India is home to a diverse array of temple architectures, reflecting the country's rich cultural,

religious, and architectural heritage.

Features of Hindu Temple
The basic structure of a Hindu temple consists of the following elements:
 Sanctum Sanctorum: A Garbhagriha (literally womb-house) is a small room, usually cubicle-
shaped, that houses the temple's main deity.
 Mandapa: This is the temple's main entrance. It can be a portico or a hall, and it is usually built
to accommodate a large number of worshippers.
 Shikhara: It resembles a mountain spire. Pyramidal to curvilinear shapes was used.
 Vahana: It is the main deity's mount or vehicle, and it was placed just before the sanctum
sanctorum.
Two broad orders of temples in the country are known as Nagara in the north and Dravida in the
south. At times, the Vesara style of temples is also found as an independent style, created through the
selective mixing of the Nagara and Dravida orders.
NAGARA Style
Nagara style of temple architecture that became popular in northern India is known as Nagara.
 In North India it is common for an entire temple to be built on a stone platform with steps
leading up to it.
 Another unique characteristic is that it does not usually have elaborate boundary walls or
gateways.
 Garbhagriha : The garbhagriha is always located directly under the tallest tower.
 There are many subdivisions of Nagara temples depending on the shape of the shikhara.
 Amalaka or Kalash which is installed on Shikhara is another characteristic feature of this form of
temple style
 Kandariya Mahadev Temple in Madhya Pradesh is an example for Nagara style of temple
architecture
 Other examples of Nagara style of temples in India are- Sun temple, Konark, Sun temple at
Modhera, Gujarat and Ossian temple, Gujarat.

1. Shikharas (Towers): Nagara temples are characterized by tall, curvilinear towers called
shikharas. These towers rise above the sanctum sanctorum (garbhagriha) of the temple and are
often adorned with intricate carvings and sculptural embellishments. The shikharas gradually
taper as they ascend and may feature multiple tiers or storeys.
2. Mandapa (Hall): Nagara temples typically consist of a pillared hall called the mandapa, which
serves as an assembly or gathering space for devotees. The mandapa is often connected to the
sanctum sanctorum by an antarala (vestibule) and provides access to the innermost sanctum.
3. Garbhagriha (Sanctum Sanctorum): The garbhagriha is the innermost sanctum of the temple,
housing the main deity or the presiding deity of worship. It is usually a small, windowless
chamber designed to create an intimate and sacred space for devotees to offer their prayers and
offerings.
4. Amalaka and Kalasha: At the top of the shikhara, Nagara temples often feature decorative
elements such as the amalaka, a circular stone disk, and the kalasha, a decorative water pot.
These elements symbolize prosperity and auspiciousness and are commonly found in Hindu
temple architecture.
5. Mandapa and Entrance Gates: Nagara temples often have elaborate entrance gates or
doorways adorned with sculptures and reliefs depicting mythological themes, deities, and
celestial beings. These entrances serve as architectural marvels in themselves and set the tone
for the grandeur of the temple complex.
6. Regional Variations: While Nagara architecture shares common features across different
regions, there are also regional variations in terms of decorative motifs, architectural details,
and stylistic elements. For example, the temples of Odisha exhibit unique features such as the
beehive-shaped towers known as rekha deul.
7. Examples: Some famous examples of Nagara style temples include the Jagannath Temple in
Puri, Odisha; the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh; and the Kashi
Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.