Earth has always been the most widely used material for building in India and is a part of its culture. Traditionally, mud wall construction varies enormously with topography, climatic conditions and needs of different regions. The common methods used for earth construction are cob, wattle and daub, rammed earth, adobe and cut blocks. Approximately 55% of all Indian homes still use raw earth for walls.

Interestingly enough, the limited load bearing capacity of earth is not a handicap for traditional builders. All traditional techniques are strong enough for the village builders' requirements. Beautiful examples can be found all over India. Even today, earth is extensively used as building material. Among other benefits of using earth for construction are its thermal insulation value, easy availability, and beauty.