TRADITIONAL DWELLINGS OF MAHARASHTRA
- Malika Vaidya
- Mar 21, 2021
- 4 min read
The state of Maharashtra has to offer a range of architectural wonders, from the earliest form of dwellings – caves to the heavily fortified forts of the Maratha dynasty. The article provides insight into the caves and rock cut architecture of the state and the Wada architecture with its clean and defined form pioneered by the Peshwa rulers.
Cave Architecture
Buddhist monks were some of the early settlers in the caves during the 2nd century BC. They found these caves on the hillsides in search of a peaceful and serene environment for meditation. These caves were either temples- Chaityas or monasteries- Viharas. The Karla caves located near Lonavala served as Buddhist monasteries during the 2nd -5th century BC.
The famous Ajanta Caves are approximately 30 rock cut cave monuments which also date back to 2nd century BC and are declared as a World Heritage Site. The paintings and sculptures are one of the finest surviving examples of Buddhist religious art with the intricate carvings of the Jataka tales being the major attraction.
Along with the Ajanta caves, the Ellora rock cut caves of Aurangabad are also famous. These caves date back to the 5th century and are a collection of 34 rock cut cave temples which feature Hindu, Jain and Buddhist monuments and artwork. Out of the 34 caves, 12 are Buddhist caves, 17 are Hindu and 5 are Jain caves and depict the deities and mythologies of the respective religion. They are also an ode to the religious and cultural harmony that existed in ancient India. One of the most famous caves is cave 16, which features the largest monolithic rock excavation in the world, the Kailash Temple which is a chariot shaped monument dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple also features sculptures depicting gods and goddesses and epics from Hindu mythologies.
Some of the other caves found in Maharashtra are the Elephanta caves and the 12 Buddhist rock cut shrines of Aurangabad caves. The Elephanta caves are located near Mumbai which are a collection of Hindu rock cut caves and a few Buddhist caves. They are famous for the sculptures of Shiva and depiction of Shaivism.
Wada Architecture
The concept of a Marathi house existed through centuries, but a tangible form of what is now known as a Marathi house took form during the rule of Peshwas from the late 17th century till 1800s. Architecture flourished under the socio-political, economic and cultural stability provided during the reign of Marathas. And, the synthesis of this was the Wada Architecture. Deriving from the word ‘Vata’, which means a plot/piece of land, Wadas were typically two to three storied mansions with rooms looking inwards into a courtyard/s.
Settlements of Wadas were built around Peshwa residences. The land was divided into wards called Peths and each Peth consisted of narrow streets and roads with rectangular plots housing the Wada. Though the Wadas shared the same basic elements and characteristics, these houses varied in size and complexity depending on the socio-economic status of the family that resided in it.
A wada was planned and built around a courtyard with the intention of providing light and ventilation to the interiors of the house which had thick walls and few openings. They were built on a square grid pattern and were planned on a modular system. A typical Wada had two courtyards, an outer courtyard called Phadacha Chowk (‘Phad’ meaning office in Marathi) and an inner private courtyard called Khasgicha Chowk. The Phadacha Chowk was at the front or the entrance and was used for office and administrative purposes. The Khasgicha chowk was at the rear side and was used for private and domestic purposes.
A place for the guards called Devadi was allotted at the extreme front of the wada on either side of the entrance. Immediately inside the main gate were two large open verandas called Osari, abutting the sides of the courtyard. Visitors of respected status were seated in this area. Verandas on either side of the courtyards were called Sopas with the Sopa around the Phadacha Chowk called Kacheriche sope, which was used by accountants and clerks. The sopa around the inner courtyard was divided and used for various functions like the kitchen – called Mudpak Khana, the dining hall – Pangticha sopa and the dressing and bathing area. The veranda directly opposite the main entrance was called an Otti and was used by the owner as a sit out space. A large room situated between the two courtyards was called the Majghar, and was used as a private drawing room.
The upper floor consisted of halls and private quarters of the family which were ornately decorated with paintings, chandeliers and brass lamps. The Diwankhanas were beautifully decorated halls which were used for different purposes by the residents. They were decorated with central rows of polished wooden pillars called Surudar Khamb and cusped arches known as Mahirapi Kamani. The floors were covered with carpets and the rooms were ventilated by decorative windows which had these small Mahirapi kamani. There were two types of Diwankhanas – the darbar diwankhana, which was used for official meetings and the Khasgicha diwankhana, which was meant for family gatherings and private functions.
Ornamentation on the external façade was done with fine surface plastering, decorative windows, Mahirapi arches and exposed brick masonry walls. Some wadas also sported a Baradwari (watch tower) on the topost floor. The tradition of building imposing mansions, enclosed within fortified walls was started by Peshwa Bajirao when he built the grand Shaniwarwada in Pune. This wada established and concreted the Peshwa style of Maratha architecture which then spread across the territory of Marathas.
The Chawl system seen in the metropolitan context of Mumbai, is a scaled down and urban adaptation for community living of the wada typology where a courtyard is flanked by one room flats on all four sides.
Apart from the residential and religious dwellings in the state, another important form of architecture is part of the identity of Maharashtra and Maratha style of architecture- Fort Architecture.
Stay tuned for the next article as we explore the majestic and varied Fort architecture of Maharashtra.
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