|
|
Place to See >>
Bikaner Havelies
 Carvings
find best expression in Bikaneri havelies. Havelies are
marvels in home architecture. Such havelies or
residential houses do not exist anywhere in the world.
They are the pride of Bikaner, says great author and
philosopher, Aldous Huxley. They are situated in narrow
lanes in the old city. Splendid abodes can be seen in
the midst of streets that look serpent like and
peaceful. They are marvelous mansions made of red stone
and stand magnificently.
They stand spreading magic around. Their Jharokhas
(casements), entrances,
latticed windows, Divankhanas, Gumaharias or basements,
are exotic. The -red stone gives a look that is like a
red carpet forcing one to look and admire. The havelies
were the residence of wealthy merchants who had a fancy
for beauty and art. Nine months in a year they lived in
far off lands to earn money and then came to this city
to rest and enjoy and build havelies and live in them,
show their wealth and status, their love, fascination
for architecture and colours. The oldest haveli is
perhaps four hundred years old but most of them are
hundred years in age or around it. That is why they
indicate a pattern of their own. They charm each and
everyone who happens to see them. Their exterior is
dominated by the Jharokhas at once charming and capable
of keeping spellbound. The Jharokhas are exquisite
carvings made alive by artistic creators. They marvel in
the beauty that lies in them and not merely in
beholder's eyes. They are generally six feet long and
three feet wide proving that small is beautiful. Smaller
they are, the more beautiful they are likely to look.
They form the most
 picturesque
part of the haveli face. They also indicate the love for
nature these creators of havelies had. leaves and
flowers decorate every Jharokhas giving it an
astonishing and pleasant natural effect. Jali or stone
with small holes create unbounded beauty.
Every haveli has at least a second story. A mol or mahal
is the most beautiful and artistic portion of this part
and is normally adorned with golden work of carving .
Mahal is the symbol of status. lt is rich in carvings.
Golden carvings are the ardour of the mahal because it
is here that dancing girls used to give performances in
mahfils (parties). Some havelis have ceilings which
instantly attract the viewer, earn his appreciation,
amaze him, delight him. Every haveli consists of a
number of rooms, big and small, made for special
purposes and suitable for those purposes. |
