INDIAN ARCHITECTURE

History of architecture 3
 Indian Architecture
The Architecture of India includes
present day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh
and Sri Lanka.
The diversity of Indian culture is
represented in its architecture.
Indian architecture comprises a blend
of ancient and varied traditions, with
building types, forms and technologies
from the west, central Asia and Europe.
Geographical Condition
The rivers Indus and Ganges:Timber
was abundantly available.
Himalayas: Stones are rare.
The Everest mountain: white marble is
available.
Surrounded by seas and Indian ocean
Many cities were founded on the
banks of rivers.
 Religion
Basis of social structure
Bound up with human behavior and conduct
of public affairs.
1.Vedism and Brahmanism :
2. Hinduism
Two religions were born as a reaction against
the inflexible Brahmins:
1. Janism
2. Buddhism
3. Islam
 Vedism (Vedic Religion): Vedism is the oldest stratum
of religious activity in India for which there exist
written materials. It was one of the major traditions
that shaped Hinduism.
• Vedism was a polytheistic sacrificial religion
involving the worship of numerous male divinities
(and a few goddesses), most of whom were
connected with the sky and natural phenomena.

Hinduism: Major world religion originating on the

Indian subcontinent and comprising several and varied
systems of philosophy, belief, and ritual. If the Indus
valley civilization (3rd–2nd millennium BCE) was the
earliest source of these traditions, as some scholars hold,
then Hinduism is the oldest living religion on Earth.
Hinduism had a dominant presence in Southeast Asia,
one that would last for more than 1,000 years.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC
 Buddhism: is one of the world’s largest religions and
originated 2,500 years ago in India. Buddhists believe
that the human life is one of suffering, and that
meditation, spiritual and physical labor, and good
behavior are the ways to achieve enlightenment, or
nirvana.
• There are three main schools of Buddhism:
Mahayana,Theravada, and Vajrayana.
• Mahayana Buddhism is common in China,
Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. It emphasizes the
Religion role models of bodhisattvas (beings that have
achieved enlightenment but return to teach
humans).
• Theravada Buddhism is common in Sri Lanka,
Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Burma
(Myanmar). It emphasizes a monastic lifestyle and
meditation as the way to enlightenment.
• Vajrayana is the major school of Buddhism in the
region of Tibet and in Nepal, Bhutan, and
Mongolia.
 Indian Architecture
characteristics and styles
Indian architecture can be classified
into three broad categories:
Mauryan, Kushan and Gupta
 Mauryan Architecture:

Mauryan period (340 BC to 232 BC) The first big

empire after the Vedic age, was the first one to rule
over most of the Indian subcontinent. The art and
architecture during this period except for the
Pataliputra palace, is mainly Ashokan. It can be
classified mainly into Stupas, Pillars, Caves, Palaces
and Pottery.
 Mauryan Architecture:

The Art during the Mauryan era witnessed a major

transformation – from use of wood to stone and
marked an impressive step forward in Indian stone
sculpture.
Mainly in the period of Ashoka, the art and
architecture was at its zenith and fall within the
category of court art. Ashoka embraced Buddhism and
the immense Buddhist missionary activities that
followed encouraged the development of distinct
sculptural and architectural styles.

One of the finest examples of Mauryan sculpture, the magnificent Lion Capital at
Sarnath has been adopted as the National Emblem of the modern Indian Republic.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC
Mauryan Architecture:

Samrat Ashoka who had embraced

Buddhism, constructed numerous
Stupas all over the country to
celebrate the achievements of Gautam
Buddha.The Stupa at Sanchi is one of
the greatest examples of Stupas built
in that period.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
 Kushan Architecture
The Kushan Empire was a major political and cultural
power in ancient Central Asia and Northern India. The
art and architecture of the Kushan Empire reflect the
cultural diversity and interactions of the time.
• One of the most notable Kushan rulers was
Kanishka I, who is remembered for his support of
Buddhism and patronage of art and culture.
The Kushan rulers are notable for their support of
diverse religions, including Buddhism and
Zoroastrianism, as well as for their role in facilitating
trade and cultural exchange along the Silk Road.
The empire was a melting pot of different religions,
including Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, and
elements of Greek and Persian belief systems.
 Kushan Architecture
The Kushan period saw the development of Buddhist
architecture, including stupas, viharas (monasteries), and
chaityas (prayer halls).
• The Great Stupa at Sanchi, originally built during
the Mauryan period, was expanded and renovated
under Kushan’s influence.
 Gupta Architecture
The Gupta Dynasty (4th-6th century)
in North Central India saw the first
purpose-built Hindu (and also
Buddhist) temples which evolved from
the earlier tradition of rock-cut shrines.
Adorned with towers and elaborate
carvings, these temples were often
dedicated to all the Hindu gods. Gupta
Architecture is very diverse in style,
design and features.
Mughal Architecture
Mughal architecture is the Indo-Islamic architecture built by the Mughals in the 16th, 17th, and
18th centuries as their empire expanded throughout the Indian subcontinent. It evolved from
earlier Muslim kingdoms in India as well as Iranian and Central Asian architectural traditions,
particularly Timurid architecture.
The Mughals' enormous architectural patronage was made feasible by their considerable riches,
which surpassed that of other contemporary Muslim empires such as the Ottomans and Safavids.
The use of color was also relatively controlled, with emphasis instead on finishing surfaces with
high-quality, polished materials. Bulbous domes and ogive arches were among the most prominent
recurring elements. In addition to domes and arches, the local tradition of trabeated construction
also continued, especially in secular architecture like palaces.
 Gupta Architecture
In Gupta architecture, the square was considered the
most perfect form and temples were designed to be
appreciated from all sides so that each carries decorative
architectural features.
Most temples also adopt a square plan with the single
cubicle garbhagriha in the center.
Typical of the period in general, Gupta temples were
dedicated to a large number of Hindu gods rather than
a single deity. Accordingly, architectural sculpture
represents a wide range of gods in scenes from Hindu
mythology.

The temple at Bhitargaon in Uttar Pradesh is one of the most complete

surviving Gupta temples. It is a rare early example of a Hindu temple
constructed entirely of brick, dating to the late 5th century CE.
Temple architecture
The Hindu temple architecture in India is renowned for its profound symbolism,
intricate detailing, and spiritual significance.
The two major styles of temple architecture in the country are known as Nagara
in the north and Dravidian in the south. The third style, Vesara Style, is fusion of
Nagara and Dravidian style of architecture.
 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
itSince its origin, this style has gone through various
changes to its present form.Variations within the style
have developed over time from region to region,
which have come to be recognized as sub-styles..
It is characterized by its tall, pyramidal towers called
shikharas. These are topped by a bulbous finial called
a kalasha. Nagara temples are typically built on a high
platform. A series of concentric walls surround them.

Udayeshwara Temple,Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh

 Dravidian Style
Dravidian architecture is one of the oldest
architectures in the world. The first to start this
architecture was Pallava Dynasty, which ruled the area
around 275 BCE, is from southern part of India built
by the Dravidian peoples.
It consists primarily of pyramid shaped temples called
Kovils in Tamil which are dependent on intricate
carved stone to create a step design consisting of
many statues of deities, warriors, kings, and dancers.
Dravidian architecture can further be classified into
two sub-styles 1. The Structural Architecture and 2.
The Rock Cut Architecture

Shore Temple was built with granite stones, and it is considered as one of the
oldest stone structured temples in Southern India. The basic principle of the
temple’s architecture is the first ray of the sunlight falls on the lord Shiva’s idol,
which is faced on the east.
 Vesara Style
Vesara is a hybrid form of Indian
temple architecture, with South Indian
plan and a shape that features North
Indian details.This fusion style likely
originated in the historic architecture
schools of the Dharwad region.
The term Vesara is believed to have
been derived from the Sanskrit word
vishra meaning an area to take a long
walk.