INTRODUCTION

• Hailed as the Golden period of Indian

Architecture because the art of all
religions reached it’s peak during this
phase.
• Earlier Gupta rulers were Buddhists
• The later Gupta phase had Hindu
rulers, but they showed tremendous
tolerance for all other religions
INTRODUCTION
Three principal deities worshipped were-

Vishnu– North and Central India Shiva– Southern India Shakti – Eastern part and Malabar coast
INDIAN ARCHITECTURE

ANCIENT INDIA

POST- GUPTA SOUTH-

HARAPPAN MAURYAN
MAURYAN AGE INDIAN
AJANTA CAVES
• During the Gupta Era, the use of mural paintings in
caves became an added feature.
• Near Aurangabad in Maharashtra
• There is a total of 29 caves – 25 are Viharas and 4
are Chaityas.
AJANTA CAVES
• Wholly Buddhist and dated between 200 BCE and
650 AD
• They were inscribed by Buddhist monks under the
patronage of Vakataka kings – Harishena being the
prominent one.
• The figures in these caves were done using fresco
painting
FRESCO & MURAL
• A mural is any piece of artwork painted
or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or
other large permanent surface.

• Fresco is a technique of mural painting

executed upon freshly laid lime plaster.
ELLORA CAVES
• Ellora caves are also located near
Aurangabad, Maharashtra
• It is a group of 32 caves – 16
Brahmanical, 12 Buddhist and 4 Jain.
• Developed between 5th and 11th
centuries AD by various guilds from
Vidarbha, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
ELLORA CAVES
• Ellora caves are on the slant slope of the
mountains, whereas Ajanta was on the stiff
slope. This enabled the presence of
courtyards in Ellora.
OTHER CAVES
• Bagh Caves – Buddhist caves located in Madhya Pradesh in 6th century AD.
• Junagadh Caves – Also Buddhist, located in Gujarat and it has a high citadel
known as Upar Kot in front of the prayer hall.
• Nasik Caves – Hinayana Buddhist caves of 1st century AD. Hence no images of
Buddha and only motifs and symbols.
• Mandapeshwar caves – It was developed as a Brahmanical cave but late
converted into a Christian cave and came to be known as Montperir caves.
 TEMPLE
ARCHITECTURE
NORTH INDIA TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
• Evidence of the earliest known structural
temples has been recovered through
excavations from MAURYAN PERIOD
• A circular brick and timber shrine of the
Mauryan period of 3rd century B.C., was
excavated at Bairat District of Jaipur,
Rajasthan.
• BUT THE EARLIEST STANDING TEMPLES THAT
STAND TODAY ARE FROM GUPTA PERIOD
NORTH INDIA TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
• Temple architecture with a square sanctum
and a pillared portico emerged during the
Gupta period.
• The first stage of temples had flat roof and
shallow pillars but they began accumulating
greater and richer features like shikhara and
pradakshina path in the later stages.
STAGE-01
Temple 17 , Sanchi
• Square
• Pillared
• Flat roof
STAGE-02
Parvati Temple, Nachna Kuthara,MP
• Raised platform
• Circumambulatory passage
STAGE-03
Dashavatara Temple Deogarh ,Jhansi,UP
• Shikhara
• PANCHAYATANA STYLE
STAGE-04
More Rectangular
STAGE-05
Circular Temple
Martand sun temple,Anantnag , Kashmir -8th century
COMMON FEATURES OF TEMPLE
Garbhagriha – Also known as Sanctum Sanctorum, it is a small room
which houses the principal deityof the temple.

Mandapa – Entrance to the temple. Could be a portico or a pillared

hall.

Ardhamandapa – porch approaching the mandapa

Shikhara – It is a mountain like spire, usuallyon top of Garbagriha.

Vahana – Mount or vehicle of the main deity placed before the

garbagriha.
COMMON FEATURES OF TEMPLE
COMMON FEATURES OF TEMPLE
COMMON FEATURES OF TEMPLE
NAGARA SCHOOL OF ARCHITECT
• It follows the Panchayatan style of temple making.

• There are no water tanks or reservoirs present.

• Generally built on upraised platforms.
• The Amalak and Kalash are placed on top of the Shikhara.

• Pillared porticos

• No elaborate boundary walls.

NAGARA STYLE TEMPLE
ODISHA SCHOOL
• Main feature –shikhara (deul) is almost vertical till the top when it suddenly curves
sharply inwards from 1/3 height crowned by an amalka(flat stone disc) and
• Offerings hall – bhog mandir
• Hall of dancing – nat mandir
• Assembly hall – jagmohan
• Temple enclosure – small shrines
• Exteriors-lavishly decorated
• Interiors-unadorned
• Pillars not used
ODISHA SCHOOL
SUN TEMPLE KONARK
• Black pagoda- has nath mandir
and bhog mandir separate
from jagmohan and deul-12
wheels and the whole
represents sun god’s chariot
pulled by horses
LINGRAJ TEMPLE
BHIMBNESHWAR
JAGANNATHPURI TEMPLE
PURI
KHAJURAHO SCHOOL
• It is also a sub-school of Nagara
• Chandel rulers
• Both interior and exterior walls were
lavishly decorated.
• Temples were made of sandstone
• High platform
• Erotic themed sculptures.
• Shikhars-mountain range
• Kandariya mahadeva
• Viswanatha mandir
• Laxman mandir
SOLANKI SCHOOL
• Also a sub- school of Nagara.
• Rajasthan and Gujarat
• The temple walls do not have any carvings.
• A unique feature is the presence of step
tanks known as Surya Kunds in the
proximity of the temple.
• Porticos have decorated arched gateways
known as Toranas.
• Pic- Sun Temple, Modhera
SOLANKI SCHOOL
• DILWARAJAIN TEMPLE
SOUTH INDIAN TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
• Various styles or stages of South Indian Temples
Pallava

Chola/Dravida

Vesara

Vijaynagar

Hoysala

Nayak
PALLAVA ARCHITECTURE
1. Mahendra group – south indian temple architecture started with the Pallava
ruler Mahendravarman.
2. They were rock cut temples.
3. Temples were known as mandapas.
RAJSIMHA GROUP
1. under him, development of real structural temples took place (not rock cut).
2. Shore temple
RAJSIMHA GROUP
Kailasnathar temple, Kanchipuram
NANDIVARMAN GROUP
• his temples were smaller in size and similar to the Dravidian style.
• After the decline of Pallava dynasty, the new style under the Cholas was known
as the Dravidian style of architecture.
• Vaikunda Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram
DRAVIDIAN/CHOLA STYLE
• Unlike Nagara, Dravidian temples were surrounded by
high boundary walls.
• Front wall has a high entrance gateway known as
gopuram.
• The spire is in the form of a stepped pyramid which is
known as the Vimana.
• The subsidiary shrines do not have vimanas.
DRAVIDIAN/CHOLA STYLE
• Only the crowning element of the Vimana is know as
Shikhara.
• It is similar to the Kalash of the Nagara style.
• The assembly hall is connected to garbagriha with the
antarala.
• The presence of water tank inside the temple complex was
a unique feature of the dravidian style.
DRAVIDIAN/CHOLA SCULPTURE
• The important piece was the sculpture of Nataraja in
the Tandava dance posture.
• This sculpture reached it’s peak during the cholas.
DRAVIDIAN/CHOLA SCULPTURE
• Upper right hand – holds drum – symbolizes creation.
• Upper left hand – holds eternal fire – destruction.
• Lower right hand – abhay mudra – benediction and reassuring the devotee.
• Lower left hand – point towards foot – indicates the path of salvation.
• Shiva is dancing on a small dwarf who symbolizes ego and ignorance of man.
• Matted and flowing locks of hair – flow of river ganges.
• Different earring in both the ears – ardhanarishwar.
• Snake twisted around the arm – kundalini power.
• The nataraja is surrounded by glowing lights – vast unending cycles of time.
NAYAKA TEMPLE
• Madurai school
• Under the Nayaka rulers of 16th – 18th centuries AD.
• Similar to Dravidian style but larger in scope
• It had roofed pradakshina patha and huge corridors in the portico.
• It had very large gopurams – adorned with art
• Meenakshi temple in Madurai has the tallest gopuram in the world.
• Intricate carvings inside temple
NAYAKA TEMPLE
VESARA SCHOOL
• Karanataka school.
• Flourished under the later Chalukyas of the mid-seventh century AD.
• Features of both Dravida and Nagara schools.
• Open ambulatory passageway.
• Ingtricate carvings
• Emphasis on vimana and mandapa
• Badami, Aihole , Pattadkal

Temples at Aihole,Karnataka
VESARA SCHOOL
• Bhootnath temples, Badami
VESARA SCHOOL
• Virupaksha temple- PATTADKAL (UNESCO QORLD HERITAGE SITE)
VIJAYANAGARA SCHOOL
• Influenced by the indo-islamic style of Bijapur.
• Tall Gopurams
• Larger walls
• More than one mandapas were built and the central mandapa was known as
Kalyan Mandapa.
• Concept of secular buildings inside temple premises were introduced during
this period.
VIJAYANAGARA SCHOOL
• LOTUS MEHAL
HOYSALA ARTS
• Temples built under Hoysalas near Mysore
developed a distinct style during 1050 –
1300 AD.
• Multiple shrines were built around a central
pillared hall. This was known as the stellate
plan.
• The upraised platform for building temples
was known as Jagati.
HOYSALA ARTS
• Hoysaleswara Temple , Halebidu
PALA SCHOOL
• Developed in the Bengal region between 8th and 12th century AD.
• Developed under the patronage of Pala(Buddhist) and Sena(Hindu) dynasties.
• Hence influence of both the religions can be seen.
• Buildings had a sloping roof, popularly known as “bangla” roof.
• Burnt bricks and clay known as the terracotta bricks were used.
PALA SCHOOL
madan mohan temple ,
Bishnupur
ANGKOR WAT TEMPLE
Cambodia
Khmer kings
Lord Vishnu
12th century
Later convertred to Budhist
temple
MODERN ARCHITECTURE
• By the arrival of European colonists.
• The Portuguese brought the Iberian style
of architecture in Goa with Patio houses
and baroque churches.
• The French brought the concept of urban
city planning to Pondicherry and
Chandernagore.
MODERN ARCHITECTURE
The British brought the Gothic style which
merged to form Indo-Gothic style.
• Mix of Indian ,Persian and gothic style
• Large and elaborate
• Thin walls
• Large windows
• Steel iron concrete
MODERN ARCHITECTURE
• Post 1911, a new style known as the
Neo-Roman architecture emerged.

• It was characterized by circular

building and upturned domes.

• Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker were

the chief architects under this style.
Colonial Architecture – Modern India
• Portuguese established impressive churches in Iberian style of architecture

for ex. churches of Goa

• Francis Church at Cochin( 1510) is believed to be the first church built by

the Europeans in India

• Portuguese used bricks as the main building material along with wooden

roofs & stairs

Colonial Architecture – Modern India
• British followed various architectural styles viz. Gothic, Imperial,
Christian, Palladian and Victorian being prominent

• Britishers used Red sandstone & coarse limestone as the main building
material
• Constantia, a building erected by General Martin (British) at Lucknow, is
the best specimen of Palladian Style in India
Colonial Architecture – Modern India
• Wittet designed the Gateway of India in Mumbai, borrowing several
elements of Mughal style
• Sardar Ram Singh, a master builder of Punjab, designed the Central
Museum and the Senate House at Lahore (in Pakistan)

• Constantia Lucknow
• Gateway of India, Mumbai
Colonial Architecture – Modern India
• Victoria Terminus Station (Chhatrapati Shivaji station), Mumbai

• Designed by the British architect F. W. Stevens, the structure became

the symbol of Bombay
• Based on late medieval Italian models, the terminal was built over 10
years, starting in 1878
• An outstanding example of Victorian Gothic revival architecture in India
• Blended with themes deriving from Indian traditional architecture
Colonial Architecture – Modern India
• Bombay city was labelled as the ‘Gothic City’
• Victoria Terminus Station
• Victoria Memorial Hall (Kolkata)
• Designed by William Emerson in late 19th century
• To perpetuate the memory of Queen Victoria in India

• Drew elements from the indigenous & Indo-Islamic architecture

combined with the Gothic revival & Neo-Classical styles
• Victoria Memorial
REVIVAL OF DELHI
• 1911 → Transfer of capital from Calcutta (now Kolkata) to Delhi
• Sir Edward Lutyens was made responsible for the overall plan of Delhi
• He constructed India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhawan (Vice Regal Place)
• Vice regal palace appeared with a huge dome on the lines of a Buddhist
stupa,
• Represent some elements of Hindu ornamentation & Islamic symmetry
• Herbert Baker added South Block and North Block, which flank the
Rashtrapati Bhawan.
REVIVAL OF DELHI

• India Gate Connaught Place. Rashtrapati Bhawan

SOME FAMOUS ARCHITECTS IN INDIA
LAURIE BAKER
• Was called as the architect of the poor and the conscience keeper of India.
• He merged the buildings with the environment and utilized locally available
materials.
• To reduce the consumption of steel and cement, he introduced filler slab
construction.
• While designing he gave more importance to ventilation & thermal comfort.
• Revolutionized mass housing in Kerala.
SOME FAMOUS ARCHITECTS IN INDIA
Karl Heinz
• He was a German Architect and was commissioned with instructions to stay clear
of elements of British or Mughal Architecture
• Heinz used local materials like red sand stone and lime which were easily
available.
• Prominent Feature → Red sandstone buildings with white domes, with big
courtyards and windows
• Architecture by him is known as modern style of architecture as it resembles
today’s style buildings
SOME FAMOUS ARCHITECTS IN INDIA
LE-CORBUSIER
• He was a French Architect
• He designed the city of Chandigarh on the
pattern of well-ordered matrix
• He conceived the Idea of sector as self-sufficient
green belt
• Designed regular grid system for fast moving
traffic
SOME FAMOUS ARCHITECTS IN INDIA
CHARLES CORREA
• He was a Goan Architect & played pivotal role past
independence.
• He placed special emphasis on prevailing resources, energy and
climate as major determinants in the ordering of space.
• He did pioneer work in urban issues and low cost shelter in the
third world.
• Example: Planning of Navi Mumbai, Kanchenjunga
apartment, Mumbai, British Council building, New Delhi, etc.