Terracotta Tiles; a dying handicraft in Himachal

Up with the sunrise, quick breakfast then went for a walk by the lake. Water levels are dropping very quickly as we have had no rain since the end of August, when the monsoon stopped. Hopefully this situation will continue so that the Bathu Temple will become accessible in March/April.
Received a delivery of handmade tiles that have been scavenged from old buildings around the area. Should be enough to replace the thatch on Pool Kothi’s veranda and the Massage Room’s roof. It is getting harder and harder to get these tiles as nobody makes them anymore. This is due to the fact that the new, younger “better educated”, generation are not following their fathers into the trades. Such a shame as so many skills are being lost.
All of Himachal used to have different building styles in the separate valleys, depending on what materials were readily available. This is all changing with ugly concrete blocks with flat roofs becoming the norm. This is interspersed with “Punjabi Baroque” mansions which are even more hideous. It would be good to try and preserve traditional arts and crafts.

Have tried to connect the only remaining old craftsman making handmade tiles in the area to the National Handicrafts Museum in Delhi – they were extremely interested, but he declined the long journey…too tired and too busy tending his fields. Pity.