Why You Should Put Rajasthan in Your Travel Bucket List

India is an incredible country filled with beautiful places to visit. This country has so much to offer in respect of nature, culture, food, values, etc. Some of the amazing destinations in India are Kerala, Himachal, Rajasthan, North-East. Rajasthan has a rich cultural heritage, delicious cuisine, and astounding natural beauty.

If you are looking for a beautiful place filled with serenity and calm, visit Udaipur. The city of lakes attracts visitors from all over the world. The picturesque lakes, medieval forts, and delicious Rajasthani food, all contribute to the charm and beauty of this place. Every tourist visiting the city of lakes wants to stay in the best accommodations. Apart from the mainstream luxury hotels, there are many lesser-known boutique hotels that will surprise you with royal hospitality, mouthwatering food and a closer view of Rajasthani culture. If you like traveling on a budget and looking for a boutique place, check out our recommendations:

Lake Pichola Hotel is a heritage hotel is one of the most beautiful boutique hotels in Udaipur overlooking the pristine lake Pichola. The architecture of this hotel transports you to a fascinating era of Rajasthani culture and tradition. Enjoy a meal under the starlit sky in their al-fresco restaurant, Upre by 1559 A.D. Hotel Fateh Garh is one of the finest luxury hotels in Udaipur offering world-class accommodation experience. This hotel offers interesting activities like zip-lining, jeep safari, or a vintage car sight-seeing.  As most of the hotels in Udaipur are surrounded by water, the cement used for the construction is strong and resilient. Mostly OPC cement is best cement in India for general construction work. Hotel Udai Kothi is rated as one of the best boutique hotels in India. This beautiful property has restaurants, pool, spa, and a concierge service. Enjoy the sunset across the Udaipur skyline with a cup of tea from your room. It is also a popular venue for destination weddings in Rajasthan. The pristine exteriors of this hotel are painted with white cement, that easily blends with the surroundings. Hotel Swaroop Vilas is a haveli style boutique hotel in Udaipur offers a peaceful getaway surrounding the Lake Swaroop Sagar. It is tucked in greenery, offering stunning views of the lake. Indulge in authentic Rajasthani food at the terrace bar while soaking in the serene ambiance. Madri Haveli is a 300-year old property belonged to King of Madri. It has only 14 rooms, which are renovated while restoring the authenticity of the property. The renovation was undertaken by a French designer that took over 6 years to complete. Every corner of this room has a rich heritage, history, and character. Get your camera to capture some captivating moments if you are staying in this magnificent hotel. Jaiwana Haveli is a haveli-style hotel which has 24 rooms with all modern amenities. You can book a lake view room at this hotel. It features a rooftop restaurant that offers delicious Rajasthani cuisine and breathtaking views of Lake Pichola.

There are daily flights to Udaipur that operates from all over the country. Plan your visit today to this beautiful city.

How to Factor-in Weather Conditions During Construction?

Climate change is causing more disturbances than the world has ever experienced.  It has led to unforeseen glacial melts, unpredictable weather conditions, a rise in sea-levels, acidification of ocean water, extinction of several plant and animal species. This also impacts the durability of buildings and other high-rise structures. Climate change has transformed the architecture, designing, and construction of new buildings. Architects are using modern technology to design buildings that are weather-resistant and energy efficient. With the rise in unpredictable climatic conditions like hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes, construction engineers make durable structures to withstand the aftermath of natural disasters. Modern high-rise buildings are constructed with deep earthing with iron beams which makes them less vulnerable to earthquakes. Weather-resistant paint is widely used in both residential and commercial buildings alike.

The raw materials used in the construction plays an important role. Ordinary Portland Cement Grade 53 cement is used to make the most durable and strong structures. Portland cement is the best cement forroofing and other general construction works.

It is a great cement for construction of high-rise buildings. Greenhouse gas emissions are rapidly weakening older buildings. Architects involved in the restoration and renovation of historic buildings work to minimize the effects of adverse weather conditions. Discoloring of marble due to acid rain and air pollution is a common phenomenon. Hurricanes and tsunamis have become more frequent in the coastal areas of the USA. In 2018, hurricane Florence caused havoc in the US East coast region. Adding up to billions of dollars of damages, these climatic disasters render millions of people homeless and create a deep plunge in the economy of a country. Earthquakes and tsunamis occur often in the countries of Japan, Nepal, Indonesia, and India. Lava eruptions in areas of dormant and active volcanoes, in the countries of Hawaii and Japan, can displace an entire population, and damage a lot of buildings. Architects are using smart technology to make buildings and commercial structures, more resistant to severe weather conditions and natural disasters especially earthquakes. While it is not impossible to create structures that are completely earthquake resistant, it is possible to engineer structures that are partially earthquake resistant. This step can help save thousands of lives lost all over the world due to seismic disturbances.

In today’s era most of the modern commercial and residential buildings are constructed with weather resistant features.

Inside the Architecture of Basilica Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

It takes decades to build an awe-inspiring structure. The medieval age is full of cathedrals and churches reflecting beauty and artistry through the intricate artwork of skilled craftsmen. It is fascinating to notice the life-size sculptures, handcrafted nature motifs, baroque architecture, and exquisite paintings. The churches in the medieval era are adorned with paintings of Michelangelo and Bernini.

Modern architecture is evolving with creativity, innovative designing, and construction techniques. One such cathedral that remains unfinished to this date is the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, even though the construction began 136 years ago. The construction of this Basílica is the most sought-after piece of architecture in the world today.

The construction first started on 19th March 1882. This Basilica is designed by famous architect Antoni Gaudi. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tentative year of completion is estimated to be 2026. Some of the world’s most talented architects and designers are involved in the construction of this legendary church. The construction techniques used for this project have evolved over the decades. The materials and construction techniques used in the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia are world-class. The best cement for roof concrete is Ordinary Portland Grade 53 variety.

This Basilica stands at a towering height of 172meters which makes it the tallest church in the world. It covers an area of 9000sq. meters in central Barcelona. There are 18 towers in the Basilica, each related to a Christian figure. The middle tower is dedicated to Jesus Christ and the surrounding towers to Virgin Mary, Mathew, Mark, John, Luke, and others. The entire church projects an iconography relating to Christian faith. The Glory façade is designed to feature verses from The Holy Bible.

Let’s understand the materials and construction techniques being used for this church. The bell towers in the church are made of Montjuic sandstone. And other towers are made of granite. The tallest tower reaching a height of 172 meters devoted to Jesus Christ stands at the center of the Basilica, topped with a 30-meter tall cross. This tower features a 60-meter high parabolic staircase to allow visitors to access the spire. White concrete is used for the construction of pillars and the walls of the church.

The increasing height of a building contributes to compression loads in the base of the structure. Innovative construction techniques are incorporated to ensure that the structure can withstand huge compression loads while sustaining its shapes and sculptures.

It features an eclectic mix of traditional and modern architecture. The theme of intricate artwork engraved inside the church is inspired by baroque and medieval architectural designs. This will serve as an inspiration to all engineers and architects for modern-day construction work.

Architectural Insights on Sustainable Buildings in the World

We are living in an era where sustainability is the need of the hour. As a consequence of our actions, the environment is severely affected, including the sea, the land. Pollution has plagued the oceans, the air, the land, the forests. It is time, to take effective measures to preserve our environment, and promote biodiversity.

We need to cultivate sustainable practices on architecture, furnishing, vehicles, etc. We must also strive to reduce the usage of fossil fuels and resort to renewable sources of energy.

LEED is a certification that helps architects, designers and construction engineers to develop sustainable architecture. It involves the use of recycled, biodegradable and eco-friendly materials. They focus on procuring the major source of energy from renewable sources like solar power, wind, and water. Rainwater harvesting is done to conserve water. Terrace gardens and green roofs are natural ways to reduce pollution, keep the building cooler and reduce the absorption of UV rays. Architects design buildings that have access to natural sunlight, which leads to less usage of artificial lighting. Planting trees and plants, installation of natural springs, bird feeders are economical ways to promote sustainability in any building complex and reduce pollution simultaneously.

The construction materials are carefully chosen to promote sustainability. Get the best sustainable cement from cement suppliers in India.

Let’s consider the construction of some of the greenest and sustainable building in the world.

One Angel Square, Manchester, UK building has several ratings on sustainability. They use biofuel as the chief source of energy. It is powered by plant oil-fueled combined heat & power system. They use grapeseed oil grown on the cooperative’s estate as fuel. Sun-Moon Mansion, Dezhou, China is constructed in the shape of a sundial. It is the largest solar-powered structure in the world. It has a hotel, a conference center, and offices that are all powered by solar energy. It also features a solar-powered hot water supply, energy saving glass, and 50000 square feet of solar paneling. Manitoba Hydro Place, Winnipeg, Canada is one of the most energy-efficient buildings in Canada. It is powered by a geothermal system to moderate the temperature of the building. It has roof gardens and triple glazed windows as a measure of energy saving. It is 60 percent more energy efficient than other similar structures. Apple Campus 2, Silicon Valley, USA is voted as one of the greenest buildings on the planet. Apple is considering powering the entire campus with 100 % renewable sources of energy. As a part of reducing greenhouse gas emission in the campus, they have planted 7000 trees. This huge campus features office buildings, research center, conference areas and restaurants.