Indigenous ways of using local timber are slowly fading. Hanging together in a cluster is 'Tapar'-- wooden bells for cattle made of wood from the 'madsingi' tree

Photoghraphs: Aparna Pallavi

Chunkhadi, or lumps of lime occur naturally in the soil. These lumps when mixed with mud enhance the waterproofing and termite-resistance of the house built

Photoghraphs: Aparna Pallavi

Thatched roofs and roofs made from baked tiles allow for better ventilation

Photoghraphs: Aparna Pallavi

A woman servant plasters the earthen floor of Futane's courtyard with cowdung. During construction, if sufficient quantities of lime are added to the mud floors, then cowdung plastering is required only once a fortnight

Photoghraphs: Aparna Pallavi