jharokha, Indian vernacular architecture, Rajput palaces, Mughal imperial architecture, passive cooling, purdah system, critical regionalism, haveli, jali screen, corbelling, sustainable design, architectural heritage
Jharokha, an enclosed stone window that projects from an upper-story building's outer wall. These stone balcony windows, which are most commonly found in Indian subcontinental palaces and havelis, are among the most intricate, climate-responsive, and culturally significant aspects of India's architectural legacy. The evolution of the jharokha over five major sequential periods- ancient vernacular foundations, Rajput palace architecture, a blend of Persian and Indian styles during Mughal rule, the decline of colonialism, and contemporary reinterpretation of traditional elements- is the focus of this paper. This study uses a qualitative methodology based on historical and comparative case study analysis. Two notable case studies- The Amber Fort in Jaipur, the Patwaon ki Haveli in Jaisalmer, and the City Palace in Udaipur; are examined in detail from an architectural, environmental, and sociocultural perspective. The findings demonstrate that the jharokha served as a tripartite tool: a passive thermal regulation mechanism that could reduce interior temperatures by up to 5 degree Celsius; a feature that uses space and design to enforce privacy and separation, reflecting the purdah system; and a public symbol of political authority and social status. Additionally, the study evaluates the conditions that led to the element's decline due to industrial modernization and proposes a framework for distinguishing between substantive contemporary reinterpretation and decorative historicism. The study concludes that the jharokha reflects a strong connection between structural, environmental, and cultural aspects of Indian architecture, and its relevance can still be seen in today’s sustainable design approaches
Volume 4
Issue 6,
June-2026
Pages : a244-a248
Paper Reg. ID: JETNR_234971
Published Paper Id: JETNR2606036
Downloads: 00092
Research Area: Others area
Country: indore, madhya pradesh, India
ISSN: 2984-9276 | IMPACT FACTOR: 9.87 Calculated By Google Scholar | ESTD YEAR: 2023
An International Scholarly Open Access Journal, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed Journal Impact Factor 9.87 Calculate by Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar | AI-Powered Research Tool, Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Multilanguage Journal Indexing in All Major Database & Metadata, Citation Generator
Publisher: RJPN (IJPublication) Janvi Wave
