KHAT-KHUNI ARCHITECT

---

 Over time, Himachal Pradesh has witnessed the migration of diverse communities from various parts of the country. The Khasas of the Aryan dynasty settled in the mid-mountain regions of the Himalayas, while the Mongolians migrated from the northeast and established themselves in the north. Indo-Aryans from the southern plains also sought refuge here between the 13th and 16th centuries during the Muslim invasions. This influx of different people and cultures has had a significant impact on the architecture of the region, leading to a rich diversity of styles and motifs. While most of the residents follow the Hindu faith, deities are typically placed in temples, adjacent to grain storage. 

 The climatic conditions of Himachal Pradesh are highly diverse and depend on the elevation. At lower elevations, the region experiences semi-tropical summers and semi-arctic winters, while the upper elevations are characterized by a colder, alpine climate. The state's winter capital, Dharamsala, receives heavy rainfall, whereas other areas like Lahaul and Spiti are cold and almost arid. The region experiences three distinct seasons: summer, winter, and rainy season. Summer, which lasts from mid-April until the end of June, can be very hot in most parts of the state, except in the alpine zone where the temperatures are relatively mild, with an average temperature ranging from 28 to 32 °C (82 to 90 °F). Winter, which lasts from late November until mid-March, brings snowfall in the alpine tracts, generally above 2,200 metres (7,218 ft) in the higher and trans-Himalayan region. 

This ancient method of constructing temples is still prevalent in the heart of the Himalayas. This practice is deeply intertwined with the environment and cultural traditions of the region, resulting in a building style that responds to the forbidding landscape, harsh climate, and availability of local materials and tools. The kath-kuni technique has been developed over many generations, demonstrating a profound understanding of building science to withstand the frequent seismic tremors that rock the Himachal landscape.

The term kath-kuni is a combination of two local terms: kath and kuni. The word kath is a dialectal variation of the Sanskrit word kashtth, which means wood, and kuni is again a dialectical variation of the Sanskrit word kona, that is, an angle or a corner. As the name implies, the kath-kuni wall features wood only at its corners and angles. This technique exhibits several variations from region to region and is known as kath-kona, kath-kikanni, koti banal in Uttarakhand, and so on, as documented in the book "Matra-ways of measuring vernacular built forms of Himachal Pradesh" by Jay Thakkar and Skye Morrison in 2008.

Kath-khuni construction is a prevalent technique used for buildings of various sizes, ranging from grand darbargadhs and kots to intricate temples, modest homes, and small stand-alone structures such as granaries, in the Himalayan region. The distinctive feature of this technique is its layered interlocking of wood and stone, topped with slate roofs, which make it easy to identify. This method relies on a restricted selection of materials, which in turn has given rise to a unique aesthetic of contrasting hard and soft materials, cold and warm colors, and rough and smooth textures. 

 The adept craftsmen, predominantly native inhabitants, possess exceptional skills in woodwork. These techniques have been passed down through generations, refined to the point where the wooden carvings seem machine-etched. The precision and attention to detail of these artisans are remarkable. The primary materials employed in the construction process are stone and wood, with wood being the most plentiful resource. The wood of the Cedrus Deodara tree, an indigenous species to the Western Himalayas and one of the sturdiest Indian conifers, is utilized. The straight and elongated veins of these trees enable them to grow as tall as a modern-day building. Its inherent durability and strength make it an ideal material for constructing columns and roofs of most structures. All materials used in the process are readily available locally, making the cost of procurement considerably lower compared to other materials. 

In Himachal, houses are commonly two or three stories tall, whereas temples can soar much higher with towering structures up to seven stories. As one ascends higher, the level of intricate detailing and woodwork amplifies, since the upper floors are usually occupied by families, while the lower ones serve as shelter for cattle and their fodder. To create the foundation of these structures, large, unwieldy stones are employed. Whenever possible, a pit is excavated to accommodate these enormous rocks, which are stacked until the building's plinth is established. The plinth, purposefully elevated to keep water and snow at bay, is succeeded by the construction of a double-skin wall. This entails alternating courses of dry stone masonry and wood with no cementing mortar. Two parallel wooden beams are laid longitudinally with a gap between them, filled with loose infill material, and the external and internal walls are held together by cross braces or dovetails called maanvi. This layered construction of wood and stone is especially visible at the wall's corners and represents a defining characteristic of kath-khuni houses. As the walls rise, the stone courses decrease and the wooden sections increase. The sturdier stone base supports the lighter wooden framework in the upper levels. For internal walls, the surface is typically covered with mud plaster.