Temple Architecture

Classical Temple Style – the beginnings

 BAIRAT TEMPLE, 3th BCE
A circular brick and timber shrine of the Mauryan period of 3rd century B.C., was excavated at
Bairat District of Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Temple 40′ at Sanchi, has a similar plan
 SANCHI TEMPLE NO. 18 (2nd BCE)
The earliest structural apsidal stone temple still standing in its original
condition is the one constructed at Aihole in Karnataka.
No gargoyles to allow the rain water to run off the roof.
SANCHI TEMPLE NO. 17 (400 CE)
The stones are smaller and laid out in regular neat rows; the roof has been separated so that
the portico has a slightly less prominent height – the Sanctum-Sanctorum being the main
house of the God. Gargoyles have been thoughtfully provided to drain off rain water and the
four back pillars are more slender and beautifully carved. This temple truly belongs to the
Classical Period.
An inverted lotus is placed where the top of the shaft joins. The capital and little lions, seated
back to back, act as support where the roof rests on top of the pillar.
TRABEATE PILLARING
 Ladkhan, Aihole 5th CE : Chalukyas
Here the architect has tried to give attention to the circumambulation path which is enclosed
by means of a wall allowing devotees to have pradakshana or cirumambulatory; perforated
jallies provided. The structure still reminds us of a wooden prototype with stone walls,
supporting a slanting roof made of large boulders of stone slabs. the roof has been given a
slant and provided with gargoyles to allow rain water to run off and on the sanctum
sanctorum proper the roof is a little higher. On the top of the structure is the very first attempt
to raise a turret, a precursor to the future loftier spire, the Shikhara.
 3. Durga Temple, Aihole, 550 CE – Apsidal Temple (ex. of Gajapristhakara Ratha)
Has a high pedestal, an open pillared verandah serving as pradakshanapatha, in place of a dark,
ambulatory passage as in the case of the Ladkhan temple. Pillared verandah running round the
shrine, open, well ventilated and well lit. high entrance with steps leading up to a tall base; the
roof is almost double in height and in this particular case the turret is beginning to take the
shape of a little spire, which, during the course of the next centuries; evolved into a towering
Shikhara. Carving is also done under the row of pillars and for the first time we come across
brackets supporting the beam of the roof across the wide opening of the temple. the ‘idea of
making brackets, an essential element in Hindu and Buddhist architecture in India and used
much earlier in China; a slanting piece of stone emerging as it were from the pillars or posts,
reaching out like an arm to hold the lintel or beam steadily. This kind of construction is known
by the architectural term, trabeate, as distinct from arcuate which was later made use of by the
Muslims.
 VESARA
. Antaral
. No Pradakshina Path
Dodda Vesappa
ANTARAL
Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakkal (Pallava Influence) 8th CE
- Dravida Influence + Presence of Pradakshina Path
Dravida & Nagara
Nagara Shikhara Styles: Dravida Temple Styles:
1. Rekha – Prasad (Latina) – 1. Square: Kuta or Chaturasra – It has 3
Square base and elongated. types : Ekakuta, Dvikuta, TRIKUTA
2. Phamsana – shorter and Panchkuta {Hoysala – Kakatiya}
Shikhara but broad base 2. Rectangular: Shala or Ayatasra
3. Valabhi – rectangular 3. Elliptical: Gaja-prishta or vrittayata
base 4. Circular: Vritta
*No compound wall 5. Octagonal: Asthasra
*Has compound wall
1. Rock Cut Temple – The Five Rathas, Mamallapuram: Pallavas 7th CE . Influence of
Buddhist Chaitya, Kudu Ornamentation and precursor to Gopuram
2. Vaital Deul, Bhubaneshwar (7th CE) - prototype to Deul Style and most erotic temple
The Raja-Rani Temple 1000 CE Orissa. Ex. of Gajapristhakara Ratha
3. Kailashnath Temple, Rashratkuta 8th CE
NAGARA 1.0
Dasavatara
Temple,
Deogarh
*Sandstone
*Panchyatana
Style Temple:
1 Main Deity
4 at Four corners
NAGARA 2.0
KONARK SUN TEMPLE, ORISSA AT THE BANK OF R. CHANDRABHAGA
Perfect Example
NAGARA 2.0:
LINGARAJ
TEMPLE, Orissa
LAKSHMANA {VISHNU} TEMPLE, KHAJURAHO: CHANDELLAS
*SANDSTONE *Panchyatana Style *Mundaka Grid
KANDARIYA MAHADEVA {SHIVA} TEMPLE, Chandellas:
Panchyatana Style
MUNDAKA
GRID: 64
GRIDS = 64
Deities
Chaunsath Yogini Temple, Morena: Mundaka Grid {one at Khajuraho
– now in ruins} *always Granite *always made of one stone
Terracotta Temple: Bengal
PALA DYNASTY
1. Terracotta
2. 5 Towers : Panch-ratna; 1 Tower: Ek-
ratna
3. Deul missing here.
4. Vanga Style of Architecture i.e.
Buddhist and local influence
Sloping Roof called Bangla Roof – will be adopted by
Mughals in their buildings.
Pre-Islamic/Sassanian Borrowings in Bengal

TAQ KASRA
(Iran)
The Hills: Gandhara Influence –
*Wooden Architecture
 DRAVIDA 1.0: CHOLAS
DRAVIDA 2.0: VIJAYANAGAR + NAYAKS
KAKATIYAS: Rameshwara (Ramappa)
The building features decorated beams and pillars of carved granite and
dolerite with a distinctive and pyramidal Vimana (horizontally stepped tower)
made of lightweight porous bricks, so-called ‘floating bricks’, which reduced the
weight of the roof structures
Kakatiya Mandapa: Granite Pillars
Female Idol Holding Sal Tree – Fertility
Cult from Buddhism (Kakatiyas)
BRIHADESHWARA (SHIVA) TEMPLE, CHOLAS
 Vijayanagar
*Chalukya Style Influence
*Iranian (Persian Influence)
VIRUPAKSHA
TEMPLE,
HAMPI
DECORATIVE PILLARS (False Pillars): Horse Riders in Vitthal Temple
Persianate Borrowings: The KULAH
Chalukyan Influence
Hanging Walls: Another Feature
Mandapas: Natya for Bharatnatyam; Kalyan or Maha Mandapa for Marriages
Trabeate style Pillars: Musical Pillars
Vitthal Temple, Mandapa
The Famous Chariot, Vijayanagar (not an example of a Ratha
Indo-Islamic Architecture
Sultanate
THE FIRST TOMB: Sultan Ghari by Iltutmish for his son
Mahmud
BALBAN –
TRUE ARCH
THE
KEYSTONE
THE KEYSTONE
Alai Darwaza, A. Khilji *True Arch *Dome *Use of White Marble *Kalash *Jali
Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq’s Tomb (Tughlaqabad) *Enclosed (so separated) *Amalak *Kalash
*Use of White Marble
GOL GUMBAD, BIJAPUR: ONE OF THE LARGEST DOMES IN
INDIA.
DOME TYPES
PENDENTIVE
SQUINCHES (TRUE DOME)
 MAMLUK period - Evolution of Dome in Indo islamic architecture
problem of construction
of dome over square KHALJI period - use of voussoired dome.
building not solved. Squinches supported dome.
Tomb of Iltutmish has
squinch arches to TUGHLUQ PERIOD -
support dome. Sayyid period saw lotus
crowning of dome and use of squinches as
finials added to angles of well as triangular
Lodi period - drum of dome pendentives to
domes became support dome. Multi
larger in size . dome structures
Stalactite found. Some dome
pendentives were faced with
support the marble.
dome Mughal style - early Mughal style has
Lodi type domes . Late Mughal sees
domes with bulbous shapes .
Provincial style-
Squinches were replaced by vaults .
Brick domes were found .
Use of marble for dome became
Bijapur style had bulbous domes
extensive. Later Mughal style sees a
Deccan style abandoned the multi dome
degeneration of architecture. The
format.
dome is too rounded.
PROVINCIAL STYLES FEATURES EXAMPLES

MULTAN STYLE Tombs, brick structure with glazed tiles, octagonal plan with hemispherical Tomb of Shah Rukn-i-Alam.
dome, wood laced walls etc.

BENGAL STYLE Curvilinear roof, thick square pillars, aiwan-like barrel halls, lotus capital, Tomb of Zafar Khan, Adina Mosque, Badshah-ka-Takhat,
glazed tiles, stone walls, pointed arches etc. Eklakhi tomb, Sath Gumbad Mosque, Firuz minar, Qutb
Shah mosque.

GUJARAT STYLE Spacious and elegant, trabeate system, jalis around tombs, carved Jami masjid, Idgah, Ravali mosque, Tanka masjid, Hilal
brackets, balconied windows, marble mihrabs, Stone carvings on Qazi’s mosque, Bhadra gateway, tomb of Sultan
perforated screens Sikandar, Ek-Toda masjid.

MALWA STYLE Bud fringe, arch-and-lintel, pillars, beams,high plinths, lofty terraces, Kamla maula, Lat mosque, Ashrafi Mahal, tomb of Darya
minarets, domical turrets, glazed tiles khan, Hindola Mahal, Jahaz Mahal, Pavillion of Rani
Rupmati, Nilkanth Mahal, Kushk Mahal.

JAUNPUR STYLE Both Arcuate and Trabeate, Square pillars, bracket capitals, propylon- Atala mosque, Lal Darwaza mosque.
screens, square central chamber.

FARUQI STYLE Projected openings, wider doors and windows, stilt-sided domes, Bibi’s Mosque, Khajuri mosque, tomb of Shah Nawaz
octagonal drum, parapet wall etc. Khan.

DECCAN STYLE Strong military architecture, Arch-heads, small fluted minarets, colored Raichur fort, Naurang Darwaza, royal tombs at Gulbarga,
glazed tiles, tilted arches, bulbous domes, zig-zag minarets. Zanani mosque, tomb of Ahmad Shah I, Chand minar,
Madrasa of Mahmud Gawan

KASHMIR STYLE Use of wood and ruins of stone temples, glazed tiles, drum-patterns, brick Tomb of Sultan Zainul Abidin’s mother, tomb of Pir Haji
plinth, pyramidal roof, brown wall panels, geometric patterns. Muhammad Sahib, Khanqah of Shah Hamadan.

SIND STYLE Brick glazed in dark or light blue, white and turquoise, buff coloured Tomb of Jam-Nizamuddin, tomb of Amir Khalil-Khan,
sandstone, square chambers, pillared verandah, arched entrances. tomb of Jani-Bag, Jami Mosque(Thatta).
MIHRAB
(DECORATIVE
STONE PIECE) IN
QIBLA (West
Facing Wall)
indicating the
direction of
Ka’aba
*Feature of every
tomb and
mosque
structure.
KUFI STYLE OF CALLIGRAPHY – DEPICTING GANGA –JAMUNA ON THE PANEL OF QUTB
COMPLEX
ALAI DARWAZA: Decorative Feature - Kalash and Lotus Buds
 Gujarat

1. Exterior Gates are called Pol

2. Khadki are interior gates
JHULTA MINAR: POL
*Wooden Work
*Jaina Influence seen in Jali Work (later Mughals will adopt this style)
Wooden Pol: Jhulta Minar
*Wood used because of better Timber quality available in Konkan
region
Jali Work: A Jaina Feature
Hoshang Shah’s Tomb (1st White Marble structure of India –
eg. of influence of Afghan Architecture
Mughals
Kalash with Coconut
Akbar’s Tomb: No Dome; Chhatri (Rajputana Feature), Lentil and jail (Jaina
Influence), Ambulatory Passage (Hindu Feature)
Humayun’s Tomb: Octagonal Structure. Best example of Char
Bagh Tomb in India
4 Rivers of Paradise:
Amu Darya
Syr Darya
Euphrates
Nile
IMATUDAULAH’S TOMB (1ST Tomb to be made of complete white marble)
*Pietra Dura used here first *No Dome *Chhajja (Rajputana Style)
Jaina Lintels and jalis; and Rajputana Feature.
TAJ MAHAL
PIETRA DURA (FLORENTINE STYLE OF INLAY WORK)
1. PIETRA DURA
2. INLAY WORK
3. USE OF HALEP
(ALEPPO)
GLASSWARE
STONES
NASHTALIQ CALLIGRAPHY STYLE
INLAY, JALI, STUCCO, PITERA DURA IN ONE PANEL
*FLORAL AND GEOMETRICAL DESIGNS *NO ANIMATE FORMS
THE CENOTAPH: THE FALSE BURIAL (THE JALI WORK IS FROM GUJARAT)
SIDDI KI JALI IN SIDI MASJID 1573, GUJARAT
{THE LOGO OF IIM AHMEDABAD}
AGRA FORT: EPITOME OF FORT CONSTRUCTION OF MUGHALS
 JAHANGIR MAHAL
(RAJPUTANA FEATURE)
(SWASTIKA MADE ON THE WALLS)
RED SANDSTONE
*Except this and Diwan-i-Aam – Shahjahan added White Marble to every
monument inside Agra Fort
Mussaman Burg: All White Marble monument in Agra Fort. Shahjahan was put
here by AZB
MUSSAMAN BURG – TAJ AT A DISTANCE
DIWAN -I-AAM
*Not True Arch
Arcuate Design
(Rajputana Style)
DIWAN-I-AAM
DIWAN-I-KHAS
DIWAN-I-KHAS
PEACOCK THRONE WITH KOHINOOR
MOTI MASJID, RED FORT – DELHI (ONLY MONUMENT BUILT IN MARBLE BY
AZB
BIBI KA MAQBARA, AURANGABAD BY AZB (REPLICA OF TAJ)
 VAV
1. RANI KI VAV
2. AGRASEN
3. MODHERA SUN TEMPLE AND STEP WELL
DECCAN
TIMBER, OCTAGONAL STURUCTURE IN
Farah Bagh
Hasht Bihisht
The Plan
Lakkad Mahal
Neither true nor false arch
Salabat Khan Tomb
Ambulatory Path in Salabat’s Tomb
Maloji Tomb at Verul
MALIK AMBER’S TOMB, Khulabad
 Damdi Mosque
No Dome but an Arch
Portuguese Borrowing (Bastion)
What Char Minar was for Hyderabad, Warangal was for
Kakatiyas. The former divided the space into 4 cardinal
directions but slightly 10 degrees tilted towards the left,
while the latter had Chaubara.
A copy of Bukharan Style/Samarqandi/Timurid style.
 GOTHIC
• BAUHAUS – GERMAN STYLE (LAVISH
HOUSES)
• BAUHAUS COUNTERS BAROQUE AND
ROCOCO
• HAUSSMANIZATION OF FRANCE
• BAUHAUS REACHES BRITAIN – LEADS
TO NDMC LATER.
• LE CORBUSIER: PLANNED
CHANDIGARH & ORISSA
• LUTYENS & HERBERT BAKER:
RASHTRAPATI BHAWAN
• ROBERT TOR RUSSELL: CANNAUGHT
PLACE