Indian architecture has gone through numerous stages. The first buildings were made of wood, then brick. However, there aren’t many examples of wooden structures in India. Later in the 6th Century BC, stone construction was introduced in the South. Indian architects swiftly developed a high level of skill while cutting and building structures out of stone. Large, major constructions, many of which are still standing in India now, were typically fashioned of stone by the seventh century A.D. And the creation of ancient Indian architectural history is now recognized and studied by future generations of architects. Students in architecture colleges in Tamil Nadu should have a basic understanding and be aware of the history our ancient kings and kingdoms made and the evolutions of the architectural styles in India.
Six Indian Ancient Architectural Styles You Should Know
The Architectural style is a feature or characteristic of how architects construct a building or structure with techniques that are historically identifiable. It includes the method of construction, aesthetics, material, or religious character. Students of the best B. Arch Colleges in Tamil Nadu should learn these architectural styles, which show the representations of history and how people lived. With these ideas, you can implement them and renovate your contemporary home with ancient architectural elements.
Temple Architecture:
India has strong roots in the construction of temples. In almost all the regions of the country, you can see several temple constructions that have huge variants in style, origins and architectural styles. This variety has a huge influence on the geographical, climatic, racial, ethnic, linguistic and historical diversities in India. Let’s discuss the temples in India that have great architectural influence.
- Lepakshi Temple or Veerabhadra Temple in Andhra Pradesh, is known for the hanging pillar in the center hall of the temple. Constructed in the 16th century with amazing architecture and a lot of legacies associated with it.
- Hampi Virupaksha Temple, built with mathematical concepts, indicates the royal architecture of the Vijayanagara Empire, renovated in the 19th century.
- Kanchi temple in Kanchipuram was prominently the capital of the Pallava dynasty during their period. The rough estimation of the temple age lies between the 6th BCE to 8Th BCE. It’s almost 1600 years old.
- Tanjore temple in Tamil Nadu, was built with hard work and architectural skills during the Chola dynasty period. The origin of the temple is more than 1000 years old. There are many more interesting facts and architectural skills behind the construction.
The other ancient temples with ancient Indian architectural styles are the Jain temple in Rajasthan, the Avani temple in Karnataka and much more.
Dravidian Architectural style:
This Dravidian architectural style evolved in the southern part of the Indian subcontinent. This was constructed by the native Dravidian people now referred to as Kovils. The secret of making elaborate designs with several statues of monarchs, gods, dancers, and warriors. The Pallavas established Dravidian temple architecture in southern Indian regions like Karnataka, Northern Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. Examples of Dravidian temple architectural styles are the Shore temple in Mahabalipuram, the Brihadishwara temple in Tanjore, the Kailashnath temple in Ellora and many more.
Mughal Architecture:
The distinct and alluring designs of Mughal architecture in India helped it gain prominence. The buildings constructed during that time period still reflect the significance of the era, and the history of their construction is amusing. A number of forts, mosques, gardens, tombs, and mausoleums are examples of Mughal architecture. Let’s discuss a few of them.
- Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world was built during the period of Shah Jahan. You can find an epitome of love that blends Indian, Islamic, and Persian architectural styles.
- Humayun’s Tomb was designed by the architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas. It is a red sandstone tomb that integrates the architectural styles of India and Persian.
The other ancient Mughal architecture includes mahals and tombs like Buland Darwaza, Pari Mahal, Akbar’s tomb, Jama Masjid and much more.
Indo- Saracenic Revival Architecture:
This architectural style is a beautiful fusion of Indo and Islamic architecture. It is also called Neo-Mughal, Indo-Gothic, Mughal Gothic, and Hindu-Gothic architectural styles. Saracen means Muslim/Arabic- speaking people.
Examples of Indo-Saracenic architectural style buildings are the Gateway of India, Victoria Memorial, Madras High Court, Mysore Palace, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and much more.
Kalinga Architecture
Ancient Kalinga is where the Kalinga style of temple architecture originated. The Nagara style of temple architecture, which peaked between the 10th and 12th centuries CE, is represented by this geographical variation. This architectural style indicates the architectural requirements, historical references, and iconography that pay tribute to the customs, traditions, and histories connected to the buildings.
Examples of Kalinga architecture are Shatruganeswara temples, Rajarani temple, Sun Temple, Konark, Khichakeswari temple, Rekha Deula, Pidha Deula and much more.
Cave Architecture:
In rock-cut architecture, a structure is carved out of a single large rock by the architect or sculptor. It began in the 3rd Century BC. This architectural style of using caves is usually associated with religions like Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. So, they can be called Buddhist caves, Hindu Caves or Jain caves.
The major caves in India that are considered world heritage sites are Ellora Caves, Ajanta Caves, Karla Caves, and Badami Caves.
Hope these architectural styles will give refreshing ideas to the top architecture colleges in India. You can possibly connect and create the perfect aesthetic for future projects.
