Dhoongas, kashmir

one of the vernacular dwelling of kashmir

1. DHOONGAS -KHASHMIR THAMANNA JAHAN AND MALAVIKA SOMAN S3

2. KASHMIR   Northern boundary of India The historical evidences of neolithic settlements in Burzahama confirm that human life in the Kashmir valley had settled very close to water indicating that the earliest inhabited areas in Kashmir were close to the world famous Dal Lake . Climate: Area =105 sq kms Altitude =1,730 m. Temperature ,Max Min Summer =29.5 C 10.6 C Winter =7.3 C -1.9 C Rainfall =52.9 cms Population =930136 (2001 Census) Best Season Throughout the year, though the winter months can be quite cold.

3. ORIGIN OF DOONGA The houseboats are used mainly by: The Dogra royal family of Kashmir were certainly not going to allow British civil servants to take up homes in Srinagar. Nor would they allow any outsiders to buy land, either for offices or sanitoria . Casting around for a place to stay, tourists and officials from British India chanced on Srinagar’s common doonga boats and started converting them to the floating comfort palaces. The earlier settlers were fishermen and hence there dwelling on the rivers was only logical and practical. Their boats which were covered by thatch roofs, were converted into the Doonga boats over passage of time. They were later also used by the great Mughal kings for excursions. 4. Surrounding mountains rose around the banks of this freshwater vastness, leaving little or no level terrain for habitation. Scarcity of level terrain In the vale compelled a large section of kashmiri society to live on water than on land.

4. TYPES OF BOAT Boats in kashmir are of various kinds . Each designed for varying velocities with a specific function assigned to them. They are made of deodar wood are mostly built in srinagar Among the different boats bahat is the largest It is used for transportation of grain, hay and other merchantise . Khuch is very large boat used for the same purpose . The shikara or pleasure boat is similarly proportioned to doonga , or dwelling boat. But it is smaller in size. The smallest, lightest and swiftest of all kashmiri boats is the tsatawar . It is able to withstand the most violent windstorms which occur frequently in kashmiri water courses.

5. CONSTRUCTION Boat building in kashmir is an ancient craft passed on from one generation of master craftsman to the next . The craftsman themselves would go for selecting suitable deodar tree. After selection they would split the entire tree in halves length ways with an axe. These halves were then trimmed to a requisite thickness and hauled behind the boat for several miles on water course, before being left in the river or lake for two to three years to season.

6. CONSTRUCTION Tree trunks of 20m in length were used to construct the sides of boat. Another three to four deodar trees would be needed for flooring and finishes on the floating base. The fabrication of boats was generally carried out on a dry flat piece of ground. When the base of boat is ready and a float, the cabin of doonga boat is built on stern part with a roof of matting, wooden shingles or match. Period of utility - 4oyears. After that it is systematically dismantled and, the condition of the planks permitting, a smaller boat is crafted from the length of timber.

7. PLAN AND ELEVATION

8. DOONGA BOAT Long, flat bottomed craft usually 55ft in length and 6ft in width. It is usually covered for more than half its length by a light wooden roof about 1.7m (55ft) high. And the roof is sloping with a ridge in the middle. Downstream it is propelled by short heart-shaped paddle. Upstream is drawn along the bank by a long to wingline . ROOF RIDGE Elevation & Plan of single deck doonga boat

9. DOONGA BOAT The interior is divided by pine planks. Their placement is determined by size of family. The front triangular space( nam ) on the deck is used as entrance. The rear is used as wash space by residents. In the case of double storied doonga , the wooden ladder to the upper deck is from inside the room.

10. EXAMPLE : DAL LAKE HOUSEBOATS The  Dal Lake Houseboats are widely associated with Srinagar and are nicknamed " floating palaces" , built according to British custom The main material used for construction is timber. They are well furnished and provides the user with all the facilities of a house.

11. DETAILS This houseboat is generally made from local cedar-wood and measure 24–38 metres (79–125 ft) in length and 3–6 metres (9.8–20 ft) in width and are graded in a similar fashion to hotels according to level of comfort . Many of them have lavishly furnished rooms, with verandas and a terrace to serve as a sun-deck or to serve evening cocktails. They are anchored individually, with interconnecting bridges providing access from one boat to the other. The kitchen-boat is annexed to the main houseboat, which also serves as residence of the boat keeper and his family Virtually every houseboat in Srinagar has been provided with a municipal water connection

12. INTERIOR:

13. INTERIOR: