DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIA

EARLY INDIAN DYNASTIES’ EXTERIORS AND INTERIORS

&
THEIR REINTERPRETATION IN DESIGN

- B.N.JESWANTH SINGH
PGDID - II
 AIM
To study about the design characteristics of India early Indian
dynasty exteriors and interiors and their reinterpretation in design.
AIM OBJECTIVES
 To know and study about the Royal dynasties that ruled India from
the early age.
&  To know about the kings and the dynasties that gave importance
to architecture.
 To know and study about the various structures built by various
OBJECTIVES kings and their architectural style.
 To do a research about the reinterpretation of ancient Indian
architecture in modern architecture.
 Architecture is perhaps India’s greatest artistic glory. Indian architecture has a
long rich history, dating back thousands of years. It encompasses the building
traditions of the Indian subcontinent—which includes what are now India,
Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
The earliest Indian buildings were made of wood and then brick. Few examples
of such ancient structures, especially those of wood, have survived the severity
of the Indian climate. By about the 6th century BC, stone architecture was being
created on the subcontinent. Indian architects soon became highly skilled in the
carving and construction of stone buildings. By the 7th century ad, the use of
stone had become popular for important buildings of great size. Numerous
stone temples from the medieval period still stand in India.
INTRODUCTION Sculpture seems to have been the favored form of artistic expression, and Indian
architecture and sculpture have had a close relationship. Rock-cut, or cave,
architecture—temples or other buildings carved into cliffs—is often little more
than sculpture on a colossal scale. Free-standing stone buildings are also
profusely adorned with sculpture. The sculpture is often inseparable from the
architecture.
Most surviving examples of Indian architecture before about the ad 1200s are
religious structures. They consist mainly of Buddhist shrines, or stupas, and of
Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain temples. The residences of monks give some idea of
how nonreligious architecture must have appeared. However, surprisingly few
examples of palaces and ordinary houses of the time have been found.
DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS OF
EARLY INDIAN DYNASTIES
INDUS VALLEY
CIVILIZATION (3300-1300 BCE)
- Grid Pattern

- City Walls

- The acropolis and the lower cities

- The Residential Buildings

- In-house wells

- Drainage System

- Granaries

- Great Bath

- No Temples

- No weaponry / warfare monuments

- Lothal Dockyard
MAURYA EMPIRE
(321-185 BCE)
- First Indian Empire
- Encouraged Hinduism, Jainism and
Buddhism
- Introduced Buddhist architecture in
India
- Main structures are STHUPA, VIHARA,
CHAITYA and STHAMBA (pillar)
- Wood and bricks are main construction
materials
- Rock cut architecture and cave
architecture also exists in this period
- Pillars made up of stone is visible all over
the kingdom with proclamations
inscribed on them
- SANCHI STHUPA,LION CAPITAL OF
ASHOKA, SARANATH PILLAR are some
of the examples
SHUNGA DYNASTY
(C. 200 BCE –C. 1200 CE)
Over threw Mouryan emporers and ruled
Mouryan empire under the name Shunga
Dynasty

Established by Pushyamitra Shunga

He demolished all the Buddhist temples

built by Mouryans

Agnimitra Shunga the second emporer re

built all the Buddhist temples even the Great
Sanchi Sthupa

The stupa was expanded with stone slabs to

almost twice its original size by the later
Shunga rulers

Stone work is most prominent during their

reign

Almost all the architecture work was done

with stone
GUPTA EMPIRE
(late 3rd century CE to 543 CE)
The reign of Gupta empire is called as golden
age for Hinduism and Hindu temples

Most prominent architectural marvels of Gupta

period are temples.

Most of the temples were carved with

representation of Gods

Gupta style temple was modelled on the

architectural norms of the Mathura school.

The Shikhara was not much prominent in the

early Gupta temples but was prominent in later
Gupta era.

There was a single entrance or mandapa or

Porch.

Main style of temple architecture in Gupta

period is Nagara style.

Dasavatar Temple at Deogarh , Bhitargaon

temple and Mahadev Temple at Nachna Kuthar
have a square tower of Shikhara. Manyar Math
at Rajgriha is a circular temple of Gupta Era.
SATAVAHANA
DYNASTY(c. 271 BCE–220 CE)
Satavahana empire is post mouryan empire

Amaravati is the capital

The emporers are known as Brahmins

Buddhism also encouraged and built many

chaityas and aaramas for Buddhist monks

Rock cut architechture is most prominent

Rocks were cut with great precision

The Thorana at the Sanchi Sthupa was built

by satavahana emperor Satakarni-II

They also gave donated for carving Ajanta

caves to build Chaityas

Both rock and metal are equally used for art

and architeture.
VAKATAKA DYNASTY
(250 CE – c. 500 CE)
A migrant dynasty from the Krishna Valley

Early Vakataka bronzes clearly show

Amravati influence.

Later Vakatakas had matrimonial alliances

with Guptas which led to Gupta – Vakataka
architecture

The Vakataka period was marked by the

prominence and evolution of Buddhist
architecture especially rock cut,stepped
ponds and walled enclosures.

The Mahayana Viharas of Ajanta are actually

cave temples. This was a revolutionary idea
and had a considerable impact on Ajanta’s
large caves making them more impressive
and ritually significant.

The mode of painting used in the Ajanta is

known as Tempera
WESTERN
KSHATRAPAS (35 to 405 CE)
They were Indo-Scythian (Saka) rulers of the
western and central part of India

They followed Bhuddism

The Western Satraps are known for the

construction and dedication of numerous
Buddhist caves in Central India

Nahapana ruled at least 35 years in the

region of Karla, Junnar and Nasik, giving
him ample time for construction works
there

Karla caves are the chaityas built for

Buddhist monks

Nahapana also built Nashik caves and

Manmodi caves at Junnar
PANDYAN DYNASTY
(6-10th century CE) & (12-14th century CE)
The dynasty passed through two periods of imperial dominance

The early temple architecture phase in Tamil Nadu opens with the
rock-cut cave temples

Pandya architecture includes both rock-cut and structural temples.

Finest Pandya architecture - Meenakshi

Temple(Madurai),Jambukeswarar Temple (Tiruchirapalli), Nataraja
Temple (Chidambaram), Aranganathar temple at Srirangam

General features:

Plan- usually rectangular but emphasize were on the gateways-

Gopuram plan- rectangular in shape

Ground floor– vertical built in stone;

First floor– vertical built in stone;

Above floors– pyramidal built in bricks (inclination of 25 degrees);

Pinnacles called shikharas are used in odd numbers;

Niches — with heavily carved Hindu Mythologies sculptures;

The images of horses and other animals are carved on pillars.

CHOLA DYNASTY
(3rd century BCE – 1279 CE)
One of the longest-ruling dynasties in the
world's history

Chola temples of that era artistically

elaborate and sophisticated.

Chola temples are characteristized by:

Circular and Square Sanctums.

Beautified inner side of the external walls.

Special vimanas on the upper side of the

sanctum.

Dome shaped sikhara and kalasa on the top

of Gopurams.

Intricate sculptures and inscriptions on the

walls of these temples.

Pillared mandapams namely ardha

mandapa, maha mandapa and nandi
mandapa.
CHERA DYNATY
(9th – 12th century CE)
They ruled the parts of present day kerala
and tamilnadu

They followed Dravidian culture

Their architecture was called as Dravidian

architecture

Their temples, are mostly octagonal,

rectangular, that sandstones, granite are
used to build.

Temples are divided into 4 parts- Vimana,

Mandapas, gopurams and grabagriha.

The Thirunelli Temple, the Vadakkunnathan

Temples, Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple
and Kandiyur Siva Temple are its examples.
PALLAVA DYNASTY
(275 CE to 897 CE)
Gained prominence after the eclipse of the
Satavahana dynasty

The Pallavas were instrumental in the

transition from rock-cut architecture to
stone temples.

The earliest examples of the Pallava art are

the rock cut temples of the 7th century AD,
while the later examples are of structural
temples built in 8th and 9th century.

The mantapas and pillars of rock cut

temples and ratha temples bear own
distinctive characteristics.

Some of the famous temples built by

Pallava King are Mandapattu rock cut
temple, Kailasnathar Temple at
Kanchipuram, Shore Temple at
Mahabalipuram
KADAMBA DYNASTY
(345–525 CE)
The Kadambas were an ancient royal family
of Karnataka

Kadambas created new style of architecture

which was the basis of the Hoysalas style of
architecture, developed original school of
sculpture

The most prominent feature of Kadamba

architecture was Shikara called Kadamba
Shikara

Lakshmi Devi temple at Doddagaddavalli

and Bhoo Varaha Laxmi Narasimha Temple
at Halasi are examples

Many temples were built in

Aihole,Badami,Hampi in typical Kadamba
style.
WESTERN GANGA
DYNASTY (350 to 1000 CE)
Western Ganga was an important ruling
dynasty of ancient Karnataka

Architecture of Western Ganga Dynasty is a

perfect conglomeration of Jain culture and the
conventional art form of Karnataka.

The pillars with a conventional lion at the

pedestal and a circular shaft of the pillar on its
head, the stepped Vimana of the shrine with
horizontal mouldings and square pillars have
been inherited from the Pallava Dynasty.

Gomateshwara monolith - considered as the

highlight of the sculpture of Ganga dynasty

The freestanding pillars called Mahasthambha

or Bhrahmasthambha are unique

The Chavundaraya basadi of the 10th or 11th

century, Chandragupta basadi of the 6th
century and the monolith of Gomateshwara of
10th century are the important monuments at
Shravanabelagola.
EASTERN GANGA
DYNASTY
5th cen–1038 CE (Kalinga)
1038–1434 CE (Trikalinga)
They ruled modern-day Indian state of
Odisha as well as major parts of West
Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
Great patrons of religion,art and culture
Best builders of their time
Modified Orissan temple architectural style
Temple size increased and huge temples
appeared
Added Natamandapa & Bhogamandapa in
floor plan
Temples raised as per textual prescriptions
Inner & outer walls are well embellished
Vedibandha of temple introduced new
designs
CHALUKYA DYNASTY
(543–753 CE)
Ruled large parts of southern India and
central India

Had their own style of temple architecture

known as Vesara style

Main architectural features are :

Small base design

Horse shoe base

Square Garbhagriha

Inner pradakshinapatha

Mukhamandapa, Navaranga, Sukhanasi and

Pyramidical Shikhara on the Garbhagirha

Ekakuta, Dwikuta, Trikuta temples

RASHTRAKUTA
DYNASTY (6th – 10th century)
Rashtrakuta ruled large parts of the Indian
subcontinent between 6th – 10th centuries

They contributed much to the Deccan

architectural heritage

The features of Rashtrakuta sculpture are

apparent in the rock cut architectures

The main structures built during the rule of the

Rashtrakutas were the rock cut caves.

The caves at Elephanta and Ellora nestled in

Maharashtra bear testimony to the artistic
wizardry of the Rashtrakutas

the Buddhist caves have been redone by the

Rashrtrakutas.

The sculpture of Kailasanatha temple is awe

inspiring

The sculptures that adorn the monuments of

the Rashtrakutas have been drawn from Hindu
mythologies.
HOYSALA DYNASTY
(B/W 10TH-14TH CENTURY)
It is a kannada empire
Hoysala temples have a plain covered
entrance porch supported by lathe turned
(circular or bell-shaped) pillars
The temples may be built upon a platform
raised by about a metre called a "jagati".
They are built on a star shaped basement.
The Navrang pillars inside the temple are
very smooth.
On the outside wall of the temple episodes
of mythology are depicted.
The famous temples of Hoysala are
Hoysaleshwara of Halebidu, Channakeshava
of Belur, Keshava of Somanathapura are
important.
The pillar image called “Sthambha
buttalikas” seen in Hoysala art
KAKATIYA DYNASTY
(1163–1323)
Ruled most of eastern Deccan region
comprising present day Telangana and Andhra
Pradesh, and parts of eastern Karnataka and
southern Odisha

Followed Chalukyan architecture, but managed

to create their own forms

Artisans used granite, basalt and sandstone

Lime and bricks are used for making

superstructures

Black granite and basalt are used for making

pillars, lintels, jambs and figures

Kakatiyan architecture shows high level of

sophistication

Their temples evoluted from simple mandapa,

antarala and non sculptures pillars to complex
trikuta and sellate from thousand pillared
temple and finally reached to exquisitely carved
Rameswara / Ramappa temple
VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE
(1336–1646)
Based in the Deccan Plateau region
Architecture attained a certain fullness and
freedom of expression during the Vijaynagara
rule.
Has their own architectural style called Provida
style
Mainly promoted Hinduism
Built huge towers on temple gateways called
Rayagopuras
Kalyanamantapas came into existence
The temples consist of Garbhagriha, Sukhanasi,
Mahamantapa and Ardhamantapa and Amman
shrine
The walls of the temples contain sculptures of
Folklore, Gods, Goddesses, Elephants, Horses
etc.
Some famous temples exemplifying the
Vijayanagar style include the Virupaksha
Temple at Hampi and the Hazara Rama temple
of Deva Raya I
CHANDELA DYNASTY
9th century CE–13th century CE
They ruled much of the Bundelkhand region

Chandelas are the Rajputs who built the

famous Khajuraho temples.

Features of Khajuraho temples are

Built in Shikhara style

Followed Panchayatana system of

architecture

Main components of this style are Sanctum,

Assembly hall & Entrance portico. And these
have Shikharas on top of them

10% of sculptures are erotic carvings of

Mithunas and other carvings represent the
daily mundane activities

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, Lakshman

Temple, Chaturbhuja Temple, Adinatha
Temple are some examples
ISLAMIC
ARCHITECTURE
Islam came to India in the 7th and 8th
centuries CE chiefly through Muslim traders,
merchants, holy men, and conquerors.

Main architectural styles are Imperial Style

(Delhi Sultanate),Provincial Style (Mandu,
Gujarat, Bengal, and Jaunpur), Mughal Style
(Delhi, Agra, and Lahore), Deccani Style

Unique features are Arches & Domes,

Minars, Mortar, natural figurines,
Spaciousness, Calligraphy, Jaali work, Pools,
Charbagh style Gardening, Foreshortening
technique, Pietra dura and Mosaic designs
are used

Taj Mahal, Qutb Minar, Jama Masjid,

Charminar, Tomb of Itmaduddaula,
Hoshang Shah’s tomb are some examples
RAJPUT
ARCHITECTURE
The Rajput Rulers had a keen sense of beauty in
Art and Architecture
They are known for their Royality in
architecture
They spent lavishly on art and architecture of
Temples, Forts and Palaces
They built dams, artificial lakes, canals, toranes
or arched gateways, sthambas
Some of the places where they built majestic
fortresses are Chittorgarh, Jaipur (Amber),
Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Mandu, Ranthanbor and
Gwalior
All domes on palaces are decked by lotus.
Beautiful examples of Rajput palaces are the
Udaipur Palace on lake Pichola built by
Maharana Udai Singh and the Hawa Mahal in
Jaipur built by Raja Jai Singh.
The most exquisite of their Sthambas is the
Jaya Sthamba or Victory Tower in Chittor (122ft)
REINTERPRETATION OF
ANCIENT DESIGNS IN
PRESENT DAY
ARCHITECTURE
 While technology and construction have progressed rapidly in recent years, allowing
structures to be built taller and faster than ever, remnants of colossal ancient
monuments remind us that construction techniques from as long as hundreds of
years ago had enormous merit as well. In fact, many of the innovations of antiquity
serve as foundations of modern construction, with the Roman invention of concrete
serving as a cogent example. Other essential ancient construction techniques, such
as the arch and the dome, are now often considered stylistic flourishes, with designs
like the Met Opera House reinterpreting classical typologies in a modern context. Yet
perhaps the most relevant reinterpretations of ancient construction today are those
INTRODUCTION that do so in the interest of sustainability, renouncing high-energy modern
construction methods in favor of older, more natural techniques.
These reinterpretations have taken many different forms, ranging from the revived
use of ancient materials to renewing ancient construction techniques.
A design can be unique, but no design is new. The reinterpretation is a continuous
process in the world of architecture. And the reinterpretation can be done by taking
the exact design/element from the past and using it in present or using the element
by making some modifications.
  India has rich architectural history
 Many Indian Royal dynasties spent not only their money and also time to create architectural marvels
of their own style
 Even after the dismisal of kings and their empires the architectural styles created by the respective
kings in their respective ruled areas are successfully reinterpreting even in this modern contemporary
age of architecture
 The main feature that even modern Indian architects are strictly following is VAASTU
 The Vaastu is nothing but the way of planning a building and this is existing since Vedic period in India
 And even the temples that are constructing now-a-days are following Nagara style in North India,
REINTERPRETATION Dravidan style in South India and Mixed style in Central India
 Best example is proposed plan of Ayodhya Rama Mandir , Ayodhya,Uttar Pradesh
IN INDIAN
 Even the corporate hotels like ITC are reinterpreting some famous ancient architectural styles in their
ARCHITECTURE hotel designs by giving the names like ITC RAJPUTANA, ITC ROYAL BENGAL, etc.
 And even some construction companies building appartments by mixing Rajput architecture with
modern architecture
 The interest for ancient architectural styles is never lost Indian society
 Even though the vastu and temple architecture is flowed in India due to Modernization and
Globalization India is losing its trade mark architectural style in public buildings, offices and residential
buildings such as pillar carvings, sculptures, etc.
 And even old roofing techniques with roof tiles are disappeared in these 30 – 40 yrs and again came
into existence in these Contemporary style of architecture.
 Even the structure named VESSEL in New York city is inspired from INDIAN STEP WELLS
EXAMPLES
MANDAPA DESIGNING

B.N.JESWANTH SINGH
PGDID-II
ZONING
- The zoning diagram shows the
division of space to
1. Mandapa
2. Water tank
3. Corridor
4. Path
5. Garden
6. Open garden
FLOOR PLAN
Gross Area = 9639 sft
Area of Mandapa = 1377 sft
Area of Water tank = 2418 sft
Garden Area = 3240 sft
Corridor Area = 2604 sft

The outline of the floor plan is

inspired from SOMANATHAPURA
KESAVA TEMPLE or
CHNNAKESAVA TEMPLE, built by
HOYASALA RULERS in 13th
century.
MOOD BOARD
INSPIRATIONS
3-D RENDERINGS