TODA HUT

V E R N A C U L A R A R C H I T E C T U R E
 LATIN WORD VERNACULUS MEANS DOMESTIC, NATIVE, INDIGENOUS.

VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE IS A CATEGORY OF ARCHITECTURE BASED ON LOCALIZED NEEDS AND

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, AND REFLECTING LOCAL TRADITIONS.

 INDIAN VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE IS THE

INFORMAL, FUNCTIONAL ARCHITECTURE OF
STRUCTURES, OFTEN IN RURAL AREAS OF INDIA,
BUILT OF LOCAL MATERIALS AND DESIGNED TO
MEET THE NEEDS OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE.

  KACHCHA IS A BUILDING MADE OF NATURAL

MATERIALS LIKE MUD, GRASS,
BAMBOO, THATCH OR STICKS ETC.

 THE ADVANTAGE OF A KACHCHA IS THAT

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS ARE CHEAP AND
EASILY AVAILABLE AND RELATIVELY LITTLE
LABOUR IS REQUIRED.

TODA HUT
 LOCATION: NILGIRI HLLS,TAMILNADU,
INDIA.
 TRIBE: TODA, A SMALL PASTORAL
COMMUNITY.
 THE TODA HUTS, CALLED ’DOGLES’, ARE
OF AN OVAL TYPE CONSTRUCTION.
 THEY ARE BUILT OF BAMBOO FASTENED
WITH THINNER BAMBOO CANE AND ARE
THATCHED.
 USUALLY 10 FEET (3 M) HIGH, 18 FEET
(5.5 M) LONG AND 9 FEET-12FEET (2.7 M)
WIDE.
SITE PLAN:
 THE TODAS LIVE IN SMALL HAMLETS
CALLED MUNDS

 CATTLE ENCLOSURE, CALLED

HUNDI.

 THE DIARY, CALLED AS

PALIVARSH, LOCATED AT
DISTANCE FROM QUARTERS,
HOLY DAIRIES ARE BUILT TO
STORE THE BUFFALO MILK.
  A TINY ENTRANCE AT THE FRONT –
ABOUT 3 FEET (90 CM) WIDE, 3 FEET
(90 CM) TALL, THROUGH WHICH
PEOPLE MUST CRAWL TO ENTER THE
INTERIOR.
KITCHEN
REST
AREA &
STORAGE

SEATING
AREA KITCHEN

ENTRY

TYPICAL PLAN OF A TODA HUT REST AREA & STORAGE

 3M
CLAY PLATFORM
USED AS SLEEPING
PLACE THE FRONT PORTION OF THE HUT IS DECORATED
600MM WITH THE TODA ART FORMS, A KIND OF ROCK
KITCHEN MURAL PAINTING.

TYPICAL SECTION OF A TODA HUT

THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE HUT ARE USUALLY

MADE OF DRESSED STONES (MOSTLY GRANITE).
CONSTRUCTION OF TODA HUT
MATERIALS USED-BAMBOO, TIMBER, MUD, DRIED GRASS, STONE

THINNER BAMBOO CANES

(RATTAN) ARE TIED CLOSE AND
PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER OVER
THIS FRAME.

THICKER BAMBOO CANES ARE

THE TOPMOST BEAM (MOHUL PODH), IS
ARCHED TO GIVE THE HUT ITS BASIC
SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER THAN THE REST.
PENT SHAPE.
HELD IN PLACE BY ARCHES MADE OF SPLIT
BAMBOO.

STURDY BAMBOO POLES, ABOUT 9 TO 11

ARE PLACED ON THE FRONT AND REAR
FAÇADE AND SPAN THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF
THE HOUSE.
DRIED GRASS IS STACKED
OVER THIS AS THATCH.

HORIZONATALLY PLACED POLES ARE

USED TO CLOSE THE FRAME AND SERVE
AS THE SUPPORT OF THE THATCH
BIBLIOGRAPHY
WWW.WIKIPEDIA.COM
WWW.NATURALBUILDINGBLOG.COM/TODA_HUTS
WWW.THEHINDU.COM
WWW.WESTERNGHATS-PAIMOHAN.BLOGSPOT.IN
THE TODAS – COMPILED BY JAMUNA RAJU
THANK YOU