Jali

This article is about the Indian architectural element. For West African jali poets, see Griot.
Tomb of Akbar the Great near Agra, India

A jali or jaali, (Hindi:जाली jālī, meaning "net") is the term for a perforated stone or latticed screen, usually with an ornamental pattern constructed through the use of calligraphy and geometry. This form of architectural decoration is found in Indian architecture, Indo-Islamic Architecture and Islamic Architecture.[1]

Early jali work was built by carving into stone, generally in geometric patterns, while later the Mughals used very finely carved plant-based designs, as at the Taj Mahal. They also often added pietra dura inlay to the surrounds, using marble and semi-precious stones.[1][2]

The jali helps in lowering the temperature by compressing the air through the holes. Also when the air passes through these openings, its velocity increases giving profound diffusion. It has been observed that humid areas like Kerala and Konkan have larger holes with overall lower opacity than compared with the dry climate regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan.[3]

With compactness of the residential areas in the modern India, jalis became less frequent for privacy and security matters.[4]

Illustrations

Notes

  1. 1 2 Lerner, p. 156
  2. ↑ Thapar, Bindia (2004). Introduction to Indian architecture. Singapore: Tuttle Publishing. p. 81. ISBN 9781462906420.
  3. ↑ "Yatin Pandya on 'jaali' as a traditional element". Daily News and Analysis. 16 October 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  4. ↑ Satyaprakash Varanashi (30 January 2011). "The multi-functional jaali". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 January 2016.

References

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