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History of Architecture – Exam Notes by Ganesh

Q1: What are the architectural features of the Sanchi Stupa?
The Great Stupa at Sanchi is one of the most significant and well-preserved examples of early
Buddhist architecture in India. Commissioned by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd
century BCE, its present form is the result of subsequent additions over several centuries.

I. Overall Structure and Layout

● Anda (Hemispherical Dome): This is the massive, solid, hemispherical dome that
forms the core of the stupa. It is built of burnt bricks and rubble and symbolizes the
universe or the dome of heaven. The Anda houses the sacred relics.
● Medhi (Terrace): The Anda rests on a raised circular terrace that serves as the
upper pradakshina patha (circumambulatory path) for priests and monks.
● Pradakshina Patha (Circumambulatory Path): This is the ground-level pathway for
devotees to walk around the stupa in a clockwise direction as a form of worship.

II. Crowning Elements (Superstructure)

● Harmika: This is a square railing that sits on top of the Anda, considered the abode
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● Yasti (Mast): A central mast that rises from the Harmika, representing the Axis Mundi,
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symbolizing the Three Jewels of Buddhism: the Buddha, the Dharma (teachings), and
the Sangha (community).
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III. Enclosures and Gateways
● Vedika (Railing): A massive stone railing that encircles the entire stupa, separating the
sacred space from the secular world.
● Toranas (Gateways): Four elaborately carved ceremonial gateways located at the four
cardinal directions. These are the most ornate features, covered with sculptures depicting
Jataka Tales and scenes from Buddha’s life, where he is represented aniconically
(symbolically) by a Bodhi tree, wheel, or footprints.

Q2: What are the architectural features of the Khajuraho temples?

The Khajuraho Group of Monuments, built by the Chandela dynasty between 950 and 1050
CE, represents the zenith of the Nagara style of temple architecture.

I. Overall Plan and Layout

● Jagati (Raised Platform): All temples are built on a very high, solid masonry platform

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 that elevates the temple and provides a platform for ritual circumambulation
(Pradakshina).
● Panchayatana Style: The larger temples follow this style, featuring a main central
shrine surrounded by four subsidiary shrines at the four corners of the Jagati.
● East-West Axis: The temples are typically oriented on an east-west axis, with the
entrance facing east.

II. Principal Components of the Temple

The temple is a series of interconnected halls leading to the sanctum:

● Ardhamandapa (Entrance Porch)
● Mandapa (Assembly Hall)
● Mahamandapa (Great Hall)
● Antarala (Vestibule)
● Garbhagriha (Sanctum Sanctorum): The small, dark inner sanctum where the main
deity is housed.

III. The Distinctive Shikhara (Spire)

● Shikhara (Main Spire): The main spire is curvilinear and rises above the
Garbhagriha.
● Urushringas (Subsidiary Spires): The main Shikhara is adorned with a series of
smaller, graded spires that create a sense of vertical ascension, making the Shikhara
look like a mountain peak, symbolizing Mount Kailasa.
● Amalaka & Kalasha: The spire is crowned by a ribbed, disc-like Amalaka and a final
pot-shaped Kalasha.

IV. Sculptural Decoration

● The temples are famous for their profuse and integral sculptures, carved in high relief.
● Themes include divine figures, celestial beauties (Apsaras, Surasundaris), secular
life, and the famous Mithuna (erotic sculptures).

Q3: What are the main features of Indo-Islamic architecture? Explain

with an example.
Indo-Islamic architecture is a unique style that blends elements from Islamic art (Persian,
Turkish) with Indian architectural traditions.

I. Key Architectural and Decorative Features

● Arcuate Style (Arcs and Domes): This style replaced the native Indian trabeate
style (pillars and beams). It extensively used true arches and grand domes.
● Minarets: Tall, slender towers used for the call to prayer became a prominent feature.
● Calligraphy and Ornamentation: Since depicting living beings is discouraged,
decoration involved intricate calligraphy (Quranic verses) and arabesque (geometric
and floral patterns).
● Jaali Work (Latticed Screens): Intricately carved stone screens were used for privacy,
ventilation, and decoration.
● Charbagh Garden Layout: A Persian-style four-part garden layout, symbolizing the
gardens of Paradise.
● Materials: Red sandstone and white marble were highly favored materials.

II. Example: The Taj Mahal, Agra

The Taj Mahal is the quintessential example of Indo-Islamic architecture.

● It features a massive central bulbous dome and is flanked by four ornamental
minarets.

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 ● The structure is perfectly symmetrical and set within a Charbagh garden with
reflecting pools.
● The white marble walls are exquisitely decorated with calligraphy in black marble and
pietra dura (inlay of semi-precious stones).
● Intricate marble jaali screens enclose the central cenotaphs.

Q4: Explain the construction technique in temples in the rock-cut

style with an example.
Rock-cut architecture is a monolithic and subtractive process, where a temple is carved out
of a single, solid piece of natural rock.

The Construction Process

1. Selection of the Rock Face: A suitable, solid rock cliff, free of major cracks or faults,
was chosen.
2. Marking and Planning: A master plan was marked directly onto the rock face.
3. Top-Down Excavation: Carving was always done from the top down. This eliminated
the need for scaffolding and prevented damage to finished sections below.
4. Rough Hewing: Large trenches were cut to isolate the mass, and unwanted chunks of
rock were quarried away with hammers and chisels.
5. Fine Carving and Detailing: After the rough shape was established, skilled sculptors
would carve the pillars, deities, and decorative motifs, again progressing from the top
down.

Example: The Kailasa Temple, Ellora Caves

The Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) is the world's largest monolithic structure and the finest
example of this technique.
● It was carved from a single piece of basalt rock cliff, a process that involved removing
an estimated 200,000 tonnes of rock.
● The carvers started with the Shikhara (main spire) at the top and worked their way
down to the base.
● It is a complete temple complex with a gateway, shrines, halls, and a courtyard—all
carved from the same parent rock.

Q5: Write short notes on any two of the following: Brihadeeshwara

Temple, Provincial Style, Shore Temple.
1. Brihadeeshwara Temple

The Brihadeeshwara Temple in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, is a supreme example of Dravidian

architecture, built by the Chola Emperor Rajaraja I in 1010 CE. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, its
most iconic feature is the towering Vimana (main tower), which is approximately 66 meters
high. The Vimana is crowned by a monolithic capstone (Shikhara) weighing about 80 tons.
Constructed entirely of granite, the temple complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and
reflects the power and architectural genius of the Chola dynasty.

2. Provincial Style of Architecture

The Provincial Style refers to the regional variations of Indo-Islamic architecture that
developed in kingdoms away from Delhi, such as Bengal, Gujarat, and Jaunpur. These styles
adapted to local climates and integrated local artistic traditions. For example, the architecture of
Bengal featured a distinctive drooping cornice and curved roof mimicking bamboo huts to
handle heavy rain. The architecture of Gujarat incorporated the delicate and ornate stone
carving techniques of local Hindu and Jain traditions. This style represents a creative fusion of
an imported architectural language with a local context.

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 3. Shore Temple
The Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, was built during the reign of the Pallava
king Narasimhavarman II in the 8th century CE. It is one of the earliest examples of a free-
standing, structural stone temple in South India, marking a transition from earlier rock-cut
temples. Located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, the temple is built from blocks of granite.
The complex consists of three shrines, two dedicated to Lord Shiva and one to a reclining
Lord Vishnu. Its five-storeyed pyramidal Shikhara is a defining feature of early Dravidian
architecture.

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