Maharaja Environment Technologies, a Mumbai-based company, has been building eco-friendly wooden log houses in India for over a decade. Its technology transfer and partnership with a Siberian manufacturing company — with two decades of experience in log construction — makes it the leading manufacturer of this type of home in the country. We spoke to their Sales Manager, Akash Upadhyay, to understand what these structures involve, what they cost, and why they deserve serious consideration as a holiday home investment.
The interview
Please introduce your company.
Maharaja Environment Technologies Company Pvt. Ltd. is headquartered in Mumbai and is the leading modular wooden log house construction company in India. We are the pioneers in this segment, having introduced Russian log house construction technology to the Indian market.
You have a partnership with a major woodworking company in Siberia. How does that relationship benefit your work here?
Our Russian manufacturing facility has twenty years of experience in wooden log house construction across Russia and abroad. In Siberia in particular, woodworking skills are passed from father to son across many generations. Over the centuries, Siberian craftsmen have achieved a level of precision that meets the strictest European standards. Our partnership is rooted in that expertise. We have acquired their construction technology and now employ it in every log house we build in India.
Our Russian processing plant is capable of manufacturing between fifty and one hundred modular wooden house sets per month. Every set is manufactured and finished in full conformity with the client's approved design project, enabling fast and straightforward on-site assembly.
Is there somewhere clients can see and experience these houses in person?
Yes. The techniques and overall aesthetic of our wooden log houses can be seen at our active construction sites near Mumbai.
How many houses can you produce in a given month?
Our processing plant can manufacture up to fifty modular house sets per month. We work with a range of fixed designs but are also willing to develop entirely bespoke solutions based on client specifications.
How long does it take to complete an average-sized wooden log house?
From order confirmation to final finishing, the process typically takes six months. One reason for this efficiency is that our houses require no additional finishing of the walls — either inside or out — beyond what is done at the factory.
What does a finished wooden log house look like?
In addition to the log-wood exterior and interior walls, a finished house features wooden flooring, a wooden ceiling, tiled surfaces where appropriate, wooden doors and windows, and wooden staircases. The timber is treated with a Russian-origin impregnation that is fully eco-friendly and provides fire resistance and biological protection. A PU polish is then applied for water resistance and aesthetic finish, and clients can choose from a range of polish colours.
Do these houses carry a warranty?
Yes. All our woodwork conforms to the strictest European standards, and the quality is consistent with log houses built anywhere in the world. We provide a five-year warranty, and the expected lifespan of our Indian-assembled log houses exceeds eighty years — making it, in every sense, a lifetime investment.
What types of wooden log houses do you currently offer in India?
We offer three types, differentiated primarily by wall construction:
- 45mm kiln-dried solid log: 45mm-thick walls in extra-class Siberian pine and larch, suited to single-storey cottages of up to 1,000 square feet.
- 200mm solid round logs: The most traditional approach, using logs with only the bark removed and prefabricated corner interlocking. Walls are 200mm thick. Suitable for single-storey cottages up to multi-storey buildings (ground plus three floors).
- 120mm glued and laminated square logs: Kiln-dried lumber pieces are glued, pressed, and laminated to prevent cracking and ensure a perfect fit. Walls are 120mm thick. Also suitable from single-storey to ground-plus-three.
What does it cost?
Pricing depends on specifications and customisation. As a rough guide, the 45mm solid log option costs approximately INR 1,700 per square foot; the 200mm round log option around INR 2,200; and the 120mm glued-laminated option around INR 2,600. Additional costs such as VAT apply on top of these figures. Note: prices as quoted at time of interview — verify current rates directly with the manufacturer before proceeding.
What are the main benefits of a wooden log home?
- Speed of construction: A home of up to 100 square metres can be delivered in four to six months, with on-site assembly taking as little as fifteen to twenty days.
- Environmental sustainability: The assembly process generates no solid or liquid waste. All materials are sourced from ecologically renewable resources, certified to European standards.
- Energy efficiency: Wooden homes naturally regulate temperature — staying cool in summer and warm in winter — leading to significantly lower energy costs throughout their lifetime.
- Aesthetic appeal: Log homes have long been popular in Western markets and are widely used in Indian hill-station tourism developments. They attract guests precisely because they are unusual and beautiful.
- Durability: Properly constructed and maintained, these structures are robust, safe, and built to last several generations.
For those interested in a wooden log home as a holiday retreat, the combination of fast build times, low running costs, and distinctive character makes this a genuinely compelling option — particularly in hill-station or forest-edge settings where the structure harmonises naturally with its surroundings.