A Rai Model Village In Dhnkuta

Abstract

Nepal is home to a mosaic of indigenous cultures with the Rai community being one of its most distinct and historically rich groups. Despite their profound contribution to the country�s cultural landscape, the traditional ways of life of the Rai people particularly in places like Dhankuta are under growing threat due to modernization, migration, and a shift away from indigenous practices. The project titled ???: A Rai Model Village in Dhankuta, explores how architecture can support the preservation and revitalization of indigenous identity while also promoting community-based tourism. The objective is to design a model village that reflects the cultural values, spatial practices, and everyday life of the Rai community. The methodology includes site visits, interviews with locals and cultural practitioners, study of vernacular Rai architecture and references to comparable culturally rooted settlements in Nepal. The project is proposed on 29.5 ropani of land in Chuliban, Dhankuta (home to the Athapahariya Rai subgroup). The project content is divided into key chapters that establish a comprehensive understanding of the Rai way of life including their socio-cultural practices traditional architecture, clan deities (Sakala Than), festivals, rituals, and agricultural patterns. This project includes cultural, economic, and recreational zones such as museum-gallery to document intangible heritage, Rai-style guest accommodations for tourists, a workshop and training block for traditional crafts, a heritage kitchen with indoor and outdoor eat-out spaces, a local market area for selling Rai products, and sacred and communal spaces. The design process incorporates vernacular materials, indigenous construction methods, and passive design strategies suitable to the topography and climate of Dhankuta. Tourist flow is mapped through seasonal adaptability, and the layout fosters community interaction while ensuring privacy and cultural sanctity. This thesis concludes that a culturally grounded architectural approach can effectively safeguard intangible heritage while supporting the local economy through tourism. The proposed model village serves as a functional settlement and a cultural platform encouraging storytelling, interaction, and identity preservation. Thaum thus acts as a replicable model for other indigenous communities, demonstrating how tradition and contemporary needs can be integrated in a meaningful and sustainable way.