A Heritage Jewel in the Heart of Kashmir

The house was built by our forefathers between 1870 and 1895. The legacy of this family architecture began with Mr. Gh. Ahmed Sahib in 1873. It took him six to seven years to complete the backyard house. The construction is mostly of devdar (pinewood), which was easily available through the river stream running downhill from our home. The river is called Anchar Lake.

The front side of the two houses in the main garden was built by the son of Gh. Ahmed Sahib, namely Gh. Hassan Sahib. Thus, the construction of this heritage home was a father–son endeavour. Carrying this legacy forward over time, the home required timely renovations, which were undertaken by the following generations. To maintain this architecture over the last 150 years, great effort has been made to preserve its original glory. Today, it is in the hands of Mr. Alyas Jan.

The architecture of this heritage home is rooted in Central Asia, with interiors crafted by artisans from Samarkand. This style of architecture was once very common in that region. In the capital of Kashmir and its surroundings, one can still spot a few remaining vernacular houses known for their timber-interlaced masonry and patch-work quilt wall architecture.

The overhanging cantilevered wooden balconies in these old houses, called zoon (moon) dub (balcony), were the spaces where summers in the homes of Srinagar would gently unfold. The lattice work, or pinjrakari, allowed sunlight to filter in while providing privacy for the women of the house—perfect for afternoons spent with cups of kahwa and evenings spent gazing up at the moonlit sky.