Indigenous Architecture and Building Practices in Himachal Pradesh, India

Sarahan-Chopal
Overview
Location and Approach
Sarahan is one of the most beautiful villages
in Chopal. It is situated at an altitude of 2165
above sea level on the Chopal-Sarahan road.
Sarahan is located 26 kilometers from Chopal
and 136 kilometers from Shimla.
Brief about the village
It is a picturesque village set ... against the
backdrop of magnicent deodar trees and [...]
conical shaped Chur peak [which is] one of the
noblest second-rate mountains in the world.
1
The village has many beautiful wooden houses
constructed in traditional stone-and-wood katth
-kuni architecture typical of the region with roofs
mostly covered in metal sheets or slate stones.

Landmarks
Bijjat Maharaj Temple
Bijjat Devta is a chief deity of Hambhal Valley in
Chaupal , Sirmour and Chakrata in Uttarakhand.
Bijjat Devta is a little brother of Shirgul Maharaj.
Twin Temple of Bijjat Maharaj is a most famous
Temple in Himachal. Bijjat Devta is known as
God Of Lightning. Bijjat Maharaj has 2100 small
and big temples. Bijjat Maharaj is the richest
Devta of Himachal Pradesh [...] approximately
property is 355 crore.
2
References
1
Mian Goverdhan Singh, Wooden Temples
of Himachal Pradesh. M.L Gidwani, Indus
Publishing Company, 1999, P. 131-133
2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:BIJ J AT_
MAHARAJ _TEMPLE

Altitude: 2165 meters
Map
Row of wooden houses in the valley Map showing morphology and settlement pattern of Sarahan spread over a vast landscape and surrounded by mountains
Bijjat Devta Temple
Green landscape, Sarahan Rugged mountainous landscape of Sarahan
Indigenous Architecture and Building Practices in Himachal Pradesh, India
Sarahan
Temple and Details
Bijjat Devta Temple, Sarahan
(Chopal) (Shimla)
References
1
Mian Goverdhan Singh, Wooden Temples
of Himachal Pradesh. M.L Gidwani, Indus
Publishing Company, 1999, P. 131-133

People and interactions
J ay Lal Vishwakarma (Sarahan)
The temple complex has two parallel buildings,
built around a large square courtyard which is
open to the sky. In order to ensure strength and
stability to the structure, the plinth portion has
been made of solid stone with massive deodar
beams laid horizontally at wide intervals. The
upper part consists of alternating layers of stones
and timber. The roong is in usual composite
gable-pent type, the lower part of the roof being
in pent style and the upper one in the gable type.
The eaves of the roof are covered with planks.
To give an effective decoration 20 centimeter
long, beautifully carved wooden fringes have
been hung along the lower border of the plank,
called jhalar and also beneath the verandahs of
the temple by means of hooks and eaves. They
swing and rattle in the wind.
A wide verandah runs along three sides behind
which rooms are provided. The fourth side, which
forms the faade, is dominated by two towering
structures separated by a low lying structure, in
which the main gate for the complex is provided.
The entire complex is double-storeyed except
the tall towers, which rise almost four times
higher.
The Bijjat Devta complex has apparently
undergone repeated and considerable
restorations and modications since its
foundation, yet the original square layout is fully
intact. Strangely enough, the main shrine of Bijat
Devta now exists on the right tower beside the
main gate.
The temple displays plenty of ne as well
as massive works. The temple has beautiful
wooden verandah with balconies and galleries,
worked in traditional style of nail less framework,
which is characteristic of Himachal architecture.
Doors and niche-frames have profuse wood
carvings with local motifs.
1
Newly carved door panel, Bijjat Devta temple at Sarahan
Sanctumtower at left, Bijjat Maharaj Temple at Sarahan Upper level verandah runs all around the two storey complex
Carved oral fringe detail Wooden carving detail of the old
main door
Carved oral details on the panelling
Notched wooden ladder Carved door of the sanctumtower
Indigenous Architecture and Building Practices in Himachal Pradesh, India
Sarahan
House and Details
The dense forest in this part may have been the
underlined reason for extensive use of Deodar
Cedar (Cedrus deodara) tree in construction.
The tree with its qualities for being highly
structural and resistant to climate is one of the
reasons of its high use and therefore wood-
based architecture has extensively developed
in this part.
Some of the houses here are very old and are
built with the ageless deodar wood and have
sustained through time.
The houses here are two or three storey high. The
lower level is constructed in traditional katth-kuni
architecture. Stone and wood are juxtaposed
alternately and covered in mud plaster. The top
oor of the house protrudes out, supported by
wooden members resting on the wall. The lower
space is covered by the cantilevered part where
usually animals are tied outside. The walls on
the upper oor are covered in wooden panels.
The granaries in all these houses are attached
externally or to the houses but are generally
marked as a separate entity.
The upper level is the main living area and has
a separate entry. It opens into a semi covered
transition space like a balcony.
The strong stone base, a rather lighter super-
structure that is nished and panelled in ochre
wood of deodar, and topped with slate shingles.
1

An old traditional house in Sarahan House nished in mud plaster with
metal sheet roong
A typical house in Sarahan
A wooden house in Sarahan
Granary attached to the house Entrance door
A long house in Sarahan with a cow shed on the lower level
Typical house in Sarahan: dressed wood shingles of deodar used on the roof, granaries attached to the house
and the exterior spaces used for household activities like cleaning, laundering, cooking and so on.
A double storey-house in Sarahan
References
1
Mian Goverdhan Singh, Wooden Temples
of Himachal Pradesh. M.L Gidwani, Indus
Publishing Company, 1999, P. 131-133