Bhunga houses of Kutch

• The Prime Minister whilw inaugurating the 3rd Session of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR) gave an example of Bhunga houses of Kutch which survived the earthquake to a large extent.

ABOUT BHUNGA HOUSES OF KUTCH

• They are traditional houses, a unique type of round mud hut walled with thatched roof.
• After the devastating earthquake of 1819, the people of Kutch came up with an innovative circular design of bhungas to minimize the damage to their lives as well as properties.
• The reworked design of bhungas that is about 200 years old stood very firm during the earthquake of 2001 when it was very close to the epicenter.
• These houses are commonly called ‘Architecture without Architect’ because of the superior architectural knowledge gained by the locals through the years.
• The design of the house is such that it keeps the interior cool in summers and warm in winters and they are tremendously strong and can withstand natural calamities like desert storms and earthquakes.