Pallava Dynasty Architecture

• Indian architecture's history is as old as the civilization itself.
• The earliest building activity remains in India date back to the Indus Valley cities.
• Major architectural styles include Pallava, Rajput, Indo-Islamic, Mughal, Chola, Gupta, Art of Mathura, Gandhara School of Art, and Kushan art.

Pallava Dynasty

• The Pallava Dynasty existed from 275 CE to 897 CE, ruling part of southern India.
• Pallava architecture is divided into Rock-Cut and Structural phases.

Rock-Cut Phase

• Mahendra Group monuments were constructed during Mahendravarman I's reign (610-630 AD).
• These monuments are pillared halls hewn from mountain faces, following Jain temple prototypes.
• Mandagapattu Tirumurti Temple is believed to be the earliest Pallava cave temple dating back to the early 7th century.
• Pallavaram is considered one of the oldest inhabited places in South India and was part of the Pallava kingdom.
• Mamandur Cave Temple exemplifies early Pallava architecture from the 7th century, carved into solid granite hills.
• During the Mamalla Group period (630-680 AD), free-standing monolithic shrines called rathas were constructed alongside pillared halls.
• Pancha Rathas in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, were built during Narasimhavarman I's reign, carved top-down from pink granite bedrock.
• Arjuna’s Penance in Mahabalipuram is a massive rock relief carved on two granite boulders, measuring 43 feet high and 96 feet wide.
• Reliefs possibly narrate Arjuna’s penance to obtain the Pashupatastra from Lord Shiva or the legend of Bhagiratha bringing the Ganges to Earth.

Structural Phase

• The Rajasimha Group encompasses the early structural temples of the Pallavas, a period of experimentation.
• Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, is one of the oldest structural stone temples in South India, built in the late 7th to early 8th century CE under Narasimhavarman II.
• The Shore Temple is built from granite blocks sourced from nearby quarries.
• Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, was built in the 8th century CE by Narasimhavarman II and dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple is constructed using locally-sourced sandstone blocks.
• During the Nandivarman Group period, Pallava architecture attained full maturity.
• The Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur is among the greatest architectural achievements of the Chola dynasty, constructed using granite transported from great distances.
• Gangaikonda Cholapuram, built by Rajendra Chola I in the 11th century, was modeled after the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur with unique modifications, using granite as the primary material.
• Vaikunta Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, was built during the reign of Narasimhavarman II in the 8th century CE and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
• Sandstone is the primary material used for walls and sculptures in Vaikunta Perumal Temple.

Rajput Architecture

• Rajput Architecture features forts and palaces of Rajput rulers, often serving as tourist attractions.
• Many Rajput forts are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• Building types include religious structures, temples, forts, stepwells, gardens, and palaces.
• Key features of Rajput temple architecture are the garbhagriha, vimana, shikhara, and amalaka.
• Kailash Temple in Ellora, Maharashtra, is one of the largest rock-cut Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, excavated from a solid basalt cliff.
• Khandariya Mahadeva Temple in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, was built during the Chandela dynasty (circa 990-1000 CE) and combines Nagara and Pratihara architectural styles.
• Parsvanatha Temple in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, was built during the Chandela dynasty (circa 950-970 CE) and combines Nagara and Pratihara architectural styles.
• Dilwara Jain Temple on Mount Abu, Rajasthan, was built between the 11th and 13th centuries (circa 1031-1458 CE) during the Solanki and Vaghela dynasties.
• Dilwara Jain Temple features Māru-Gurjara and Solanki architectural styles with intricate marble carvings.
• Jaya Sthamba (Victory Tower) in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, is a 9-story structure decorated with sculpted statues of Hindu deities, made primarily of locally sourced sandstone.
• Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, also known as the “Palace of Winds,” was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, designed by Lal Chand Ustad, and primarily made of red and pink sandstone.
• Jaisalmer Fort, also known as Sonar Quila (Golden Fort), is built primarily from yellow sandstone.

Indo-Islamic Architecture

• Indo-Islamic Architecture blends techniques, shapes, and surface decorations from various architectural styles.
• Chittor Fort in Rajasthan is located atop a hill, covering around 700 acres, and includes palaces, temples, reservoirs, and gates.
• Humayun Tomb in Delhi is a Mughal architectural masterpiece, a precursor to the Taj Mahal, with gardens and water features, primarily built of red sandstone.
• Qutub Minar in Delhi, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the tallest brick minarets, constructed in the early 13th century by Qutb-ud-Din Aibak and his successors.
• Jama Mosque in Delhi, built during the Mughal era under Emperor Shah Jahan, is one of the largest mosques in India, completed in 1656.

Mughal Architecture

• The Mughal Empire controlled much of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries, bringing Persian style into Indian architecture.
• Mughal buildings display a uniform character and structure.
• The Taj Mahal was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1632 as a mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal, completed in 1653.
• Major structures of the Taj Mahal Complex include the mausoleum, four minarets tilted outward, a mosque and guesthouse made of red sandstone, a Charbagh garden, and a main gateway with Quranic calligraphy.
• Red Fort in Delhi, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1638-1648, is an architectural masterpiece constructed using red sandstone, reflecting Mughal, Persian, and Indian influences.
• Agra Fort, built primarily by Emperor Akbar between 1565 and 1573 using red sandstone, was later modified by Shah Jahan with white marble elements.

Chola Dynasty

• After the Pallavas, the Chola Dynasty became the main power of Southern India.
• The Chola Dynasty built more than two hundred temples, a continuation of Pallava architecture with variations.
• Brihadishwar Temple in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, also known as the Big Temple, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site representing the Dravidian architectural style.
• Vijayalaya Temple in Narthamalai, Tamil Nadu, represents the early Chola architectural style which was a transitional phase between the Pallava and the Imperial Chola styles.
• Vijayalaya Temple features a combination of rock-cut and structural architecture.

Gupta Architecture

• Gupta Architecture reflects people's religious convictions, during the "Golden Period of Indian Architecture", beginning in the 4th century A.D.

Cave Architecture

• Ajanta Caves are 29 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments in Maharashtra, India, known for their murals and sculptures.
• Ellora Caves consists of 34 monasteries and temples carved into the cliffs of the Charanandri Hills.
• Dhamek Stupa marks the spot where the Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment.

Temple Architecture

• Square Temple with a Flat Roof (Type 1) is the simplest form of temple structure, built on a raised platform with a flat roof supported by four pillars.
• Square Temple with a Shikhara (Type 2) features a tower (shikhara) above the sanctum (garbhagriha).
• Rectangular Temple with an Apse (Type 3) was inspired by Buddhist chaitya halls, featuring a semi-circular apse and an ambulatory path.
• Circular Temple (Type 4) has a circular plan with pillars supporting a domed roof.
• Panchayatana Style Temple (Type 5) consists of a central shrine surrounded by four smaller subsidiary shrines at the corners.

Art of Mathura

• Mathura School of Art flourished in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, as a Buddhist visual art form, a commercial and pilgrimage center.
• Only symbols, such as two footprints or a wheel, were used to represent Buddha.
• The depiction of the human Buddha was based on Yaksha (spirits) representations.

Gandhara School of Art

• Gandhara School of Art was one of the major schools of art in the history of ancient India.
• Gandhara School of Art flourished in Afghanistan and present North-Western India.

Kushan Art

• Kushan Art was produced during the Kushan dynasty (late 1st to 3rd century CE) in parts of Central Asia, northern India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.