UPSC Prelims Question on architecture at Fatehpur Sikri

With reference to architecture at Fatehpur Sikri, which of the following is / are correct statements? 1. One can notice combination of both trabeate (of pillar and beam) and arcuate (using arches and domes) styles at Fatehpur Sikri 2. Fatehpur ..

Temple Architecture at Khajuraho – The Chandela School

The history tells us that in the ancient India, the kings did not sponsor directly the making of rock-cut caves, stupas or temples. None of the stupas have sculptures of the Kings and rulers of those times. None of the Mathura ..

Temple Architecture of Odisha – The Kalinga School

The Indian temples are broadly divided into Nagara, Vesara, Dravida and Gadag styles of architecture. However, the temple architecture of Odisha corresponds to altogether a different category for their unique representations called Kalinga style of temple architecture. This style broadly ..

Temple Architecture of the Chola Empire

The Chola period saw the culmination of Dravida temple art resulting in the most sophisticated buildings of medieval India.  The Tamil Nadu temples were fully evolved in their style and design by the 8th century. Special Features of the Chola ..

Temple Architecture of the Pallavas

In the beginning of the medieval period, the Kings did not directly patronize the religious shrines and gave only indirect support. Most of the artworks were produced by the guilds of the artists who were actually funded by the villages, ..

Temple Architecture of Hoyasala Empire

By the 13th century, the power of the Cholas had declined. This was the time for a great and sophisticated culture when marvelous temples were built in Karnataka and parts of Tamil Nadu. Hoyasala influence was at its zenith during ..

Temple Architecture of Chalukyas of Kalyani

While the buildings of the Chalukyas of the Badami are centred in and around Pattadakal, Aihole, Badami & Alampur, the buildings of the Western Chalukyas are widely dispersed, which reflect the system of the local government and decentralization in the ..

Temple Architecture of Rashtrakutas

The reign of Rashtrakutas was from 753 AD to 982 AD. The rashtrakutas were great patrons of architecture. The Rashtrakuta architecture was a splendid form of Rock cut architecture. Most of the shrines were Buddhist caves such as Ellora and ..

Temple Architecture of Chalukyas of Badami

The Badami Chalukya era (7th and 8th century) was an important period in the development of South Indian architecture. Their style of architecture is called “Chalukyan architecture” or “Karnata Dravida architecture”. Nearly a hundred monuments built by them, rock cut ..

Hindu Temple Architecture: Basic Structure of a Hindu Temple

A simple Hindu temple comprises the following the following parts essentially: Garbhagriha: It is a cave-like sanctum. In the earliest temples, it was a small cubicle with a single entrance and grew into a larger chamber in time. The garbhagriha ..