importatnt shape of the space
dominant by the shape from other /form in design.
elements in composition. A discreet
contrast in shape is critical.
RHYTHM: Patterened reoccurrence of
elements in design such as Granary areas
in the design.
Repetation as a dense organization
of repetitive pillars.
Generation of form in space is
affect of opening these
horizontal and vertical
elements in space.It depends
on size,number and location of
openings.
The heat inside of the building is controlled by the use of textures in Jaisalmer. This is
organized at three levels.
1. At the town scale the buildings are of unequal height with parapets and high
walls, creating uneven sky lines and desired shading of each other.
2. Secondly, the building facades have large number of projections like jharokhas
and chajjas which provide shade to the facades.
3. Thirdly, the front part of the facade which remains exposed are controlled by
creating deeply carved patterns. Use of such devices minimizes the heat gain by
providing shading due to texture.