Incredible Rooftops of Punjab: Photographer Rajesh Vora Shows an Interesting Tradition

The Indian state of Punjab is famous for its attractions. This includes the state capital Chandigarh, built by the architect Le Corbusier, and the Sikh shrine Golden Temple in Amritsar, and Kali Mandir - a temple complex dedicated to the goddess Kali. But even outside the tourist routes, in ordinary villages, you can see something unique. The houses of many Punjabis are real works of art. Their roofs are decorated with sculptures depicting people, equipment and various things.

On the roofs of Punjabi houses there are figures of athletes, airplanes, cars and even tanks. Despite the simplicity of execution, these sculptures have a special appeal and clearly distinguish the houses from the background of traditional architecture. But their task is not only decorative: inside the figures there are water tanks, ensuring the functionality of the structure.

The tradition of decorating roofs with sculptures began in the 1970s, when many Punjabis emigrated abroad. Having traveled and explored the world, they returned home with the desire to leave something unusual behind. Thus began the fashion for building houses with unique decorations that symbolized the impressions of life outside India.

Model airplanes are especially common on roofs. This symbol probably became a symbol of travel and connection with the homeland for migrants. Many of these houses are empty for most of the year, as the owners only visit them on holidays. Despite this, they carefully care for the sculptures, renewing the paint and maintaining their condition.

These sculptures are more than just design elements. They symbolize the connection with the homeland, reflect the personal experiences of emigrants and serve as an original way to store water. Combined with the simplicity of the village architecture, they create a unique image of Punjab that attracts the attention of tourists and researchers from all over the world.

Photographer Rajesh Vora set out to capture this unique part of Punjabi culture. During his 6,000-km journey, he photographed over 100 houses with unique roofs. His work has brought attention to an architectural phenomenon that was previously unknown to many outside the state.