Dogra architecture gets a revival at J&K’s Maharaj Gunj

Dogra architecture gets a revival at J&K’s Maharaj Gunj

Subject :History

Section: Art and culture

Context:

Now, Srinagar Smart City Ltd. and the Kashmir chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) have joined hands to conserve vernacular elements of Kashmiri architecture, including colonnaded walkways, decorative pilasters, and exposed moulded brickwork, in an effort to bring that past to life again.

History of Dogra Architecture:

• Architecture of a place is always tandem with climate, economy, ruler, and primarily climate. Jammu plain lies in sub-tropical region and hilly regions enjoy temperate climate. These factors played a prominent role in Jammu architecture.
• Jammu was established by Raja Jambulochan, and Bahu fort of Jammu was made by Bahulochan, about 3000 year ago according to jammu historians. When maharaja gulab Singh made the Raja of jammu, by Sikh ruler, jammu witnessed a new phase of urbanization and increase in trade, the movement of capital and people between Punjab and Jammu foothills, that gave a  new blend of architecture, between Hindu form ofarchitecture and Islamic form of architecture.
• The Raja had seen Sikh form of architecture prevalent in Punjab area, and these three distinct architectural forms were mingled and new form of dogra architecture formed, climate wise jammu plains enjoy a nexus with Punjab Sialkot Which share the same type of  geographical conditions .
• The houses formed in Jammu plains and shiwalik doons are same as Punjab house are build, these houses were made by “Nanakshahi” bricks and one thick timber was used as “ latain” and then “ballay” were used for making “Barghay”  gypsum mortarwas used, houses having courtyard  “Pasaar” , with one courtyard in middle of rooms, and with one entrance door to house.
• These were very logical for two reasons, one because at that time, joint family was the prominent culture and sharing one courtyard was common , secondly, this form of house, was very helpful against  scorching heat of summer. Still, can find such houses in Jammu and  hilly  tracts, where people still share one entrance door.

About Dogra Architecture:

• The fine example of jammu architects are mubarak mandi, bahu fort, jasrota palace, billawar palace, these all buildings were made by kings, the dogra rulers of jammu, these palaces have, “mehraab” type of door and arch shaped terraces, and with doomson the top, but Mubarak mandi domes are clear example of blend of shikhara and dome style, the sand stones and pebbles, which are found in bulk in Jammu kandi belt, are used very benevolently used for beatification.
• The mubark mandi remained a hub of Dogra culture till 1947, that shows jharokha style of balcony, which is Rajasthan architecture, the Rajput king of Jammu, studied and executed in Jammu buildings.
• Purmandal, a sacred place for Hindus as haridwar, the gulab Singh had developed and that is a place full of jammu architecture and old houses, the building made by king along the river, resembles kashi architecture along ganga.
• Krimchi temples of Udhampura blend of Jammu local architecture and Hellenistic (Greek) school of architecture, made in the 12th century, this building complex gives us a wide perception regarding the prosperity and their knowledge about the world famous architectural form.

Decline :

• The tragedy with jammu architecture started by the same dynasty which earlier boosted Jammu architecture. 
• Dogra rulers, did little to spread even, didn’t tried to save Jammu architecture, the king had spent lavishly on making  modern “Amar Mehal” which is a completely a foreign architectural form, later with signing of instrument of accession with India in 1948, the royal palaces and grants for them shrinked.
• The grandeur of Mubarak Mandi palace diminished, Jasrotra palace is now in ruins, its buildings are now in pathetic cum sympathetic condition. Buildings are a testimony of a culture but these buildings are now sunk to dirt.
• The earlier form of houses are  transformed into big mansions, and with flat terraces, and suitable for small and nuclear families.

Jammu and its Dogriat is subjugated by the bully Punjabi culture, and the lack of belongingness to its own glorious heritage, lead to this condition, where have very little to conserve and a lot  to memories and enduring hope of reviving Dogra architect .