Haveli

, 3rd century BCE The term haveli originates from Arabic word hawali, meaning "partition" or "private space", term which was popularized under Mughal Empire. During the medieval period, the term haveli was also applied by some Vaishnava sects to refer to their temples in Gujarat under the Mughal Empire and Rajputana kingdoms. The generic term haveli eventually came to be identified with townhouses and mansions of the merchant class. ==Characteristics==

Architecture Courtyards are a common feature of traditional houses found on the Indian subcontinent, with early examples dating back to the Neolithic period, whether mansions or farmhouses. However, the architecture of these structures was very different from the traditional havelis developed under Muslim rule, which blended local and Islamic traditions. Traditional homes on the Indian subcontinent are built around a courtyard, and all family activities revolved around this chowk or courtyard. Additionally, the courtyard serves as a lightwell and helps ventilate the house in the hot and dry climates of the region. All these elements join to form an enclosure and give the chowk a composed, secured feel. The architectural form of havelis has evolved in response to the climate, lifestyle, and availability of material. In hot climates where cooling is a necessity, buildings with internal courtyards for airflow and cooling were considered the most appropriate; in rainy places the houses were built to be kept dry from humid air. It provided shade while also allowing light inside. The arcade along the court, or the high wall around it, kept the interiors cool. Many of the havelis of India and Pakistan were influenced by Rajasthani architecture. They usually contain a courtyard, often with a fountain in the center. The old cities of Agra, Lucknow, Jaisalmer and Delhi in India and Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Hyderabad in Pakistan have many fine examples of Rajasthani-style havelis. Usage ; Sociocultural aspects: The chowk or courtyard served as the centre for various ceremonies and rituals. The sacred tulsi plant was placed here and worshipped daily to bring prosperity to the house. ; Security and privacy: The chowk, at times, separated areas for men and women, and provided them with privacy. ; Climate: Using open space in the building design to respond to the local climate, air movement caused by temperature differences assists in the natural ventilation of the building. ; Different activities at different times: In the daytime, the court was used mostly by women to carry out their work and interact with other women in a private open space. Mansions of the merchant class often had more than one courtyard. ; Articulation of space: In Mor chowk, part of the City Palace complex in Udaipur, there is the concept of the courtyard as a dancing hall. Similarly, in havelis, a courtyard has several functions, commonly used for weddings and festive occasions. ; Materials: Bricks, sandstone, marble, wood, plaster, and granite are commonly used materials. Decorative aspects are influenced by various local cultures and traditions. == Notable havelis by country ==

India In Welcome of Buddha - ACCN 34-2542 - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-24 5941.JPG|Relief depicting early form of Jharokha windows, 1st century CE Haveli in Phalodi, Rajasthan.jpg|A haveli in Phalodi, Rajputana Shahpura Haveli (Shekhawati).jpg|Badal Mahal at Shahpura Haveli, Shahpura, Rajputana In the northern part of India, havelis for Lord Krishna with huge mansion-like constructions are prevalent. These havelis are noted for their frescoes depicting images of gods, goddesses, animals, scenes from the British colonization, and the life stories of Lords Rama and Krishna. The music here was known as Haveli Sangeet. Later on, these temple architectures and frescoes were imitated while building huge individual mansions and now the word is popularly associated with the mansions themselves. Between 1830 and 1930, Marwaris erected buildings in their homeland Shekhawati and Marwar. These buildings were called havelis. The Marwaris commissioned artists to paint those buildings, which were heavily influenced by the Mughal architecture. Nangal Sirohi in Mahendragarh district, 130 km from Delhi, is popular for its havelis and architecture within NCR. Ahirwati The Ahirwati area of Haryana state also has big Havelis, such as the Rewari Rao Tej Singh Haveli, Rao Sawai Singh Haveli etc. The towns and villages of Ahirwal are as well famous for the embellished frescoes on the walls of their grandiose havelis depicting the Lord Krishna which was developed in late 17 Century to the point of still it will take time to becoming popular tourist attractions. In Rewari, the frescoes on Solahrahi and Tej Sarovar are very different from Shekhawati Frescoes. Shekhawati The typical havelis in Shekhawati in Rajasthan state incorporated two courtyards — an outer one for the men which served as an extended threshold, and the inner one, the domain of the women. The largest havelis could have up to three or four courtyards and were two to three stories high. Most of the havelis are empty nowadays or are maintained by a watchman, while others have been converted into hotels and tourist attractions. The towns and villages of Shekhawati are famous for the embellished frescoes on the walls of their grandiose havelis, to the point of becoming popular tourist attractions. Shekhawati has one of the highest numbers of Havelis with 3 districts, Jhunjhunu, Sikar and Churu, alone having over 662 havelis. For the conservation, the Government of Rajasthan, has prepared the "Rajasthan Heritage Conservation Bill, 2025" and the Government of India also had undertaken projects costing Rs 124.13 crore. Statistics on havelis of Shekhawati (c. 2025): The Patwon Ji ki Haveli was the first erected in Jaisalmer. It is not a single haveli but a cluster of five small havelis. The first in the row is the most popular, and is also known as Kothari's Patwa Haveli. Commissioned and constructed in the year 1805 by Guman Chand Patwa, then a rich trader of jewellery and fine brocades, it is the biggest and the most ostentatious of the five. Patwa was a rich man and a renowned trader of his time and he could afford and thus order the construction of separate stories for each of his five sons. These were completed in a span of 50 years. All five houses were constructed in the first 60 years of the 19th century. Patwon Ji Ki is renowned for its ornate wall paintings, intricate yellow sandstone-carved jharokhas (balconies), gateways and archways. Although the building itself is made from yellow sandstone, the main gateway is brown. Another notable haveli is Seth ji ri Haveli in Udaipur city; now known as Shree Jagdish Mahal, it is 250 years old. Pakistan File:Omar Hayat Mahal.jpg|The Omar Hayat Mahal in Chiniot, Pakistan File:Nau Nihal Singh's haveli, now Victoria Girls High School, Lahore.jpg|The Haveli of Nau Nihal Singh is a Sikh-era haveli in Lahore. A number of historically and architecturally significant havelis survive in Pakistan, most of which are situated in the Punjab province. The most significant in Lahore, the Haveli of Nau Nihal Singh, dates from the Sikh era of the mid-19th century, and is considered to be one of the finest examples of Sikh architecture in Lahore. It is the only Sikh-era haveli that preserves its original ornamentation and architecture. Some historically and architecturally significant havelis in Pakistan include: • Kapoor Haveli in Peshawar • Umar Hayat Haveli in Chiniot • Sethi Haveli in Peshawar • Dina Nath Haveli in Lahore • Bedi Haveli in Rawalpindi • Fakir Khana Haveli in Lahore • Rang Mahal Haveli in Lahore • Barood Khana Haveli in Lahore • Lal Haveli in Rawalpindi • Nau Nihal Singh Haveli in Lahore • Sujan Singh Haveli in Rawalpindi • Asif Jah Haveli in Lahore • Man Singh Haveli in Jhelum • Hari Singh Nalwa Haveli in Chakwal • Choona Mandi Haveli in Lahore • Haveli Awais Meer in Walled city Lahore • Haveli Rani Jindan at the Lahore Fort in Lahore • Haveli Wajid Ali Shah in Lahore • Kharak Singh Haveli at the Lahore Fort in Lahore • Mubarak Haveli in Lahore • Saad Manzil in Kamalia • Janjua Haveli in Malowal, Gujrat • Gakhri Haveli in Gujrat • Haveli Mubashar Ali Janjua in Matore, Kahuta, Rawalpindi • Datar Kaur Haveli at the Sheikhupura Fort in Sheikhupura • Havelis of the Mann Sardars of Mughalchak in Mananwala, Sheikhupura == See also ==