“BASA” in Garhwali language is an expression to invite guests to your house for a night halt. This initiative focuses on the local needs, economy and architecture in a way that the locals develop a sense of ownership and add value to it. Women empowerment is an integral part of the initiative since they are considered the driving engine of Garhwal region. The place is made to be run by the local Self-Help Group, Unnati. BASA consists of a cottage with 4 rooms, a community kitchen, a tourism center and a packaging and selling unit of local produces and handicrafts. Located in the snow peaked mountains and within forests, the tourists can experience the landscape as well as the village life and local food. BASA is designed to give holistic & authentic Garhwali living experience to the tourists. The local and it’s heritage: For the exhibition centre of the building, multiple workshops were conducted with the locals to identify and document the cultural landscape of Khirsu and villages around. The intent was to capture and give importance to the local traditions and heritage getting lost with people migrating from rural areas. The exhibition at BASA documents, i. Demographic information of Khirsu, ii. About BASA iii. Interactive map of Khirsu iv. The traditional house form and household activities v. Local festivals vi. Wildlife vii. Folk narratives, viii. A guide for local bird spotting ix. Everyday objects used by women signifying their role in the village x. The local produce map with information on the various crops grown xi. Places to visit around Khirsu xii. Nearby treks xiii. Local dishes and maps of two nearby treks. Some parts of the exhibition are also made interactive to engage the visitors in the experience. There are two interactive installations, one being the interactive map of Khirsu. i. An interactive map of Khirsu with 12 key landmarks of the village marked in circles. On pressing these circles, recordings of local children reciting peotic desciptions of these key landmarks play. ii. An interactive ‘Kutthar’ or traditional wooden box used to store excess grains: playing a collection of 10 folk stories narrated by the old people of Khirsu, everytime it is opened. Kuthhar being used during the times of abundant agricultural produce is now an object of heritage in the region. Disclaimer : All information gathered during for the exhibition is collected through various ethnographic methods and research with locals of Khirsu and is subjected to differ according to time and context.
BASA - An initiative towards rural community tourism
NESTLED GREENS AT AT SOARING SOARINGALTITUDE ALTITUDEOF OF NESTLED IN IN THE THE LUSH GREENS 1700MTS, KHIRSU KHIRSU IS A STOLEN 1700MTS, STOLEN GETAWAY GETAWAYTHAT THATBOASTS BOASTSAA SCENIC VIEW VIEW OF THE SNOW SCENIC SNOW PEAKED PEAKED HIMALAYAN HIMALAYANRANGE RANGE OF INDIA INDIA १७०० मीटर की ऊँचाई पर हारे- भरे साग में बसे ख़िर्सु एक छुपा हुआ ख़ज़ाना है। भारत के हीम शिख़र वाले हिमलय कीचोटी चोटी के सुंदर दृश्य का अनुभव कराता है
ABOUT KHIRSU-GWAD LOCALITY NAME : BLOCK NAME : DISTRICT : TEHSIL : STATE : LANGUAGE : TELEPHONE CODE / STD CODE : PIN CODE : CITIES NEARBY : TOTAL POPULATION : MALE : FEMALE : LITERACY RATE : LITERACY RATE : FEMALE LITER WORKING POPULATION : NO. OF FAMILIES :
GWAD KHIRSU PAURI GARHWAL SRINAGAR UTTARAKHAND GARHWALI, HINDI 01346 246147 PAURI, SRINAGAR, RISHIKESH, KOTDWAR 1052 442 610 72.9% 38.4% 25.0 % 245
*All the data is taken from 2011 census
Khirsu - Understanding the place and its demographics
Khirsu Map - An interactive map hi
ighlighting key features of the village
House Form - An explorative visual to understand the
e traditional house form and activities around the same
Local Festivals - Stories of rituals and
d traditions of various festivals of Khirsu
Wildlife - Stories abou
ut native fauna of Khirsu
She - An insight into the
lives of women of Khirsu
Kuthhar - An interactive box of stories
of Farming and climate change in Khirsu
PRODUCE MAP
Produce Map - An illustration show
wing the cultivation practices of Khirsu
THE PRODUCE
Produce Cards - An exhaustive compilation of the lo
ocal produce with its cultivation information and benefits
GARHWALI DISHES
KAFULI काफुली
RAITA रायता
It is a winter food made from palak and methi also considered as a diet food. The gravy for Kafuli is prepared by making a paste made out of rice or wheat and adding water to it.
BAADI बाडी Made out of mandua or buckwheat flour. Baadi is a ready to cook dish, having high nutritional value. All you need to do is boil water, add buckwheat flour and let it cook for two minutes. Add ghee to it, stir for a while and bam, it’s ready.
CHAINSOO चैंसू
It is a winter food made from palak and methi also considered as a diet food. The gravy for Kafuli is prepared by making a paste made out of rice or wheat and adding water to it.
High in protein value, Chains prepared from Sabut Urad da (black gram lentil) and is a po lunch option for Pahadis living any part of the world.
JHANGORE KI KHEER झंगोरे की खीर
MANDVE KI ROT मडुआ की रोटी
It is a sweet dish made out of a local millet called Jhangora. It is hailed for its rich texture and taste that lasts on the taste buds for quite a long time. This dish is a must have as it has the goodness of milk, cashews and raisins. It is beneficial in heart disease and sugar problems.
Mandva is also known as rag other places. Mandua ki Roti served in the main course and represents the culinary style o Uttarakhand. It is extremely e digest and it’s good for diabe
Local Delicacies - A culinary
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gi in is d of easy to etes.
PHAANU फाणु
GULGULA गुलगुला
This appetizing dish may take a little more time to cook than others, but once it is ready all the time and effort will be worth it. It is prepared by mixing different lentils that are soaked overnight. This soupy dish, when served with freshly cooked white rice, makes a perfect luncheon for winter season.
It is a traditional sweet local snack made of jaggery which traces its origin to the Garhwal region. People usually make these during festivals.
ARSA अरसा Arsa is a local sweet made from jaggery, rice and mustard oil. No festival or pahadi weddings in Uttarakhand are complete without the presence of Arsa.
SINGORI सिंगोड़ी One of the most sought-after desserts of Uttarakhand. This sweet is made from khoya (condensed milk) which is wrapped into molu leaf. Almora is one of the best places to try this delicacy. The smell of molu leaf and the taste of condensed milk, having an aroma of cardamom and coconut will make you crave for more.
journey into Khirsu’s local cuisine
KANDELA KA SAAG कंडेला का साग Main ingredient is Bichhu Ghaas. Don’t be sacred as it won’t hurt your throat because it’s 100% edible. It is prepared by boiling bichhu ghaas, which is then converted into a fine pulp and is cooked on low flame. It helps in blood circulation and keeping the body warm.
FANNAH फन्ना It is one such dish that on tasting it you’ll surely ask for more. Rich in protein, the delectable dish is made with lentils and is mildly spicy. This dish is on the menu card of every Pahadi wedding
BHANG KI CHUTNEY भांग की चटनी Tangy tamarind in taste. This famous sauce of Uttarakhand is made from hemp seeds, cumin seeds, garlic leaves, tamarind, and salt. When served with the traditional Pahadi cuisines, it enhances the taste
DUBUK डुबुक Having a subtle taste, this dish is good for stomach and tastes better when served with plain white rice, Bhang ki Chutney or crushed radish. Dubuk is generally prepared from bhatt ki dal, gahat ki dal or arhar ki dal.
Around Khirsu - A journey of import
tant historical landmarks around Khirsu
Treks arou
und Khirsu
Treks arou
und Khirsu
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Scan these for m
ODES
more information
A poem dedicated to the village and it’s houses
Sketches
Drone images of khirsu
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND CREDITS: DESIGNED AND EXECUTED BY: COMPARTMENT S4, AHMEDABAD and a bunch of really enthusisatic participants from all across India and some parts of the world. EXHIBITION DESIGNED | EXECUTED | CURATED BY: COMPARMENT S4 AND STUDIO IF, AHMEDABAD
COMPARTMENT S4
hand-made
architecture . design
COMPARTMENT S4, based in Ahmedabad is a group of eight architects graduated from CEPT university, Ahmedabad. Our intent is to design interventions which have a large resultant impact on its context irrespective of the scale of project. We believe that design can behave as a problem solver if thought about in a systematic and efficient manner. We take a keen interest in exploring the local materials and techniques available in each particular project. Compartment S4 as an architecture firm emphasizes on the ‘power of many’, with the strength of eight architects working under one head, to combine our individual ideas into a pool of valuable inputs. With intents and interests towards the rural communities, exploration of local materials and systemic architectural solutions to specific issues, we aim for grass root level involvements.
'hand-made' is an initiative by Compartment S4, a group of architects from CEPT University interested in designing interventions which impact communities at various scales, exploring local materials and resources in the process of making while activating spaces. Having identified the professional neglect to rural projects, handmade is one of the ways to fill in the gaps with well designed solutions.
Studio IF - a design studio specialised in design and development of interactive storytelling experiences. Studio IF focuses to enrich and enhance people’s engagement with Heritage, Environment and space Education spaces.
www.compartments4.com design@compartments4.com | 7506184837
SPECIAL THANKS TO: GANDIYAL DEVTA SAMUH and JAGURATI SAMUH for steping forward and taking the initative for smooth functioning of this homestay. Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat [State minister-independent charge: Co-operatives, Higher education, Dairy developements, Protocols], Mr.Dhiraj Singh Garbyal [IAS, District Magistrate, Pauri], Mrs.Deepti Singh [CDO, Pauri], Mr.Himanshu Khurana [CDO, Pauri], Mr.Ved Prakash [DDO, Pauri], Mr.Sunil Kumar [APD, Pauri], Mr. Rameshwar Singh Chauhan [BDO, Khirsu] and Khirsu Block Office, Mr.Sampat Singh Rawat [District president, BJP, Pauri|GMVSS chairman,Pauri] for undertaking an initiative towards making a project which will help the locals to uplift and develop themselves further creating their identity in the society. CONSTRUCTION AND ON-SITE GUIDANCE: Mr.Prashant Bisht, Mr.Himanshu Sachdeva, Mr.Shubham Bisht, Mr.Rakshit Pandey for guiding us through the construction process. LOCAL HELP AND SUPPORT: Mr.Sooraj Singh Rawat and family, Mr.Lokpal Singh Rawat and family, Mr.Bijendra Singh Rawat and family for supporting us and being with us throughout this journey. DESIGN GUIDANCE: Mr.Pankaj Patel, Prof.Neelkhant Chayya, Mr.Rajendra Desai, Mrs.Rupal Desai for guiding us in designing an earthquake proof prototype structure. A wonderful team of mistry, labours and carpenters-Mr. Sunil Bahadur, Mr.Kunki, Mr. Ramchandra, Mr.Ikrar and team.
Credits
hand-made
design@compartments4.com www.compartments4.com 7506184837 / 9638764010