The Hidden Jewel in the Thar Desert.

Amidst golden sand somewhere in the middle of the Thar Desert lies a beautifully crafted and well-ventilated school for girls. Protecting the students from the sultry sun that burns their skin in summer, this school was conceptualized by CTTA founder Micheal Daube.

It was designed by Diana Kellogg, a US-based architect. Rajkumari Ratnadevi girls’ school provides education to girls from nearby villages and enables women to learn skills that will empower them.

This school is constructed in an oval shape using yellow sandstone. It does not have air conditioning yet it is so well constructed that there is a free flow of air. Located at just a few minutes drive from Jaisalmer amidst the dune, this school impresses anyone who lays eyes on it.

The school portion of the building can accommodate almost 400 girls from nursery to class 10th. Whereas the other portion of the building is used for teaching women the art of weaving and textile craft to preserve the age-old techniques from dying.

It also hosts a textile museum and an exhibition center for craftsmen and artisans to display and sell their art.

The architect of this beautiful creation Diana Kellogg had never worked outside the US. She first visited India in 2014 to understand how people survive in the desert. as the days pass she absorbed the way people lived in and around Thar Desert. She fell in love with the music, architecture, and art forms of Rajasthan.

This motivated her to develop this marvelous and magnificent structure. During her stay, she observed and studied the dunes and the culture of people living there. She didn’t want any western influence on this piece of art.

She designed the building in an oval shape to represent a woman since it was being made for women.

According to her the shape of the building resembles women in many cultures. Moreover, it also amalgamates with the golden dunes rolling around it one on top of the other. It also represents a closed encircled community in India which is unique to its culture.

It also makes the structure more sustainable. The jalis and the solar panels acting as a canopy, filter the sand and help in keeping the sun and the heat at bay. The pattern of the building naturally cools the building and keeps it well ventilated.

The solar panels cover the roof providing shade and also power up the building. The building is also equipped with a cooling system that uses geothermal energy at night. The system also cools the building during the day.

The building is made using local material which has helped in reducing the carbon footprint in transportation and logistics.

While narrating one of the instances she mentioned that they were not able to find the right size sink anywhere. A local artisan carved it out from a stone. She mentioned that such an experience she wouldn’t have got in the US.

According to Micheal the founder of CTTA the school’s logo symbolizes education, Healthcare, and women empowerment. He emphasizes the fact that education plays a vital role in nurturing and shaping the woman thus allowing her to lead the world.

The NGO has worked tooth and nail to build this iconic structure. This school will not only educate the girls and empower the women but will also help in attracting tourism.

This school in Rajasthan is a Hidden jewel in the Thar desert which took almost 10 years to be fully completed.

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