As urbanisation continues to take over all planes of the Indian society and overpopulation casts its dark shadow over this country, we seem to lose a lot from the aesthetic nerve of this land. A steep decline in the variety of houses we saw around India at the beginning of the 21st century is one such loss.
With the colonial rule, our buildings started to have a different look. Several British architects were in charge of designing the houses for the employees of East India Company. The name Bungalow was derived from ‘a house in the Bengali style.’ This style was developed and used widely by the English East India Company officers. A lessor known Architect John Taylor made the first Bungalow in 1868 in Kent UK. Very soon this became the standard style of house for the English managers in all the plantations in Bengal, Kerala and Assam.
A classical Bungalow architecture shows a single story house with slanding roof with long verandas. It will be built within a sprawling compound with trees covering the house, giving it exclusiveness and privacy. The Bungalows also had a fairly good lawn and garden in front and around for the occupants to watch and enjoy from the veranda. Built with laterite stones or mud bricks , they also had native mud floor tiles to keep the house cool yet attractive. Adding to this is the slanding roof protecting the house and specially the veranda from sun, making it a very inviting place. The tiled roof and wooden ceiling add to the cool ambiance of the house.
In the post colonial era, the Bunglows merged with the aesthetics and psyche of the Indian society. This changed architectural idea influenced many traditional house designs in the Southern state of Kerala, where it evolved into a beautiful Indo European design.
Achadipura is one such home. Built in early 1930s it offers the same comforts of serene ambience, where the mind and soul find deep relaxation . While the walkways invite footfalls for measured walks
or jogging, the veranda is a cool place to spread the Yoga mat. Come, after that sip your green tea or fruit juice and stretch with your favourite read.
You can stay at Achadipura Homestay and experience the beauty of this bungalow and its surroundings. Contact us for more details. Welcome!