Dogra and Jammu architecture

 Incredibly diverse culture and climate, from outer plains in south to the great Pir Panjal ranges in the north, that gave a distinct identity to jammu . Jammu enjoys a long history of human settlement illustrated by the “Manda” in Akhnoor, which was the northern extension of Harappa civilization, which gives it, a wide and long history of settlement and way of making buildings.

 Jammu a hub, where cultures came and mixed together, and formed a distinct culture, called as  Dogra culture. Architect of a place is always tandem with climate, economy  , ruler, and primarily climate , jammu plain lies in sub-tropical region and hilly regions enjoy temperate climate. These factors played a prominent role in Jammu architect. Jammu was setup by raja jambulochan, and Bahu fort of Jammu was made by Bahulochan, about 3000 year ago according to jammu historians. When maharaja gulab Singh made the Raja of jammu, by Sikh ruler, jammu witnessed a new phase of urbanization and increase in trade, the movement of capital and people between Punjab and Jammu foothills, that gave a  new blend of architecture, between Hindu form of architecture and Islamic form of architecture. the Raja had seen Sikh form of architecture prevalent in Punjab area, and these three distinct architectural forms were mingled and new form of dogra architecture formed, climate wise jammu plains enjoy nexus with Punjab Sialkot, which share same type of  geographical conditions . The houses formed in Jammu plains and shiwalik doons are same as Punjab house are build, these houses were made by “Nanakshahi” bricks and one thick timber was used as “ latain” and then “ballay” were used for making “Barghay”  gypsum mortar was used,  hoses having courtyard  “Pasaar” , with one courtyard in middle of rooms, and with one entrance  door to house.  these were very logical for two reasons, one because at that time,  joint family was the prominent culture and sharing one courtyard was common , secondly, this form of house, was  very helpful against  scorching heat of summer . Still, we can find such houses in jammu and  hilly  tracts , where people still share one entrance door.

The fine example of jammu architects are mubarakmandi, bahu fort, jasrotra palace, billawar palace, these all buildings were made by kings, the dogra rulers of jammu, these palaces have, “mehraab” type of door and arch shaped terraces, and with dooms on the top, but Mubarak mandi domes are clear example of blend of shikhara and dome style, the sand stones and pebbles, which are found in bulk in Jammu kandi belt, are used very benevolently used for beatification. The mubarkmandi remained a hub of Dogra culture till 1947, that shows jhrokha style of balcony, which is Rajasthan architecture, the Rajput king of Jammu, studied and executed in Jammu buildings. Purmandal, a sacred place for Hindus as haridwara, the gulab Singh had developed and that is a place full of jammu architatect and old houses, the building made by king along river, resembles like kashi architecture along ganga.

Krimchi temples of Udhampur, a blend of Jammu local architecture and Hellenistic (Greek) school of architecture, made in 12^th century, this building complex give us a wide perception regarding the prosperity and their knowledge about the world famous architectural form.

The tragedy with jammu architecture started by the same dynasty which earlier, boosted Jammu architecture.  when Dogra rulers, did little to spread even, didn’t tried to save Jammu architecture, the king had spent lavishly on making   modern “Amar Mehal” which is a completely a foreign architectural form, latter with signing of instrument of accession with India in 1948, the royal palaces and grants for them shrinked. the grandeur of mubarakmandi palace diminished, Jasrotra palace is now in ruins, its building are now in pathetic cum sympathetic condition. Buildings are a testimony of a culture but these buildings are now sank to dirt. The earlier form of houses, are  transformed into big mansions, and with flat terrace, and suitable for small and nuclear family. jammu and its Dogriat is subjugated by the bully Punjabi culture, and the lack of belongingness to own glorious heritage, lead us to this condition, where we have very little to conserve and a lot  to   memories and enduring hope of reviving Dogra architect .