The rustic charm of a restored 'Haveli'

<strong>Restoration</strong> <em>noun-</em>The act of making new or as if new again.<br /><br />This word brings immense happiness to my heart, whether it is rescuing the old door from a demolished <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chettinad">Chettinad</a> mansion and giving it a place in our living room or giving a new lease of life to antique dowry chest picked up from the bylanes of a village.<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096919057588275426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLIjm5RiZBdmV6GVvlXApOzmgZ8AgjJqnIj473ciA78pHmJFPLOTDRrEH54oGqvJdwQH6wAXhbXdkJMH9QwaHcefpbyIS6RxKft2LHQew4zBSB53POgyPvUe-tJAqLQQisfIOHuLKFb20/s400/haveli3.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><em>Arches frame the open courtyards</em><br />This <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haveli">Haveli</a> built in 1776 on the outskirts of Delhi was restored by art historians <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3322473.stm">Francis Wacziarg</a> and <a href="http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/07/29/stories/2004072900680300.htm">Aman Nath</a>. The Haveli which is a synthesis of Hindu & Islamic architectural style had been abandoned for 50 years.<br /><br />The exteriors were left untouched, all the 46 windows were opened to view the open landscape outside and only the courtyard & rooms were renovated & painted.<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096919048998340802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOFGJbwqi78wGLBG8DDZ0F29K_rITyiMP1QD1YFg_bPrYWhw5kYKa5NgxxolvDuxJGuOCUhfpwn1JNXPbZHEpbuDLq5g7IyR8oXq3DTWtJXGXYPiFL1enp6tu9BJeMWtOvshLXc7exIP5/s400/haveli1.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><em>White-washed walls with a </em><a href="http://www.vsubhash.com/die.asp?word=charpoy"><em>charpoy</em></a><em> as a bed and absolutely gorgeous red bedcover...<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096924860089092450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-R8c9oWSgVOpJbJU0z77XB9Zr-avqw7Ji1xk6e5ErC4U9DUzQTTNxbg5ZLhVgWNl617AtnPv-lJbwmopmqcHmiBkxK4eG0353l23QJliZZCDAD1G2xvbjqkUZYrXGKRrhPTcrFAckmEGj/s400/haveli7.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></em><em>Antique low folding </em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shekhawati"><em>Shekahawati </em></a><em>chairs (which were once used by women while churning butter) on the open verandah...</em><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096922390482897186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbt9UA9G9n3-Ne8MdNXc8yRVEVVZRH2zHCUWMvDYoS-ioNDBhH5W2AUM0f5ZsRGvnzud4YybtUET4UYmMpq7u7QkAaQGYUVmtxh827jzeoqEzuwKQMm5tAaU-cEIRGJnfcnZyuF_3M5Km/s400/haveli6.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><em>A room off the central courtyard has minimum furnishings like this iron-bound dowry chest and an old low cot...</em><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096924860089092466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFLmSp2ShlrCzqHvFHNQCdGa6PTAuv2VwazsI_jAjKk1QwH-Fu9KNOUcoc1ifXwh8bq5Y9WJ9JXoLwHIdU5WRm5drglRTk4FH1dPXGUYlpaQ4Ey777322dCrpF315cb9fu1uwVU_AMSVo/s400/haveli2.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><em>Oil lamps and a 19th century stone bull occupy the window recess...<br /><br /></em>I just can't get over this spectacular space of the central courtyard. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096922390482897202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4qwq_J5VOHCvmSRwzEoD6R_nx0J_8hbbXcHOBd1VJ22NeCafnwr4QOLWdkIMM71LR25n4uBm_Zu01z98rQeCA6OFsnElbXNqqKeRqzLgHyd0x8chU51qdfEja4nVO_R5BeIVUe5IYlPZ/s400/haveli8.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><em>This courtyard comes alive with the warm glow of lamps in the evening during the celebration of festival of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi">Lakshmi</a>.<br /></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizMMYdV7Pq9538ykw-bwBgz2RZFb0isRv3RlIDHmHy6f8DbiOIWshm3NAhRryjzN4jgRDwAEIgzls5FI1o2HZ8wUsrKTBSlEqM-UsQ6lMV77tjqC-wgmsv1h4rG7DpC6ORoJ_Yn_tb98H/s1600-h/haveli10.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096924052635240786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizMMYdV7Pq9538ykw-bwBgz2RZFb0isRv3RlIDHmHy6f8DbiOIWshm3NAhRryjzN4jgRDwAEIgzls5FI1o2HZ8wUsrKTBSlEqM-UsQ6lMV77tjqC-wgmsv1h4rG7DpC6ORoJ_Yn_tb98H/s400/haveli10.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> What a romantic space to unwind on a weekend with friends :-)<br /><em><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096922394777864514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqJKur4xX8i0tGv_b4WL2D4pmPCD73HDhJbrNYb4Ytw5Oh0OtXoNRPxUIBxo_ba9qJ83mUcwy5bForOROvzUcuf8ktORbLhQjvXHS_h9ucI6_5etKxLFYi2ZueC4G4UHgr1m0Q92Y9H0b/s400/haveli9.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Close-up of one of the corners of the courtyard.</em><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096922386187929874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-QgNGQZy2E4Y8qvsefnZV6UiGEfLqIU0ZUc_pw1OyJ1WYxuwOh5SHc31qn0Ys0w4MOBb1lyjAteUl7sO_cIETSpqohqpLG3p7Ot5EQfDW0OEAMkA1GmVwHn3Q21Ge3fBbm61s_kV-Dr-/s400/haveli5.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><em>Brass studded door with colourful applique work window shades and entrance to a raised shutter door leading to the veranda...<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096919066178210034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KUg2dJHQTp48izIgt9uF_cbP8zEwRA7Pt6XAovRxhAaAgN5AS7EMYva4b3kVlyJihl76j83pLyMsmUIYeKx9eYho2y2SNqtC3ndHlixrCR1rFOMkSfCh5aOeuXRySNxIgZV5zLmsLRVz/s400/haveli4.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></em>Just look at this dining room*sigh*<br /><em>The table is a high bed (Takht) which has been raised on four stone drums. So innovative!<br /><br /></em>What a great job done by <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3322473.stm">Francis Wacziarg</a> and <a href="http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/07/29/stories/2004072900680300.htm">Aman Nath</a>. This fantastic 'Haveli' not only reflects the charm of the past but also accomodates the modern needs.<br /><br /><em>(Images from <strong>Indian Style</strong>-by Suzanne Slesin & Stafford Cliff)</em>

The rustic charm of a restored 'Haveli'

Restoration noun- The act of making new or as if new again. This word brings immense happiness to my heart, whether it is rescuing the old ...

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