On Courtyards in India
Klaus-Peter Gast (2007) kind of states the obvious on the significance of courtyards in India (shamelessly from the wiki):
The courtyards also take up an old Indian architectural motif whereby the courtyard provides light and air for the rooms directly in this hot climate, and people are able to spend time outside or inside according to the time of day. The courtyard is also the classical symbol of something shared, a place where people meet, spend time with each other and live together.
-Shlok
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