Photo Gallery

A traditional mud-brick house in the Thar Desert. This distinctive architectural style is particularly common in the village of Khuri, near Jaisalmer. The houses are made of mud, clay and cow dung, which provides natural insulation in the extreme heat of the desert. The striking geometric patterns in white, ochre and reddish-brown are typical of this region and are often applied by the women of the village using natural pigments. – 1990

A traditional house in the village of Khuri, situated in the Thar Desert near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. The walls are mostly made of a mixture of clay, straw and cow dung, which provides natural insulation in the extreme desert climate – keeping the house cool in summer and warm in winter. The striking geometric patterns on the exterior walls are called mandana. These ritual wall paintings are traditionally created by women using lime (white) and red clay (geru) to protect the house and invite good fortune. Typical features include the flat roofs, small windows to keep out the heat, and the distinctive wooden door, often painted turquoise or blue. – 1990

A traditional house in the village of Khuri, situated in the Thar Desert near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. The walls are mostly made of a mixture of clay, straw and cow dung, which provides natural insulation in the extreme desert climate – keeping the house cool in summer and warm in winter. The striking geometric patterns on the exterior walls are called mandana. These ritual wall paintings are traditionally created by women using lime (white) and red clay (geru) to protect the house and invite good fortune. Typical features include the flat roofs, small windows to keep out the heat, and the distinctive wooden door, often painted turquoise or blue. – 1990

A traditional mud-brick house in the Thar Desert. This distinctive architectural style is particularly common in the village of Khuri, near Jaisalmer. The houses are made of mud, clay and cow dung, which provides natural insulation in the extreme heat of the desert. The striking geometric patterns in white, ochre and reddish-brown are typical of this region and are often applied by the women of the village using natural pigments. – 1990

The picture shows traditional Mandana art, one of the oldest forms of tribal painting in India. These murals adorn the mud-brick houses of Khuri in the Thar Desert. Mandanas are painted to protect homes from evil spirits and to welcome the gods (particularly the goddess Lakshmi) into the house. The geometric patterns symbolise the cosmic order and spiritual balance. – 1990

A traditional mud-brick house in the Thar Desert. This distinctive style of architecture is particularly common in the village of Khuri, near Jaisalmer. The houses are built from mud, clay and cow dung, which provides natural insulation in the extreme heat of the desert. The roofs are traditionally thatched with straw or brushwood to keep the interiors cool. – 1990

A scene from the village of Khuri in the Thar Desert near Jaisalmer. The building is a typical mud-brick house with thick walls that keep the interior cool by day and warm by night. The stepped, white-framed doorway is a characteristic architectural feature of this region. A woman wearing a colourful red odhni (veil) balances a water pot on her head, a daily task in water-scarce desert areas. Cattle are an integral part of daily life in Indian desert villages. – 1990

A scene from the village of Khuri in the Thar Desert near Jaisalmer. The building is a typical mud-brick house with thick walls that keep it cool by day and warm by night. The stepped, white-framed doorway is a characteristic architectural feature of this region. A woman wearing a colourful red odhni (veil) balances a water pot on her head, a daily task in water-scarce desert areas. – 1990

A traditional mud-brick house in the village of Khuri in the Thar Desert. These houses are characterised by their hand-painted walls, which often feature colourful geometric patterns in shades of red, yellow and white. In the foreground is a girl in a bright pink robe, carrying a bowl on her head – a typical scene from daily life in the rural regions of Rajasthan. – 1990

The houses in the village of Khuri are traditionally built from mud, straw and cow dung, which provides natural insulation against the extreme heat of the desert. The geometric patterns and motifs on the whitewashed walls are typical of the region around Jaisalmer and Barmer. They are often painted using natural pigments such as lime (white) and red ochre (reddish-brown). Many of these houses have conical, thatched roofs known as ‘jhumpas’. – Cattle are an integral part of daily life in Indian desert villages. – 1990

The picture shows traditional Mandana art, one of the oldest forms of tribal painting in India. These murals adorn the mud-brick houses of Khuri in the Thar Desert. Mandanas are painted to protect homes from evil spirits and to welcome the gods (particularly the goddess Lakshmi) into the house. The geometric patterns symbolise the cosmic order and spiritual balance. – 1990

A scene from the village of Khuri in the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. The houses are made of mud, straw and cow dung, which provides natural insulation against the extreme desert heat. The white, stepped patterns on the brown mud walls are typical of the region’s folk art, often known as Mandana art. – 1990

Traditional way of life in Khuri in the Thar Desert. A typical mud-brick house with thick walls for natural cooling. A white façade with a striking green wooden door and decorative geometric patterns on the walls. A clothesline in front of the house with colourful garments. A large clay pot (matka) for cooling water and metal drinking cups on the veranda. On the right of the picture, a traditional Indian bed, a charpai, is leaning against the wall. – 1990

A scene from the traditional village of Khuri. The photograph captures the essence of rural life in this arid region, where architecture and craftsmanship are closely intertwined with the surrounding environment. In the background, a couple can be seen at a spinning wheel (charkha), a symbol of the traditional production of yarn from wool or cotton, which is still widespread in the villages of the Thar Desert. The open courtyard in front of the house is the centre of daily life, where people work, eat and socialise. – 1990

A view of the village of Khuri in the Thar Desert near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. The houses are built from mud and cow dung, which provides excellent insulation against the extreme heat of the desert. The white decorations (mandana) around the door and on the walls are typical of Rajasthan. The clay pots (matkas) in front of the house are traditionally used to cool water. – 1990

A man wearing a white turban sits in front of a traditional mud house in Khuri. The house is made of mud, which provides natural cooling in the desert region of Rajasthan. The decorative patterns on the wall are characteristic of the regional village style. – 1990

These buildings in the desert town of Jaisalmer are constructed from the characteristic golden-yellow sandstone of the Thar region. These historic mansions (havelis) dominate the streetscape of the old town. Of particular note are the intricately carved stone balconies with their delicate patterns. – 1990

A lively street scene in a historic, narrow alleyway typical of the architecture in Jaisalmer. The walls and floor are rendered in warm, earthy tones, some adorned with white frames around the doors. The paths are narrow and paved with large stone slabs, which is typical of old fortified towns in Rajasthan. In the middle of the alley, a man stands by a handcart laden with large metal containers, presumably selling milk or water. – 1990

The picture shows the traditional exterior wall of a mud house in the Jaisalmer area of Rajasthan, decorated with the intricate traditional folk art known as Mandana art. This wall decoration is one of the oldest forms of tribal art in India. It is traditionally applied to walls and floors by women. The paintings are created for festive occasions such as Diwali, weddings or births. They serve to protect the house, welcome deities and attract good fortune. The brown background consists of a mixture of clay and cow dung (Geru Mitti). The white, delicate patterns are painted using a liquid made from white chalk or lime (Khadiya), applied directly by hand or with simple brushes. – 1990

A traditional mud-brick house (kucha) in the Jaisalmer region, decorated with white lime paint. A woman in a red sari stands in the doorway, hanging up a bright orange cloth. The white decorations on the brown mud walls are examples of Mandana art, one of the oldest forms of tribal and folk art in India, practised mainly by women in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. – 1990

A traditional mud-brick house (kucha) in the Jaisalmer region, decorated with white lime paint. Standing in the doorway is a woman in a red sari, hanging out the washing. The white decorations on the brown mud walls are examples of Mandana art, one of the oldest forms of tribal and folk art in India, practised mainly by women in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. – 1990