Homestead Verandah

A Verandah as per the Oxford English Dictionary is a word that originated in India where it is found in several native languages. It refers to the railings, balustrade or balconies. From time immemorial, India has been invaded by foreign forces like the Muslims, Dutch, Portuguese and the English and has adopted the different traditions brought by these invading forces. These traditions are now incorporated in Indian architecture, which eventually developed as a fusion of the east and the west culture.

A Verandah in other words is an open roofed porch or gallery built around a building in the centre. It is a large balcony built on the ground floor and it is commonly known as barandah in Hindi and Bengali.

There is another surprising meaning in the Oxford English Dictionary, which means, Verandah is a covering built at the side of the building, particularly one built over the street outside the trading site found particularly in Australia and New Zealand. These were made to give protection more against the sun than the rain.

The roof of a verandah is both curved and sloped in structure. There is yet another meaning to this word in the dictionary, it is, an open porch extending in the front and the sides of a building, giving protection against the sun and the rain. The decisive origin of this word is most probably European or maybe Latin meaning barra- which means barrier.

A homestead is a farmhouse built on a piece of farmland close to the farms, with stables for the animals and provision to grow vegetables for the farmers needs. A verandah is essential in a homestead. The farmer spends a number of his leisure hours on the verandah keeping an eye on his farm and his animals grazing near by.

The lifestyle of the farmers is very relaxed and whole families enjoy their morning tea sitting on the verandah. It is quite common to see the farmers socializing with their family and friends over Sunday lunches or sharing a drink or two in the evening's .The verandahs in a homestead is very inviting and just visualizing one gives an instant feeling of utter relaxation, peace and tranquility.

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