BHUNGA HOUSES

GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY

● Bhunga houses are found in Kutch region of Gujarat state of West India, bounded on the North by Pakistan.
● It is largely barren except for a fertile band along the Gulf of kutch in the Arabian Sea.
● Kutch has many rivers, they are small and do not have much water. Those flowing in the north disappear in the
desert, while those flowing in other directions join the sea. The Khari flowing by Bhuj meets the desert and the Magh
and the Tara empty their waters in the Gulf of Cambay. Rudramata has been bounded for irrigation, providing the
only irrigation project in Kutch
● Sedimentary rocks ranging in age from Jurassic to Eocene age cover Kutch region.
● These sediments have a zone of Deccan trap volcanics sandwiched between Jurassic rocks of the northern part and
Eocene sedimentaries in the south towards the coast.
● Limestones, shales and sandstones are the most common rocks.
How do Bhunga houses survive Earthquakes ?

Corners are the weaker parts against lateral forces of an earthquake. since there are no corners in Bhunga, it
makes the structure more stable in earthquake.
Earthquake imparts lateral forces on the structure. Due to the circular plan of a bhunga, one half part of
Bhunga always reacts as an arch against the forces applied from any direction that the earthquake waves hit
the structure.. Thus the bhunga uses maximum advantage against lateral forces of an earthquake.

Materials used in construction of Bhunga Houses

Materials of the Bhunga are easily. available in the environment of Banni region. The Authentic materials used
were Chikani Matti (clay) and cow/ camel/horse dung for the walls and flooring. Gando Bawado (Babul) tree,
Vaas (Bamboo) is used for the roof. The construction of Bhunga cost nothing in the past, as they had no
money.
● BUILT OF BHUNGA HOUSES AND CLIMATE

The climate of the district is very dry and hot during the summer (temperature can exceed 45°C) and cold during the winter
(temperature can drop to 0°C). The monsoon in the district is accompanied by gusty winds. It receives scanty rainfall during
monsoons (less than 100mm)

● The mud walls of the bhungas are thick and thus the surface is less susceptible to heat. The small
openings keep the room cool in the searing Kutch summers and warm in harsh winters.
● Thick mud walls along with Lipan work are less conductive of heat and makes the room
comfortable even while the temperature outside in summer is above 46 degree centigrade and in
winter drops to 2 degrees. It remains a comfort zone for infants.
● The overhanging roof of a bhunga comes quite low. It thus casts shadows on the walls and protects
from direct sunlight.
● A thatched roof is a weak conductor of heat and adds to the thermal comfort.
● Mud and mirror work on the outer surface of the bhunga acts as an insulator by reflecting heat.
● For the purpose of cross-ventilation, windows are set at a lower level in the circular wall.
● Thorny bushes envelop the settlement and act as fence or protective shield against the hot winds
and dust storms.
● Thorny bushes envelop the settlement and act as fence or protective shield against the hot winds
and dust storms.
CONSTRUCTION OF BHUNGA HOUSES :
Bhunga is circular in plan having an inner diameter typically between 3m to 6m, generally has
only three openings one door and two small windows. Bhungas are connected through plinths.
Cluster of Bhunga is built on one plinth usually the cluster contains settlements of one whole
family.
Process:
1) Formation of Walls
● A mixture of Chikni matti (Clay) and cow dung with little. water is mixed, a stiff mud is made. A
large lump is roughly moulded into the shape of a huge egg.
● A row of these mud eggs are laid neatly. side by side and pressured together.
● Another layer is laid on the top, the sides. are smoothenned so that the holes and cracks
disappear.
● Openings of doors and windows are made. Materials used for doors and windows are locally
available wood
● The walls are plastered with the mixture of Cow dung and water called lippan. The women of the
house do this process.
● The mixture for the plaster layer, locally called gobar Lipan, is made with cow dung and local mud.
Water is added to improve its workability.
● A first layer is applied on the outer surface of the wall, and smoothed using hands. It takes about a
day to complete it, and then another layer is applied on the inner surface.
● These inner and outer layers are alternated, up to seven layers applied on both surfaces of the
wall.
● The last layer of Lipan is done using earth sourced from Banni and cow dung.
2). Formation of Roofs :

Adi (the horizontal beam) is placed on the wall, perpendicular to the door's axis. The ends
of the beam slightly rest on the raised portion of the wall and fixed with pegs.

Patli (the vertical kingpost) rest on the middle of the adi. The Mann (cone) is fixed on the
top of the kingpost.

The vali (joist) are fixed at the top of the mann (cone) with a kathi (rope).

Khapatis (Culms of slipt bamboo) fill the span between valis (joists) and are fixed to them.

Kheep (bundle of straw) are tied to the roof structure starting from the bottom.

A rope's net is dropped from the top of the roof in order to hold the straw bundles.

The entire construction takes around 20 to 30 days. The kheep needs to be change once
in a year.
 MATTIKAAM (MUD MIRROR WORK)

MATERIALS:
● Camel dung or wild ass dung used for preparing the dough that is mixed with clay. Millet is sometimes
used as an alternative to dung as dung attracts termites.

PROCESS:
● Chikani matti and horse dung is used to prepare the dough. Now a days paper mache or saw dust is
also added as a binding agent.
● Water is added as per requirement.
● All components are mixed and kneaded in a dough called matti.
● A coil of approximately 3 to 5 mm is made.
● Coil is pinched on the wall to make the clay stick on the wall. The coil is smoothened by using wet
hands to remove cracks and merging joints.
● Mirrors are embellished on the embroidery patterns which are coated with white clay to get a pristine
white look.
● Because of use of mirrors to decorate interior and exterior of bhunga houses a single lamp is enough
to light up the house.
● Also mirrors on the outside of the wall reflects the sunlight before falling on the walls which helps in
keeping the interior relatively cooler and more comfortable.
● Mirrors enhance the light in the room by reflecting sunlight and white colour makes it look more
spacious and brighter.
● CONSTRUCTION OF OTLA (IN FRONT OF BHUNGA)

A trench 30 cm deep and 45 cm wide is dug.

Walls are raised on foundations, using cow dung plus local mud mortar, mixed with water to make the
compound workable.
Lintels and doors and window frames are inserted where necessary.
A platform-otla-is then built using rubble stone and earth, up to a height of about 45 cm.
This is completed by a thin layer of mud, called Lipan, which is applied also on the walls of the
Bhunga to protect them at the base.
The platforms are closely placed and the residual spaces between them act as pathways for
movement .
 ● Circular houses on a platform around the central street acting as a space for community
interaction. Next to the Bhunga, but never set against it,
● There is usually a small rectangular building, called chowki, which presents small variations: the
largest chowki are used as living spaces, and smaller as kitchens.
● Smaller units, about one and a half meter high, not very well shaped and devoid of roof are
● sometimes set against the Bhunga. These units are used as functional spaces for storage or
● bathrooms.
● Kutch district is inhabited by various groups and communities. One can find various nomadic,
semi nomadic and artisan groups living in Kutch.
● Gujarati Ahirs comprise a comparatively large group in Kutch.

COMMUNITIES:
➢ Rabari
➢ Jat
➢ Harijan
➢ Ahir
➢ kutchi
EVOLUTION OF BHUNGA HOUSE