
Indian temples are known for their beautiful and grandeur architecture.
The most enduring achievement of Indian civilization is undoubtedly its
architecture, which dates back to the Indus valley sites of Harappa,
Mohenjo-daro, and Lothal. The ancient, medieval and modern temples of
India provide substantial evidence of the extensive and complex
architecture.
Architecture found in the Indian temples showcases the country's rich and
splendid culture. These temples display intricate carving and sculptures,
which bear testimony to the craftsmanship and creativity of the artisans,
sculptors and artists of India. These also serve as ample evidence of the
vision and forethought of the kings and rulers of India, as well as our
modern architects, who left behind a heritage that we can be proud of.
Indian architecture can be distinguished period-wise into ancient,
medieval and modern temples.
Ancient Temples
The science of architecture was known in ancient India as "Sthapatya-Shastra".
The word Sthapatya is derived from the root word Sthapana i.e. 'to
establish'. The souvenir temple architecture of ancient India will amaze
any visitor with their aura of artistic elegance and exquisite beauty.
These architectures are the true witness of the great conceptualization of
prominent empires in India, such as the Mauraya's, Chalukya's, and
Pandya's.
Some of the famous ancient temples, known for their worth checking out
include Kaushambi, famous as a Buddhist pilgrimage, the monumental part in
southern India such as Vijaynagar Empire's capital Hampi known for its
intricate temple architecture in Karnataka, the most sacred shrine of
south India - Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh and the temple city of
Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu.
Medieval Temples
The period comprises from tenth to fourteenth century. The temples built
in this era has touched the various aspects such as the distinct identity,
cultural synthesis and stylistic digression that pervade the sporadic
growth of temples.
The
medieval temples unravels the existence and co-existence of several
religious and metaphysical speculations.
Modern Temples
Modern Indian temples will really astound you with their sheer beauty and
architectural excellence. Maybe they are missing out the sophistication of
the British or intricacy used in the Mughal and ancient times, but they
are still worth checking out for their novelty that was somewhat missing
in the previous eras. The best modern temples in India include the lotus
shaped Baha'i temple in Delhi, the intricately created marble stature of
Chattarpur Mandir in Delhi etc.