The document summarizes Indian architectural styles spanning 4,500 years of civilization. It describes major styles including Mauryan, Kushana, Gupta, Chalukyan, Pallava, Chola, Hoysala, Rajput, Islamic, Indo-Islamic, Mughal and provincial architectures. Key highlights are the extensive town planning of Indus Valley sites, temples reflecting Nagara and Dravida styles, rock-cut structures of Ellora and Ajanta, and iconic buildings like Taj Mahal representing cultural blending of styles. Indian architecture reflects the diversity of the country emerging from ancient traditions through different rulers.

1. All of the world´s cultural heritage (sports, fashion,
architecture, literature, painting, etc..) was contained in
a time capsule. Architecture is both process and product
of planning, designing and construction.

2.  Indian Civilization spanned at least 4,500
years.
 Indian civilization left its impact on
everything in our lives and society.
 UNESCO has listed 830 World Heritage
Sites, out of which 26 are in India.

3. Indus Valley sites of Harappa, and Mohenjo-Daro
provide substantial evidence of extensive town planning in
3300–1300 BCE.

4. INDIAN ARCHITECTURAL
STYLES
 Rajput architecture
 Islamic architecture
 Indo-Islamic architecture
 Provincial architecture
 Mugal architecture

5.  Mauryan architecture
 Kushana or Mathura School of Art
 Gandhara School of Art
 Gupta architecture
 Chalukyan Art
 Rashtrakuta architecture
 Pallava architecture
 Chola architecture
 Hoysala architecture

6. There was remarkable development in architecture
during the rajput period.
They were great builders of palaces, forts, temples
and other forms of art.
Castle of Jodhpur, Forts of Chittor, Ranthambhore,
Mandu and Gwalior are examples of their architectural
skill.

7. During their period, two distinctive style of architecture –
 North Indian style
 South Indian style
Bulged in the middle and ended at the top in a point-
North Indian style. South Indian style have a pyramidal
shape.
 Temple consisted of antrala-mandapa, mandapa,
antrala and garbha-griha.
Their skill of engineering and architecture was excellent.

8. Classical examples of rajput architecture :
 Sun Temple Konark
 Kandarya Mahadeva Temple
 Khajuraho
 Lingaraja
 Muktheshwara Temple
 Bhubaneswar
 Tejpal Temple

9. Khajuraho

10. Konark

11. Kandarya Mahadeva Temple

12. Islamic Architecture
The advent of Muslims gave profound impact
on Indian architecture.
Their style reflected the religious and social
needs by using new modes and principles.
Introduction of arches in Indian architecture.

13. Characteristics:
1) Open, airy and spacious structure : the prayer
temples was small, dark and closed. There
keep images o the deity. But mosques were
different in their construction
2) Minars and Minarets
3) Arches, vaults, domes
4) Tomb
5) Mode and theme of ornamentation
6) Material for construction

15. Indo- Islamic Architecture
Blending of Indian and Islamic styles.
The Muslims had to employ Hindu craftsman and
architects and thus there was a fusion in the architectural
style, which resulted in the formation of Indo- Islamic
architecture.
The architecture divided into two distinct phases:
 Delhi Sultanate & Mughals

16. The extensive use of concrete and mortar for
construction of Minars, complicate geometric
devices and graceful decorative use of sacred
texts were definite contributions to the Indian
architecture.
Classical examples:
Quwat - Ul – Islam Mosque in Delhi
Monuments of Bengal, Gujarat and Bijapur,
Tajmahal in Agra, fatehpur sikri in Utter
Pradesh.

18. Fatehpur sikri

19. Provincial Architecture
With the development of Islamic
architecture in Delhi , several provincial styles
developed in other parts of country.
The provincial governors and independent
rulers also beautified their capitals and forts.

20. Ahmad Shah of Gujarat founded the city of
Ahmadabad and constructed the ‘Tin Darwaza’
and Jama Masjid.
The Malwa rulers built palaces on the hills of
Mandu.
The Bahmani rulers built the cities of Gulbarga
Bidar and many mosques and madrassas in Persian
style.
Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur.
Dikhil Darwaza.

21. Tin Darwaza

22. Dakhil Darwaza

23. Mughal Architecture
Mughals gave their immense contribution to the Indian
culture through their spectacular architectural style.
Mughals were greatest builders in the world.
They built masterpieces like Taj Mahal.
Akbar developed a new style merging the Persian and
Indian style of architecture using red sandstone.

24.  Fathepur sikri, Agra Fort, Buland Darwaza, etc. –
Akbar.
 Shahjahan made use of marble in construction.
 Diwan-i-am, Diwan-i-Khas in Red Fort, and Agra
Fort and Juma masjid in Delhi, Taj Mahal and
Pearl mosque in Agra Fort – Shahjahan.
 Jewels, and precious stones and pietra-dura work were
the architectural specialities of Shahjahan. It was an
Amalgam of Hellenistic , Western Asiatic and native
elements.
 Greek and Roman techniques modifies according to
Indian architecture.

25. Humayoon tomb

26. Red Fort

27. Mauryan Architecture
Stone culture emerged as the principal medium of
Indian artists.
The best specimens of Mauryan art are the highly
polished , tall and well proportioned columns in slightly
tapering monolithic shaft standing free in space.
Mauryan period was the golden period of sculptures.

28.  Mauryas excelled in cave architecture, eg :
Barabar and Nagarjuni caves, Sudama and Lomas Rishi
caves
 The pillars/ figures of animals and birds and statues
cut out of rock are exquisite in their beauty.
 Also famous for Sculptures architecture in the shape
of pillar, railing, capitals, animals and human forms.
 Buddhist stupas, hemispherical dome Depicts
Eg :
Ashokan pillars of Lauriya in Bihar
Terracotta figures in Taxila
Elephant Sculpture of Dhauli in Orissa

29. Ashokan Pillars

30. Kushana or Mathura School
of Art
During the reign of Kanishka, the Mathura School of
Art as emerged new School of Art.
The Mahayana sect of Buddhism inspired the artists.
This style used spotted red sand stone for making
images and status.
Creation of the images of the Buddha was a
conspicuous features of this art.

32.  The most striking remains of Mathura School of Art
were female figures of Yakshini, Nagins and
Apsaras.
 The Mathura sculptures were generally large and bulky.
 This style showed naked from the left of the shoulder
and the right hand was shown in abhaya mudra.
 Eg:
Headless statue of Kanishka

34. Gandhara School Of Art
It flourished from the middle of 1st century B.C-to
the end of 5th Century A.D
the chief patrons of this style of art were Kushanas
and Sakas.
 Gandhara art derived from Greek art and hence it is
also known as Indo-Greek art.

35. Statue of Buddha and Bodhisattvas – Greek
Gods.
The technique was applied Greek in nature but
ideas and subjects were all Indian.
Heavy ornamentation in their images and statues,
Eg:
Taxila
Jamalijarhi
Mamakhja
Mohra

37. Gupta Architecture
Gupta age is also known for its terracotta casting figures.
Copper casting and painting excelled during the period.
The chief centers of this art were Ajanta, Ellora, and
Bagh and Dharmarajeshwar. In Madyapradesh.
The Gupta creation of the classical icon of Buddha is
landmark in the art of Asia.

38. During the Gupta period many stupas were
constructed in Sarnath, Ratnagiri etc.
Temples of Gupta period heralded two significant
styles: Nagara and Dravida.
Important types of temples constructed by Guptas
were:
 Flat roofed square temple e.g. Temple at Sanchi.
 Flat roofed temple with vimana above, e.g. Meguti
Temples at Aihole, Shiva Temple at Bhumarah.
 Square temple with shikhara above, e.g. Dasavatara
Temple at Devagarh, Temple at Bhitargaon.
 Rectangular Temple.
 Circular temple (Buddhist).

39. Temple at Bhitargaon

40. Chalukyan Art
Chalukyas were mostly Hindus by faith.
They constructed temples in honour of Brahma, Shiva
and Vishnu.
Some built out of solid rocks, bricks and stones.
Classical examples: The Vishnu Temple at Badami, the
Shiva Temple at Meguti, and the Vishnu Temple at Aihole,
and the Shiva Temple at Pattadakal.

41. Pattadakal

42. Rashtrakuta Architecture
Rashtrakutas were Great builders and erected temples.
Their rock-cut temples were marvelous for their design.
Classic examples:
 Kailas Temple at Ellora dedicated to Krishna
 The Cave Shrine of Elephenta dedicated to Shiva.

43. Kailas Temple at Ellora

44. Pallava Architecture
Pallavas were great patrons of art and architecture especially
building temples and caves.
Pallava monuments have greater slendness, a more oval face.
 the rock cut rathas and shore temple at Mahabalipuram are
best specimens of Pallava architecture.
Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram built by Rajasimha.

45.  Pallava temples are of four different categories:
I. Mahendra Varma Design
II. Mahamalla style
III. Rajasimha style
IV. Aparajitha style

46. Mahabalipuram

47. Chola Architecture
Chola kings were mightily builders.
The art of Metal casting attained great perfection during the
period.
Construction of Gopuras was a specialty.
Formed Separate mandapas .
Shiva is towering figure of Chola sculptures in stone and
bronze.

48.  The nataraja or dancing Shiva is a classical example of
this art.
 The classical examples of this style:
 Brihadeshwara temple, Tanjore
 Shiva temple, Gangaikondacholapuram

49. Shiva temple, Gangaikondacholapuram

50. Hoysala Architecture
Architecture and sculptures received great achievements
during the hoysala rule.
Hoysala rulers developed new style of architecture
merging the northern and southern architectural styles.
The temples built by them are star-shaped by rotating the
square on its Centre.

51.  The temples usually stands on a high platform.
 The tones were used greenish or bluish black.
 Examples:
 Keshava Temple at Somnathpur
 Temples at belur
 Hoysaleshwara temple at halebid

52. Somanathapura_Keshava_temple_hoysala

53. Nagara
Dravida
Vesara

55. Nagara style
Its basic characteristics were:
a) The tower (shikhara) of the temples was curvilinear in
structure, and ended up in almost a point.
b) The temple was cruciform in plan, i.e. a cross formed
plan.
c) The temples were not surrounded by boundary wall.
-North Indian style

56. Classical examples:
 Lingaraja Temple of Bhubaneshwar
 Kharuraho temples
 Jagannath temple
 Puri
 Sun temple
 Konark

58. Nagara style temples

59. Dravida temples
Between the river Krishna and the Cape of Camorin.
Its basic features were:
a) The tower (Vimana) of the temple is pyramidal shape.
b) Contain an inner square chamber as the sanctum cella within
a square enclosure; serve as pradakshina path.
c) The pillared halls and richly decorated gopurams are
associated with dravida style.
-South Indian Style

61. Nanjangud near Mysore
in Karnataka

62. Vesara
This style is fusion of Nagara and Dravida style.
Also known as Chalukyan style.
Examples:
 Aihole
 Pattadakal

67.  The parts of a temple in Kerala:
o Upapitha
o Adhistana
o The stambha
o The prastara
o The griva
o The shikhara
o The stupa

68. Indian architecture as it stands today is a pluralistic
body of production that cannot in all justice be
exemplified by the above approaches.
Indian architectures represents the diversity of
Indian culture and comprises of a mix of ancient
and varied native traditions.
Therefore, I would include Indian architecture in
the time capsule to demonstrate legacy of India.

69. Thanks
Prepared by Jasna Thilayil