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Haveli Architecture & History
Haveli Architecture & History
Haveli architecture represents a unique vernacular form of design dating back to the 1600s and
earlier, but found to have flourished in the late 18th to early 19th centuries in Gujarat and Rajasthan,
western India.
The term itself is often translated to mean ‘mansion’, and indeed Haveli architecture is described as
an elaborate domestic architecture rather than one developed for monuments. Nevertheless, havelis
are also associated with some Vaishnava temples, where devotees sought majestic ‘homes’ for their
deities.
Originally crafted by a sub-group of Sompuras (highly skilled stone-carving artisans), these edifices
are renowned for the intricacy and ingenuity of their wooden carvings.