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Old Indian Bungalows

 

A bungalow is a type of house with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs. The term originated in India, deriving from the Gujarati 'bangalo', which in turn derives from Hindi 'bangla', meaning “Bengali” and used elliptically for a “house in the Bengal style” Such houses were traditionally small, only one storey and detached, and had a wide veranda.

The term is first found in English from 1696, it was used to describe "bungales or hovells" in India for English sailors of the East India Company. Later it became used for the spacious homes or official lodgings of officials of the British Raj, and was so known in Britain and later America, where it initially had high status and exotic connotations, and began to be used in the late 19th century for large country or suburban houses built in an Arts and Crafts or other Western vernacular style - essentially as large cottages, a term also sometimes used. Later developers began to use the term for smaller houses.In India owning a bungalow is a highly significant status symbol.