Jasuli Buri Shaukyani, a resident of village Dantu in Upper Darma Patti of Dharchula tehsil during 19th century built several dharmshalas for the travelling Shauka traders who wandered throughout the year and had to face hail, snow, wind, rain and other perils. One such dilapidated dharamshala located in a very dense market street of Bhowali was identified to restore and eventually convert it into a Rung community museum, a minority trans-Himalayan community to which Jasuli devi belonged.
The dharamshala situated in a dense market street with a very narrow road had running shops on the lower level and an unused upper floor which was in bad shape. We restored the dilapidates structure and repurposed the upper rooms to function as a museum by creating connecting doorways. The project was a sheer depiction of the traditional craft of Uttarakhand named Likhai. The columns, railings, brackets, doors and windows were intricately carved by a local likhai craftsman to pay tribute to the craftsmanship of the Rung community. The flooring was done in wood. A skylight added on top lit up the space nicely. The entire facade was given a heritage retrofit by adding mud plasters, stone fins, wooden signboards and chajjas.
A retrofitted and repurposed heritage piece of architecture stood tall with the gleaming wooden columns and railing amidst a very congested concrete jungle on a very narrow lane.
Photography credits : The Space Tracing Company
Drone photography credits : Nishant Singhani
