Indian architecture encompasses a wide variety of geographically and historically spread structures, and was transformed by the long history of the entire South Asian subcontinent. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The result is an evolving range of architectural production that, in spite of the difficulty to identify it with any single representative style, nonetheless, retains a certain amount of continuity across history. The diversity of Indian culture is represented in its architecture. Indian architecture comprises a blend of ancient and varied native traditions, with building types, forms and technologies from West, Central Asia, and Europe. Southwest Asia or Southwestern Asia (largely overlapping with the Middle East) is the southwestern portion of Asia. Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south

Studies of 'Indian' architecture normally begin with the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation that flourished in modern Pakistan and western region of present Republic of India, moving through the late Vedic period, the Maurya-Gupta age of Buddhist monuments, monasteries and Indian rock-cut architecture, followed by the great temple-building of the medieval era. The Indus Valley Civilization (Mature period 2600&ndash1900 BCE abbreviated IVC, was an ancient Civilization that flourished in the Indus River basin The Vedic Period (or Vedic Age) is the period in the History of India during which the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism, were being The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military The Gupta Empire ( Hindi: गुप्त राजवंश was ruled by members of the Gupta dynasty from around 320 to 550 C Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Indian rock-cut architecture is more various and found in greater abundance than any other form of rock-cut architecture around the world Turk and Afghan rulers in the north, during medieval times brought with them West Asian traditions of the arch, the dome and the vault. The Turkish people (Türk Halkı also known as " Turks " ( Türkler) are defined mainly as being speakers of Turkish as a First language The Demographics of Afghanistan are ethnically and linguistically mixed An arch is a structure that spans a space while supporting weight (e A dome is a common structural element of Architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a Sphere. A Vault (French voute Italian volta German Gewölbe Polish sklepienie, Spanish The rise of the Mughal Empire in the 16th century established a sophisticated synthesis of Indian regional elements with ideas from Persia and West Asia, a style that was adopted across the subcontinent even by post-Mughal rulers and recognised today as Mughal architecture. The Mughal Empire ( Persian and self-designation گورکانی; مغلیہ سلطنت) was an Islamic imperial power which ruled most The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia Southwest Asia or Southwestern Asia (largely overlapping with the Middle East) is the southwestern portion of Asia. Mughal architecture, an amalgam of Islamic, Persian and Indian architecture, is the distinctive style developed by the Mughal Empire The subsequent European colonization of India paved the way for the entry of styles from that continent, including Mannerist, Baroque, Neo-Classical and Neo-Gothic styles, which were followed in the late 19th century by the hybrid Indo-European style called the Indo-Saracenic. Mannerism is a period of European art which emerged from the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520. Baroque architecture, starting in the early 17th century in Italy, took the humanist Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century both as a reaction against the Rococo The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement which began Indo-Saracenic (from Saracen, an archaic name for Muslims used by the British also known as Indo-Gothic, was a style of Architecture used by British

Indian architecture has influenced the surrounding regions of the world, especially eastern Asia, due to the spread of ideas with Buddhism. A number of Indian architectural features such as the stupa (temple mound), sikhara (temple spire), pagoda (temple tower), torana (and temple gate), have become famous symbols of Hindu-Budhist culture, used extensively in East Asia and South East Asia. A stupa (from Sanskrit and Pāli: m स्तूप stūpa, literally meaning "heap" is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist Śikhara, a Sanskrit word translating literally to "mountain peak" refers to the rising tower in the Hindu temple architecture of North India A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered Tower with multiple Eaves common in China, Japan, Korea For the Australian car see Holden Torana. A torana is a type of gateway seen in Hindu and Buddhist architecture The variant gopuram (southern temple gate) is noted for its intricacy and majesty. A Gopuram or gopura (also known as a vimanam) is a monumental tower usually ornate at the entrance of a temple especially in Southern India. The arch, a cornerstone of world architecture, was first developed by the Indus Valley civilization, and would later be a staple of Indian architecture. An arch is a structure that spans a space while supporting weight (e The Indus Valley Civilization (Mature period 2600&ndash1900 BCE abbreviated IVC, was an ancient Civilization that flourished in the Indus River basin Indian style Hindu and Buddhist temples were constructed abroad in ancient times, with especially noteworthy uses of this style in Cambodia's Angkor Wat, and Java's Prambanan. A Hindu temple or Mandir ( Sanskrit: मंदिर is a house of worship for Hindus followers of Hinduism. Buddhist Temples monasteries, Stupas and Pagodas sorted by location The Kingdom of Cambodia ( formerly known as Kampuchea (, transliterated: Preăh Réachéanachâkr Kâmpŭchea) is a country in South East Angkor Wat (or Angkor Vat) (អង្គរវត្ត is a Temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for King Suryavarman II Java (Jawa is an Island of Indonesia and the site of its Capital city Jakarta. Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple compound in Central Java in Indonesia, located approximately 18 km east of Yogyakarta. Even today the country is literally dotted with hundreds and thousands of monuments of various ages,some are in well preserved state and some are not so. There is a realisation in the country that it is a treasure, with a long historical path. Some of the agencies involved in this work are ASI,INTACH, conservation faculties in universities such as the School of Planning and Architecture -Center for Conservation Studies etc.

As far as the more modern structures from Islamic to British colonial periods - many of them are still in use and that is what gives the urban setting in Indian cities a unique historical touch.

Indus Valley civilization

The earliest known civilization in the Indo-Pak region of South Asia was the Indus Valley Civilization, comprising many urban settlements, including the large cities of Harrappa and Mohenjo Daro, and characterised by a variety of house types, many of which had private baths connected to public drainage systems. The Indus Valley Civilization (Mature period 2600&ndash1900 BCE abbreviated IVC, was an ancient Civilization that flourished in the Indus River basin Harappa ( Urdu:, Hindi: हड़प्पा) is a City in Punjab, northeast Pakistan, about 35km (22 miles southwest Mohenjo-daro (موئن جودڑو موئن جو دڙو मोहन जोदड़ो Mound of the Dead was one of the largest city-settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization The cities consisted of a citadel raised above residential and production districts with streets laid out in a grid plan and lined by drains. A citadel is a fortress for protecting a Town, sometimes incorporating a Castle. The citadel was intended to contain the most important buildings, including the grainaries and trading depots, and in the case of Mohenjo Daro, the Great Bath, widely believed to be a fertility shrine. Mohenjo-daro (موئن جودڑو موئن جو دڙو मोहन जोदड़ो Mound of the Dead was one of the largest city-settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization The uniformity in urban layouts, house typologies and sizes as well as construction methods of the standard kiln-fired bricks, is evidence of significant social and political co-ordination. Kilns are thermally insulated chambers or Ovens in which controlled temperature regimes are produced Recent excavations have proved that the geographical spread of the Indus Valley Civilisation was much larger than thought earlier, encompassing areas east of the Indus valley (in modern Pakistan) and areas in western region of present Republic of India (modern Haryana, Gujrat and Punjab). Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Dhaulavira in Gujarat is one such site under extensive study as of now.

Rise of Buddhist and Jain architectures

Viharas (Buddhist monasteries) began to appear soon after the death of the Buddha, particularly during the Mauryan Empire (321 - 232 B. A Vihara is an Indian Buddhist Monastery. In Sanskrit the word vihara means "a secluded place in which to walk" Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military C) with characteristic stupa monuments; and chaityas (meditation halls housing a stupa). A stupa (from Sanskrit and Pāli: m स्तूप stūpa, literally meaning "heap" is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist A chaitya is a Buddhist or Jain shrine including a Stupa. In modern texts on Indian architecture the term chaitya-griha is often used A stupa (from Sanskrit and Pāli: m स्तूप stūpa, literally meaning "heap" is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist The same period saw the beginning of stone architecture, evidenced by palace remains at Pataliputra as well as the Ashoka Stambha - the monolithic free-standing columns inscribed with edicts put up by the Emperor Ashoka. Paṭnā ( Hindi: पटना is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited Ashoka ( Devanāgarī: अशोकः IAST: Aśokaḥ, aɕoːkə(hə Prakrit Imperial title Devanampriya Priyadarsi Ashoka ( Devanāgarī: अशोकः IAST: Aśokaḥ, aɕoːkə(hə Prakrit Imperial title Devanampriya Priyadarsi The Ashokan period is also marked for the introduction of brilliant rock-cut architecture, which formed into the 1000-year-long tradition of cutting and sculpting vast, complex and multi-roomed shrines into natural rock, resulting in religious edifices belonging to Ajivika Buddhist, Hindu and Jain faiths. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India. This practice is supposed to have originated in Egypt and appeared in India for the first time in the Barabar caves presented by Ashoka to the Ajivika sect. The Barabar Caves are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India, of Ashoka (r Ashoka ( Devanāgarī: अशोकः IAST: Aśokaḥ, aɕoːkə(hə Prakrit Imperial title Devanampriya Priyadarsi The forms, spaces and designs of Buddhist and Jain influened architectures were to leave an indelible mark on the future architecture of the subcontinent. Quite a few Buddhist and Jain monasteries and shrines are said to have been destroyed in the early and mid-medieval era. Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India.

Hindu architecture

Main article: Hindu temple architecture

Virupaksha Temple at Pattadakal, Karnataka, 745 CE

The reference to Hindu temples in literature goes back to 5th century BC in the texts by Panini (520 BC - 460 BC) and Patanjali. A basic Hindu Temple consists of an inner sanctum the Garbha griha or womb-chamber in which the image is housed often with space for its circumambulation Pattadakal ( Kannada - ಪಟ್ಟದಕಲ್ is a town in the Indian state of Karnataka famous for its group of monuments that are the culmination Pāṇini ( IAST: Pāṇini Dēvanāgarī: sa पाणिनि a Patronymic meaning "descendant of {{IAST|Paṇi}} " was an ancient Patañjali ( Devanāgarī पतञ्जलि (fl 150 BCE or 2nd c Later, with increasing architectural differentiation, the southern Dravida and the northern Nagara styles emerged as dominant modes of temple architecture, differing mainly in the shape of the roofing structure, the former being a stepped pyramid while the latter has a curved profile, epitomised in productions such as the magnificent Brihadeeswara Temple, Thanjavur, and the Sun Temple, Konark. Dravidian peoples refers to the peoples that natively speak languages belonging to the Dravidian language family. Nagara is a village in the Shimoga district of the state of Karnataka, India. The Brihadishwara Temple ( Tamil: ta பெருவுடையார் கோவில் also known as Rajarajeswaram, at Thanjavur is a brilliant Thanjavur ( Tamil: தஞ்சாவூர் also known by its Anglicised name Tanjore, and it is the Eleventh largest city in Tamil Nadu (after WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Konark ( Sanskrit: कोनार्क) is a small town in Puri district of WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Konark ( Sanskrit: कोनार्क) is a small town in Puri district of

Buddhist elements and motifs continue to influence Hindu temple architecture to a considerable extent to this day. Along with the dominant Dravida and Nagara, arose a number of varied regional styles of temples in places like Bengal, Kashmir and Kerala. Etymology and ethnology The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown though it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang This article is about the geographical region of greater Kashmir Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}};

Some Hindu as well as Budhist temples during the early medieval era were rock-cut. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical The Kailasanatha temple at Ellora was excavated from top to bottom out of a massive rock face. Ellora ( Marathi: Verul is an archaeological site 30 km (186 miles from the city of Aurangabad in the Indian state of Maharashtra

The structural system of temples was essentially post and beam and with massive blocks of stone being the basic raw material for the local craftsman, construction could be carried out with minimal or no mortar. Timber framing (Fachwerk or Half-timbering, is the method of creating framed structures of heavy timber jointed together with pegged Mortise and tenon joints Decoration was fundamental to this type of architecture and is seen often in intricate details of the figured sculpture as well as in the architectural elements. The concept of fractals has been used to examine the form of the Hindu temple, both in terms of its planning and external appearance. A fractal is generally "a rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be split into parts each of which is (at least approximately a reduced-size copy of the whole"

Sculptures of Hindu deities are an essential design feature of most of the temples in southern India. Shown here is the famous Meenakshi temple in Tamil Nadu. The Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or Meenakshi Amman Temple ( மீனாக்ஷி அம்மன் கோவில்) is a historic Hindu Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India.

The garbhagriha or the sanctum sanctorum forms the central focus housing the deity of the temple and is provided with a circulation passage around. Garbhagriha or garbha gṛha is a Sanskrit word meaning the interior of the Sanctum sanctorum, the innermost sanctum of a Hindu temple where The Sanctum Sanctorum is a fictional building in the Marvel Universe. There are also, however, many subsidiary shrines within temple complexes, particularly in the (Dravidian style) South Indian temples. As the Hindu temple is not intended for congregational worship, the garbhagriha is small in scale when compared to the whole temple complex. Garbhagriha or garbha gṛha is a Sanskrit word meaning the interior of the Sanctum sanctorum, the innermost sanctum of a Hindu temple where It is articulated externally, however, by the vimanam (or sikhara), the towering roof-structure. A Gopuram or gopura (also known as a vimanam) is a monumental tower usually ornate at the entrance of a temple especially in Southern India. Śikhara, a Sanskrit word translating literally to "mountain peak" refers to the rising tower in the Hindu temple architecture of North India Mandapas (multiple pillared halls) are found preceding the garbhagriha. A mandapa (also spelled mantapa or mandapam) in Indian architecture is a pillared outdoor hall or pavilion for public Garbhagriha or garbha gṛha is a Sanskrit word meaning the interior of the Sanctum sanctorum, the innermost sanctum of a Hindu temple where

The spatial experience of a Dravidian (South Indian) temple complex is considered particularly enriching and meaningful. In many, such as the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam, prakaras (concentric enclosures) along with the series of entrance gateways (gopurams), reduce in scale moving towards the garbha-griha, setting up a rhythm of solids and voids as well as providing a ritual and visual axis. The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, India is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ranganatha, a reclining form This article is about a notable Hindu pilgrimage location in Tamil Nadu, India. A Gopuram or gopura (also known as a vimanam) is a monumental tower usually ornate at the entrance of a temple especially in Southern India. Garbhagriha or garbha gṛha is a Sanskrit word meaning the interior of the Sanctum sanctorum, the innermost sanctum of a Hindu temple where

The principles of temple architecture were codified in treatises and canons such as Manasara, Mayamatam, and Vaastu Shastra. Vaastu Shastra deals with various aspects of Designing and Building living environments that are in harmony with the physical and metaphysical These offered an ordering framework yet allowed some latitude for contextual articulation.

List of notable ancient and modern Hindu temples outside India:

• Angkor Wat in Cambodia
• Hindu temples in Java and Bali, including Prambanan
• Neasden Temple in United Kingdom
• Swaminarayan temple, Chicago, USA

Buddhist and Jain architecture

Buddhism gained prominence as mentioned above especially during the reign of the Emperor Ashoka. Angkor Wat (or Angkor Vat) (អង្គរវត្ត is a Temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for King Suryavarman II The Kingdom of Cambodia ( formerly known as Kampuchea (, transliterated: Preăh Réachéanachâkr Kâmpŭchea) is a country in South East Java (Jawa is an Island of Indonesia and the site of its Capital city Jakarta. Bali is an Indonesian Island located at, the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple compound in Central Java in Indonesia, located approximately 18 km east of Yogyakarta. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir London was inaugurated on August 20 1995 by his holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Ashoka ( Devanāgarī: अशोकः IAST: Aśokaḥ, aɕoːkə(hə Prakrit Imperial title Devanampriya Priyadarsi It is primarily represented by three important building types- the Chaitya Hall (meditation hall), the Vihara (dormitory) and the Stupa. A stupa (from Sanskrit and Pāli: m स्तूप stūpa, literally meaning "heap" is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist The latter was a hemispherical mound modelled on ancient funerary mounds, surrounded by a stone fence known as the vedika, and topped by a smaller enclosure, the harmika, containing the casket for the relics of the Buddha; it was intended to be a meditational focus. Numerous fine examples of stupas can be found at Sanchi and Sarnath. Sanchi is a small Village in Raisen District of India, it is located 46 km north east of Bhopal, and 10 km from Besnagar and This article is about a place in India For H P Lovecraft 's fictitious city see The Doom That Came to Sarnath.

This is also the time of the rock-cut monastic foundations, many in today's state of Maharashtra, and exemplified by the magnificent rock-cut cave complexes of Ajanta and Ellora; usually comprising one, or several, chaitya halls containing a stupa fronted by a hall divided into a broad nave separated from two side aisles by a row of columns. Maharashtra ( Marathi: mahārāṣṭra, IPA) is a state located on the western coast of India. Ellora ( Marathi: Verul is an archaeological site 30 km (186 miles from the city of Aurangabad in the Indian state of Maharashtra Galleries for musicians were also sometimes provided. Chaitya halls were flanked by many viharas. Many of the caves are intricately sculpted and brilliantly coloured, perhaps intended to aide in trance meditation.

The Post-Mauryan period saw the development of two distinct styles of sculpture; the Mathura school, which was popularised under the succeeding Sunga Empire, and the Gandhara school which stemmed from the Indo-Greek Kingdom established in north-western South Asia (Kabul Valley and Pakistani Punjab) and incorporating influences of Greek art and architecture. Mathura ( IAST mathurā)( Hindi: मथुरा is a holy City in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. For other uses of the term Sunga see Sunga (disambiguation The Sunga Empire (or Shunga Empire) is a Magadha Gandhāra ( Sanskrit: गन्धार Urdu: گندھارا Gandḥārā; also known as Waihind in Persian is the name of an ancient The division of Buddhism into Hinayana and Mahayana phases also influenced the nature of rock-cut art, the former being represented by artefacts used by the Buddha, and the latter by images of the Buddha. Hīnayāna ( Chinese: 小乘 Xiǎochèng; Korean: 소승 Soseung; Japanese: Shōjō; Vietnamese: Tiểu Mahayana ( Sanskrit: mahāyāna, Devanagari: महायान 'Great Vehicle' is one of the two main existing schools of Buddhism and a term for Bhattiprolu is well known for its Buddha stupa. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Bhattiprolu is a small Village in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh A stupa (from Sanskrit and Pāli: m स्तूप stūpa, literally meaning "heap" is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist

The Jaina temples of the medieval period are particularly noted for their richness of sculptural detail and material, especially in the Solanki temple style of Gujarat, that can be seen in the Dilwara Temples in Mt.Abu and Ananthanatha Swami Temple at Puliyarmala, outside Kalpetta. The Solanki (from Chalukya, an ancient Indian dynasty are a Hindu clan who ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th Gujarat (ગુજરાત Gujǎrāt, pronounced) is a state in western India. The Jain Dilwara temples of India are located about 2½ kilometers from Mount Abu, Rajasthan's only hill station Mount Abu is the highest peak in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan state in western India. Anantnath Swami Temple (also known as the Puliyarmala Jain Temple) is a Jain temple located at Puliyarmala 6 km from Kalpetta in the WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Kalpetta (കല്പറ്റ is a city and a Municipality in Wayanad district in the

Indian Baroque architecture

The Church of St Anne which is cast in the Indian Baroque Architectural style under the expert direction of the most eminent architects of the time including Rev. Fr. Frias, is noted for its originality and is greatly influenced by the Church of Our Lady of Grace [1], generally known as the Convent of St. Augustine [2] in Old Goa of which there now remains only a lone, lofty and somber tower, rising above the rest of the structures and is the first to capture the gaze of the visitor. This Church of Our Lady of Grace is the most elegant and imposing building in Old Goa reminding to Portuguese colonial heyday, of which, in the opinion of some foreign travellers, any European city of the time, could justly be proud of. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Goa Velha or Adlem Gõi or Pornne Gõi is a Census town in North Goa district Church of St. Anne, Talaulim

Rajput architecture

Udaipur Palace

Rajput architecture was inspired partly by the existing Indic styles of architecture, and partly by interaction with the Persian and other Islamic world, with a greater emphasis on arches, domes, and other Saracenic features. The Church of St Anne is a religious monument located in Santana Goa, India. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Udaipur (उदयपुर is a city and a Municipal council in Udaipur district in The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia Saracen was a term used by Europeans in the Middle Ages for Fatimids at first then later for all who professed the religion of Islam.

Palaces and forts in Rajasthan are a good example of Rajput architecture. Rājasthān ( Devanāgarī: राजस्थान raːdʒəst̪ʰaːn is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area Rajput constitute one of the major Hindu Kshatriya groups from India Various Rajput dominated historic cities such as Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Jaipur have intricate examples of Rajput architecture. This article is about the city of India For historical region and state see also Jaisalmer state Jaisalmer ( Hindi: जैसालमेर nicknamed Jodhpur (जोधपुर is the second largest City in the Indian State of Rajasthan. Jaipur ( Hindi: जयपुर also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan state, India.

South Indian architecture

Vijayanagara architecture

The Vijayanagara Architecture of the period (1336 - 1565CE) was a notable building idiom evolved by the imperial Vijayanagar Empire that ruled the whole of South India from their regal capital at Vijayanagara on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in Karnataka, India. The Vijayanagara Architecture (ವಿಜಯನಗರ ವಾಸ್ತುಶಿಲ್ಪ of the period ( 1336 - 1565CE was a notable building idiom evolved by the The Vijayanagara Empire ( Kannada: ವಿಜಯನಗರ ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯ Telugu: విజయనగర సామ్రాజ్యము was a South South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union Vijayanagara (ವಿಜಯನಗರ is in Bellary District, northern Karnataka. The Tungabhadra River is a sacred river in Southern India that flows through the states of Karnataka and part of Andhra Pradesh to merge with the larger Karnataka (ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ pronounced) is a state in the southern part of India India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The empire built a number of temples, monuments, palaces and other structures over South India, with the largest concentration located in its capital. The monuments in and around Hampi, in the Vijayanagara principality, are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Hampi ( Kannada: ಹಂಪೆ is a village in northern Karnataka state India. Vijayanagara (ವಿಜಯನಗರ is in Bellary District, northern Karnataka. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex

Kalyani Chalukya Architecture

The Western Chalukyas, also known as Kalyani Chalukyas or Later Chalukya developed a distinctive building style called the Western Chalukya Architecture in the Tungabhadra region of central Karnataka, India, between the 11th and the 12th centuries. Western Chalukya architecture (ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ಚಾಲುಕ್ಯ ವಾಸ್ತುಶಿಲ್ಪ also known as Kalyani Chalukya or Later Chalukya architecture The Tungabhadra River is a sacred river in Southern India that flows through the states of Karnataka and part of Andhra Pradesh to merge with the larger Karnataka (ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ pronounced) is a state in the southern part of India India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The finest examples of which are the Mahadeva Temple at Itagi in Koppal district, the Kasivisvesvara Temple at Lakkundi in Gadag district, the Mallikarjuna Temple at Kuruvatti and the Kalleshwara Temple at Bagali, both in Davangere district. Koppal district ( Kannada ಕೊಪ್ಪಳ is an administrative District in the state of Karnataka in India. Lakkundi in Gadag District of Karnataka is a place of antiquarian interest with as many as 50 temples 101 stepped wells (called Kalyani or Pushkarni and 29 Gadag District ( Kannada ಗದಗ had a population of 971835 of which 35 Devanagere District, also known as Devangere District, is an administrative district of Karnataka state in southern India. ^[1]

Hoysala architecture

Hoysala temple at Somanathapura

Hoysala architecture is the distinctive building style developed under the rule of the Hoysala Empire in the region historically known as Karnata, today's Karnataka, India, between the 11th and the 14th centuries. Somanathapura ಸೋಮನಾಥಪುರ (also known as Somnathpur) is a town located 30 km from Mysore city in Mysore district, Karnataka Hoysala architecture (ಹೊಯ್ಸಳ ವಾಸ್ತುಶಿಲ್ಪ is the building style developed under the rule of the Hoysala Empire, in the region known today The Hoysala Empire ( Kannada: ಹೊಯ್ಸಳ ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯ ( pronunciation: in Kannada was a prominent South Indian Kannadiga Karnataka (ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ pronounced) is a state in the southern part of India India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Hoysala influence was at its peak in the 13th century, when it dominated the Southern Deccan Plateau region. Large and small temples built during this era remain as examples of the Hoysala architectural style, including the Chennakesava Temple at Belur, the Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu, and the Kesava Temple at Somanathapura. The Chennakesava Temple (ಶ್ರೀ ಚೆನ್ನಕೇಶವ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ originally called Vijayanarayana Temple (ವಿಜಯನಾರಾಯಣ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Belur ( Kannada:ಬೇಲೂರು is a Panchayat town in Hassan district in the Hoysaleswara temple is a temple dedicated to Hindu God Shiva. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Halebidu ( Kannada ಹಳೆಬೀಡು is located in Hassan District, Karnataka The Chennakesava Temple (ಶ್ರೀ ಚೆನ್ನಕೇಶವ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ located at Somanathapura is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture Somanathapura ಸೋಮನಾಥಪುರ (also known as Somnathpur) is a town located 30 km from Mysore city in Mysore district, Karnataka Other examples of fine Hoysala craftmanship are the temples at Belavadi, Amrithapura, and Nuggehalli. Study of the Hoysala architectural style has revealed a negligible Indo-Aryan influence while the impact of Southern Indian style is more distinct. ^[2]

A feature of Hoysala temple architecture is its attention to exquisite detail and skilled craftmanship. The temples of Belur and Halebidu are a proposed UNESCO world heritage sites. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex ^[3]

Badami Chalukya architecture

The Badami Chalukya Architecture was a temple building idiom that evolved in the time period of 5th - 8th centuries CE. The Badami Chalukya Architecture was a temple building idiom that evolved in the time period of 5th - 8th centuries CE in the area of Malaprabha basin, in present day Bagalkot district of Karnataka state. The Malaprabha River ( Kannada ಮಲಪ್ರಭ ನದಿ)is a tributary river of the Krishna River and flows through the state of Karnataka in India Bāgalkot district (ಬಾಗಲಕೋಟೆ in Kannada) pronounced /'bɑgələkoʊteɪ/ sometimes spelled as Bāgalkote is an administrative District Karnataka (ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ pronounced) is a state in the southern part of India This style is sometimes called the Vesara style and Chalukya style. Vesara is a type of Indian architecture primarily used in temples Their earliest temples date back to around 450 in Aihole when the Badami Chalukyas were feudatories of the Kadambas of Banavasi. For the area code see Area code 450. Events By Place Eastern Roman Empire August 25 — Marcian is proclaimed The Kadamba Dynasty ( Kannada:ಕದಂಬರು (345 - 525 CE was an ancient royal family of Karnataka that ruled from Banavasi in present WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Banavasi (ಬನವಾಸಿ is an ancient temple town on the border of Uttara Kannada District According to historian K. V. Sounder Rajan, the Badami Chalukya contribution to temple building matched their valor and their achievements in battle. The Chalukya dynasty ( Kannada: ಚಾಲುಕ್ಯರು ʧaːɭukjə was an Indian royal dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and Central

The rock-cut temples of Pattadakal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Badami and Aihole are their most celebrated monuments. Pattadakal ( Kannada - ಪಟ್ಟದಕಲ್ is a town in the Indian state of Karnataka famous for its group of monuments that are the culmination United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Badami (ಬದಾಮಿ formerly known as Vatapi, is a Taluk in the Bagalkot District Aihole ( Kannada ಐಹೊಳೆ is a town in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India Two of the famous paintings at Ajanta cave no. 1, "The Temptation of the Buddha" and "The Persian Embassy" are attributed to them. ^[4][5] This is the beginning of Chalukya style of architecture and a consolidation of South Indian style.

Pallava architecture

The Pallavas ruled from AD (600-900) and their greatest constructed accomplishments are the single rock temples in Mahabalipuram and their capital Kanchipuram, now located in Tamilnadu. Origins See also Origin of Pallava The exact origin of the Pallavas is shrouded in mystery Events By Place World The population of the Earth rises to about 208 million people Events By place Asia Laguna Copperplate Inscription, Kavi script inscribed in Luzon, Philippines, WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Mahabalipuram (மகாபலிபுரம் also known as Mamallapuram (மாமல்லபுரம் Kanchipuram, Kanchi, or Kancheepuram is a city and a Municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India.

Chola architecture

View of the Thanjavur Brihadeeswara Temple

The Chola kings ruled from AD (900-1150) and included Rajaraja Chola I and his son Rajendra Chola who built temples such as the Brihadeshvara Temple and Siva temple of Thanjavur. Thanjavur ( Tamil: தஞ்சாவூர் also known by its Anglicised name Tanjore, and it is the Eleventh largest city in Tamil Nadu (after Events By place Asia Laguna Copperplate Inscription, Kavi script inscribed in Luzon, Philippines, Rajaraja Chola I (இராஜராஜ சோழன் is one of the greatest kings of the Chola Empire, who ruled between 985 and 1014 CE "Rajendra Chola" redirects here For Rajendra Chola II see Rajendra Chola II. Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva Thanjavur ( Tamil: தஞ்சாவூர் also known by its Anglicised name Tanjore, and it is the Eleventh largest city in Tamil Nadu (after

Rashtrakuta architecture

• The Rashtrakutas who ruled the deccan from Manyakheta, Gulbarga district, Karnataka state in the period AD 753 - 973 built some of the finest dravidian monuments in Ellora (Kailasanatha temple) in the rock cut architecture idiom. The Rashtrakuta Dynasty ( Sanskrit: राष्ट्रकूट rāṣṭrakūṭa, Kannada: ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಕೂಟ was a royal WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Manyakheta (modern Malkhed on the banks of Kagini River in Gulbarga district, Karnataka Gulbarga District ( Kannada ಕಲಬುರ್ಗಿ(ಗುಲ್ಬರ್ಗ ( Urdu گلبرگہ) is situated between 76° Event By Place Asia Samarkand is conquered by Arabs The town of Staraja Ladoga is founded in Russia. Events By Place Africa The Fatimids move their capital to Cairo. Ellora ( Marathi: Verul is an archaeological site 30 km (186 miles from the city of Aurangabad in the Indian state of Maharashtra Some other fine monuments are the Jaina Narayana temple at Pattadakal and the Navalinga temples at Kuknur in Karnataka. Pattadakal ( Kannada - ಪಟ್ಟದಕಲ್ is a town in the Indian state of Karnataka famous for its group of monuments that are the culmination

Influence of Islam and Mughal architecture

Main article: Mughal architecture

The Jama Masjid, Old Delhi

With the arrival of Muslims,north Indian architecture was adapted to accommodate the traditions of the new religion, but it remained strongly Indian at its heart and character. Mughal architecture, an amalgam of Islamic, Persian and Indian architecture, is the distinctive style developed by the Mughal Empire The Masjid-i-Jahan Numa ( Urdu: مسجد جھان نمہ) commonly known as the Jama Masjid of Delhi is the principal Mosque of Old Overview The modern city contains the remnants of eight successive ancient cities including 'Dhilli' was founded by Tomar Anangapala according to Vibudh Shridhar Arches and domes began to be used, and the mosque began to form part of the landscape, adding to a new experience in form and space. A dome is a common structural element of Architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a Sphere. A "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller privately owned mosque and the larger The sahn (open courtyard) for congregational worship with the enclosing diwans (cloisters) and the sanctuary at the Western end offered a different architectural vocabulary. A cloister (from Latin claustrum) is a part of Cathedral, Monastic and Abbey architecture The fundamental difference being the Islamic prohibition on idolatryand opposition to use of images of human and other living creatures in religious art and architecture. Idolatry is usually defined as Worship of any Cult image, Idea, or object, as opposed to the worship of a monotheistic God. Thus a concentrated point of focus such as the garba-griha was unnecessary. However, the mihrab on the Western wall of the sanctuary articulating the Qibla (direction towards Mecca) offered a notional focus. Qiblah ( ar قبلة, also transliterated as Kiblah) is an Arabic word for the direction that should be faced when a Muslim prays during Mecca ˈmɛkə also spelled Makkah ˈmækə (in full Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Arabic mækːæ(t ælmʊkarˑamæ مكّة المكرمة, literally Honored With idolatry prohibited, adornment was largely surface decoration through the use of geometry, arabesque and calligraphy. Geometry ( Greek γεωμετρία; geo = earth metria = measure is a part of Mathematics concerned with questions of size shape and relative position The arabesque is an elaborative application of repeating geometric forms that often echo the forms of plants and animals Calligraphy (from Greek kallos "beauty" + graphẽ "writing" is the art of writing (Mediavilla 1996 17 Later, mosques began to be built with an 'original style' that evolved in the country. The Jami mosque in Delhi is a representative example of an Indian mosque. Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population However, throughout the country, Islamic architecture was also influenced by distinct regional styles and drew inspirations from the local contexts. Islamic architecture has encompassed a wide range of both secular and religious styles from the foundation of Islam to the present day influencing the design and construction

The Taj Mahal, Agra

Most of the Islamic buildings in India were built during the Mughal period, the architecture of which reflects traditional Hindu architecture but also incorporates Persian influences. The Taj Mahal (tɑdʒ Agra ( pronounced) (आगरा آگرا is a city on the banks of the Yamuna River in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, Over time, 'Hindu' and 'Islamic' architectures produced a synthesis that is exemplified by the city of Fatehpur Sikri, and the Taj, renowned for its proportions, white marble, its intricate engravings, its minarets and its setting. See also Mughal architecture Fatehpur Sikri (फतेहपूर सिकरी فتحپور سیکری is a city and a Municipal board in Agra The Taj Mahal (tɑdʒ

The most popular Islamic building type in India is the mausoleum (tomb) which evolved from the basic cube and hemisphere vocabulary of architectural early phases, into a more elaborate form during the Mughal period where multiple chambers were used, and tombs were set in gardens known as the char-bagh. A mausoleum ( plural: mausolea is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons The tomb chamber houses the cenotaph below which is the grave. A cenotaph is a tomb or a Monument erected in honour of a person or group of persons whose remains are elsewhere Well known examples are the Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur and the Taj Mahal, Agra. Gol Gumbaz (ಗೋಲ ಗುಮ್ಮಟ is the Mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah ( 1627 - 57) of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Indian Bijapur (ವಿಜಾಪುರ Vijapur is a district headquarters of the Bijapur District in the state of Karnataka. The Taj Mahal (tɑdʒ Agra ( pronounced) (आगरा آگرا is a city on the banks of the Yamuna River in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh,

Secular architecture

Colonialist study of Indian architecture was largely focused on religious buildings, hence there is much scholarship in this area. In recent times, secular architecture of India is gaining more attention. Unique in their response to socio-cultural and geographic context are, for example, the cities of the desert region in the North such as Jaisalmer and Jodhpur, political centres such as Vijayanagara (at Hampi), Fatehpur Sikri and Shahjahanabad at Delhi, towns such as Srirangam in Tamil Nadu evolving around the temple as nucleus, the stepped wells of Gujarat, the wadas of Maharashtra, the pols of Ahmedabad, the havelis of northern towns, and the steep pitched roofs and timber structures of the warm, humid area of Kerala. This article is about the city of India For historical region and state see also Jaisalmer state Jaisalmer ( Hindi: जैसालमेर nicknamed Jodhpur (जोधपुर is the second largest City in the Indian State of Rajasthan. Vijayanagara (ವಿಜಯನಗರ is in Bellary District, northern Karnataka. Hampi ( Kannada: ಹಂಪೆ is a village in northern Karnataka state India. See also Mughal architecture Fatehpur Sikri (फतेहपूर सिकरी فتحپور سیکری is a city and a Municipal board in Agra Overview The modern city contains the remnants of eight successive ancient cities including 'Dhilli' was founded by Tomar Anangapala according to Vibudh Shridhar Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population This article is about a notable Hindu pilgrimage location in Tamil Nadu, India. Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. Gujarat (ગુજરાત Gujǎrāt, pronounced) is a state in western India. Maharashtra ( Marathi: mahārāṣṭra, IPA) is a state located on the western coast of India. Ahmedabad (અમદાવાદ Amdāvād, Hindi: अहमदाबाद) is the largest city in Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}};

Architecture under colonial rule

Though the Europeans, Dutch, Portuguese and the French invader made substantial colonial forays into India, it was the British who had a lasting impact. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The architecture of the colonial period varied from early attempts at creating authority through classical prototypes to the later approach of producing a supposedly more responsive image through what is now termed Indo-Saracenic architecture-a mixture of Hindu, Islamic and Western elements. Indo-Saracenic (from Saracen, an archaic name for Muslims used by the British also known as Indo-Gothic, was a style of Architecture used by British Perhaps the most famous example is the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) in Mumbai, originally named in honour of British Queen Victoria. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (छत्रपती शिवाजी टरमीनस formerly Victoria Terminus, and better known by its abbreviation CST or Bombay Mumbai ( Marathi:,, IPA: formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the financial Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901 was from 20 June 1837 the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland The creation of New Delhi in early 20th century with its broad tree lined roads and majestic buildings generated lots of debate on what should be an appropriate architecture for India. New Delhi (नई दिल्ली ਨਵੀਂ ਦਿੱਲੀ نئی دلی is the Capital city of India. Institutional, civic and utilitarian buildings such as post offices, railway stations, etc. , were also built in large numbers over the whole of British India; these are mainly functional in style and can be classed at best as period-architectural. For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British

Post-independence architecture of India

With the introduction of Modern Architecture into India and later with the achievement of Independence, the quest was more towards progress as a paradigm fuelled by Nehruvian visions towards which the planning of Chandigarh by Le Corbusier was considered. This article is concerned with architectural aspects of Modernism; for the most recent developments in architecture see Contemporary architecture. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Jawaharlal Nehru (जवाहरलाल नेहरू ʤəʋäɦəɾläl nɛɦɾu (14 November 1889 27 May 1964 was a major political leader of the Congress Party Chandigarh ( ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ, चंडीगढ़) also called The City Beautiful Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris, who chose to be known as Le Corbusier ( October 6, 1887 – August 27, 1965) was a Swiss Later as new directions were sought in the West, in India there was a search for a more meaningful architecture rooted in the Indian context. Known as Critical Regionalism the direction is exemplified in the works of architects such as B.V. Doshi and Charles Correa. Critical regionalism is an approach to Architecture that strives to counter the placelessness and lack of meaning in Modern Architecture by using contextual forces Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi (b 26 August 1927 in Pune, India) is an Indian Architect. Charles Correa (born in Hyderabad, India on September 1 1930) is an Indian Architect, planner activist theoretician and a fundamental

Punjabi Baroque

"Punjabi Baroque" refers to mix style of architecture which is considered 'kitch' in post-independence India. It may be inspired by a mix of Roman, post-Renaissance European architecture, Hindu, Mughal or any other. . However, this style is now in decline as the people have been exposed to the existing modern trends abroad.

Monuments in India classified under World Heritage Sites

See also: World Heritage sites in India

The following monuments have been classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

• Red Fort(Delhi),2007

Characteristic elements of Indian architecture

• Jharokha
• Chhatri
• Chhajja
• Jali
• Guldasta

Gallery

Temple vimana at Somanathapura, Karnataka	Detail of the main vimanam (tower) of the Great Temple at Thanjavur
Prambanan temple in Java, Indonesia
Swaminarayan Temple Ahmedabad

See also

• Badami Chalukya Architecture
• Kalyani Chalukya Architecture
• Mughal Architecture
• Hoysala architecture
• Vijayanagar Architecture
• Buddhist architecture
• Indo-Islamic Architecture
• Hindu temple architecture
• Indian vernacular architecture

Notes

References

For South Indian Architecture section:

• Dr. Suryanath U. Kamath (2001). A Concise History of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002), OCLC: 7796041
• Gerard Foekema, A Complete Guide To Hoysala Temples, 1996, Abhinav, ISBN 81-7017-345-0
• Nilakanta Sastri, K. A. (1955). A History of South India, From Prehistoric times to fall of Vijayanagar, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002), ISBN 0-19-560686-8
• http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Culture/Archit/SIArch.html
• http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Culture/Archit/Archit.html
• http://www.indiantemplesportal.com/karnataka/vithala-temple-hampi.html
• http://www.shaivam.org/gallery/image/gspka.htm
• http://www.pilgrimage-india.com/east-india-pilgrimage/bhubaneswar.html
• http://www.templenet.com/Orissa/lingaraja.html
• http://kstdc.nic.in/frames4.htm
• http://kstdc.nic.in/frames4.htm
• http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/df001.html
• http://www.tirumala.org/maintemple_tour.htm
• http://www.eenadu.net/archives/archive-8-10-2006/htm/weekpanel1.asp?&archdsn=8102006
• http://vishalsaxena.net , http://vishalsaxena.50webs.com/writings1/index.html ,Vishal Saxena Architect & Urban designer : Critical writings on Indian architecture: An appraisal .

External links

• Goan Architecture
• Rural house types in India, Schwartzberg South Asia Atlas
• Beyond the Taj: Architectural Traditions and Landscape Experience in South Asia, Cornell University Library