India celebrates 63 years of independence from Britain today and various commentators have written that perhaps its greatest gift to Britain was the curry. While not averse to a plate of Chicken Tikka Masala and a couple of cold beers myself, I’d like to nominate the veranda as one of India’s great gifts to the world.
The word verandah (the alternative spelling of veranda is more popular in Google searches) originates in India where it is used in several native languages. However, it may have been imported from old Portuguese or Spanish, where baranda is the modern usage and refers to a railing, balustrade or balcony; or even from the Persian, baramadah.
Before the British arrived, many other foreign countries had invaded India, including the Dutch and the Portuguese, each of whom imported their own traditions some of which were integrated into Indian culture.
The distinctive style of Indian architecture evolved from a hybrid of east and west and the veranda was one of many new architectural elements created when British colonists arrived. In an effort to have somewhere comfortable to live in the extreme climate, they mixed local building styles with architecture from England so that they didn’t feel too far removed from home. (The Hindu word, bungalow, is another example of an imported Indian word in the English language).
Today a veranda can be best described as a roofed opened gallery or porch built around a central structure.
In most Asian countries and where the veranda has been imported, especially in Australia and in the southern USA, the veranda is the first visual contact when approaching a home. In the UK a veranda is more likely to be built on the rear of a property overlooking the garden and is a place to enjoy the outdoors while still being in the shade or out of the rain.
With the fashion for decking and patio’s, it’s surprising that more people haven’t added a roof to the decked or patio area so that they can use and enjoy them more frequently. With a deck or patio you have to move furniture or remove cushions and other objects when it rains and even sunshades and awnings don’t offer the protection that a permanent glass or shingled roof provides.
Walls at either end of a veranda also give some protection from winds and breezes allowing greater use throughout the year.
But why not go the whole hog and glaze in the front of your veranda and turn it into a conservatory? They certainly make a great place to entertain whether you’re cooking on the BBQ or phoned for an Indian takeaway!
