26. 1. Situated on deep, narrow plots the wadas are generally two or three storied high structures on an
introvert plan.
2. The rooms look out onto the court yards of which at least two or as many as four.
3. The design of wada followed a specific concept in the location of particular areas such as official,
private for cooking, dining or worship.
4. A huge gateway flanked by ‘dewadis’ meant for the gate – keeper gave entry to the wada.
5. A smaller dindi darwaza within a larger gateway was normally used by all. The entire gate opened
only on ceremonial occasions.
6. The entrance led to the main hall to darbar where activities to carry out official functions related
to the profession of the owners.
7. The darbar leads to the first courtyard in case of two or three courtyards houses.
8. Common characteristics of these courtyards were the open verandah like spaces called sopa.
Normally wadas rarely exceeded 20m of street frontage.
Typical Character of Houses: 1713 A.D. – 1818 A.D.
27. 9. The depth however ranged from 80m - 100m. A composite structure of timber frame and
masonry arranged about modest courtyards formed the basic vocabulary of this house type.
10. The timber frame carries the load of the intermediate floors and about a meter thick on the
ground floor, built in the locally available basalt stone, their thickness reducing on upper floors.
11. Brick used for walls on upper floors were of a flatter variety compared to those available today.
12. The older wadas were roofed in plot or tiles. Partition walls were traditionally of wattle usually
plastered with lime or cow- dung.
13. The fronts of wadas were often ornately carved with a stylized peacocks, parrots or pigeons as
later additions on exposed beam ends.
14. Timber brackets supporting balconies were also carved in themes of exotic flora and fauna.
Typical Character of Houses: 1713 A.D. – 1818 A.D.