INDIAN ARCHITECTURE
• Notable example is: Shiva temple at
HISTORY
1. INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION (HARAPPĀN CIVILIZATION)
(2600 BCE – 1900 BCE)
-Indus civilization, the earliest known urban culture of
the Indian subcontinent. Among the world’s three earliest
civilizations—the other two are those of Mesopotamia and Egypt—
the Indus civilization was the most extensive. The Indus Valley
civilization covered a large area around the Indus River basin and
beyond in late Bronze Age India. In its mature phase, from about
2600 to 1900 BCE, it produced several cities marked by great
uniformity within and between sites, including Harappa, Lothal, and
the UNESCO World Heritage Site Mohenjo-daro.
The civilization was first identified in 1921 at Harappa in
the Punjab region and then in 1922 at Mohenjo-daro (Mohenjodaro),
near the Indus River in the Sindh (Sind) region. Both sites are in
present-day Pakistan, in Punjab and Sindh provinces, respectively.
The ruins of Mohenjo-daro were designated a UNESCO World
Heritage site in 1980.
2. GUPTA ARCHITECTURE (approximately 319 to 467 CE)
• The Gupta Empire was established by Chandragupta I
(c. 320 CE), lasted until 550 CE and was mainly
influential in North Central India.
• This era is known as the Golden Age of Indian
Architecture
• Developments in temple design and construction were
carried out during this period.
• Gupta architecture was diverse in style, design, and
feature.
• It can be classified into caves, stupas, and temples.
(insert pictures)
a. Caves:
Ajanta Caves (insert pictures)
• Located in the Aurangabad District of
Maharashtra.
• Carved on a perpendicular cliff
• There are 25 Viharas (early type of Buddhist
monastery consisting of an open court
surrounded by open cells accessible
through an entrance porch) and 4 Chaityas (
a shrine, sanctuary, temple or prayer hall in
Indian religions).
Other examples: Ellora Caves, Junagadh caves, Bagh
caves, Nashik Caves (insert pictures)
b. Stupa
-a dome-shaped structure erected as a Buddhist shrine.
Dhamekh Stupa(insert pictures)
-a solid cylinder of bricks and stone reaching a height of
43.6 meters and having a diameter of 28 meters.
-the basement dates back to Ashoka’s reign (Ashoka
popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was the third
Mauryan Emperor of Magadha in the Indian
subcontinent during c. 268 to 232 BCE.)(insert pictures)
- carvings on the walls are in Brahmi Script(insert
pictures)
-the stone facing displays floral carvings of Gupta origin.
c. Temple
- Gupta period marks the beginning of Indian temple
architecture.
- Manuals were written regarding how to form temples
- The Gupta temples were classified into 5 types:
Type 1
• Square building with flat roof and shallow
pillared porch
• The nucleus of a temple, the sanctum or
cella(garbhagriha), with a single entrance
and a porch (Mandapa) appears for the first
time here.
• Notable example is: Kankali Davi temple
(Tigawa) (insert data and pictures)
Type 2
• An elaboration of Type 1 with the audition of
an ambulatory (paradakshina) around the
sanctum
• Some temples had a second storey
Bhumara (insert data and pictures)
Type 3
• Squared temple with a pillared approach
and a high platform at the base.
• The most unique achievement of this stage
was the appearance of a curvilinear tower
known as Shikhara.
• Notable example is: Dasavara Temple at
Deograth, Jhansi (insert data and pictures)
Type 4
• This stage introduced Rectangular temples
while all other features continued.
• Notable example is: Kapoteswara temple at
Cezarla (Krishna District)(insert data and
pictures)
Type 5
• This stage introduced circular templates with
shallow rectangular projections at the four
cardinal faces.
• The only monument exemplifying the style is
the Maniyar Math Shrine at Rajgir, Bihar
(insert data and pictures)
3. INDIAN ROCK-CUT ARCHITECTURE
• Indian rock-cut architecture is more varied and found in
greater abundance in that country than any other form
of rock-cut architecture around the world.
• Rock-cut architecture is the practice of creating a
structure by carving it out of solid natural rock.
• Rock that is not part of the structure is removed until the
only rock left makes up the architectural elements of the
excavated interior. Indian rock-cut architecture is mostly
religious in nature.
• There are more than 1,500 known rock-cut structures in
India. Many of these structures contain artwork of global
importance, and most are adorned with exquisite stone
carvings.
Example: The Great Chaitya in the Karla Caves,
Maharashtra,India, 1st-century CE.
4. HINDU TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
• Hindu temple architecture is a complex mixture of symbolism and
function. The structures are often grand and ornate, featuring
intricate carvings, colorful sculptures, and several stories in height.
Although there has been a large amount of diversity in Hinduism
architecture across its two-thousand-year history, nearly all Hindu
temples feature a central shrine that houses the temple's primary
deity.
• Generally, there are though to be two major styles of Hindu temple
architecture: Nagara (northern India) and Dravidian (southern India).
However, some experts include the Vesara style which is a
combination of the two and mostly found in central India.
• The basic components of Hindu temple architecture include the
inner chamber (garbhagriha), the temple hall (mandapa), entrance
gates (gopuram), and towers that rest atop the temple (shikhara or
vimanam). Decorations such as carved sculptures and paintings are
also often included in Hindu temples.
• There are many key features of a Hindu temple, but some of the
most important include Hindu related concepts of harmony,
symmetry, balance, and rhythm. In addition, perfect geometric
shapes such as circles and squares, as well as mathematical
principles like the golden ratio were often used in temple
construction.
• An example of Hindu temple architecture is the Lingaraja Temple in
Bhubaneswar, India. This temple has a Kalinga style design and
features beautifully curved towers (rekha deula).
Definition of terms:
• Ardhamandapa- (half-open hall), also spelled artha mandapam or
ardh mandapam, is an important element of the entrance group. It
is an entrance porch forming a transitional area between the outside
•
and a mandapa of the temple.
Mandapa- In the Hindu temple the mandapa is a porch-like structure
through the (gopuram) (ornate gateway) and leading to the temple.
It is used for religious dancing and music and is part of the basic
temple compound.
• Sikhara- refers to the rising tower in the Hindu temple architecture
of North India
• Amalaka- is a segmented or notched stone disk, usually with ridges
on the rim, that sits on the top of a Hindu temple's shikhara or main
tower. According to one interpretation, the amalaka represents a
 lotus, and thus the symbolic seat for the deity below. Another 7.
interpretation is that it symbolizes the sun, and is thus the gateway
to the heavenly world.
• Kalasha- is a finial, generally in the form of metal or stone spire,
used to top the domes of Hindu temples
• Garbhagriha- is the innermost sanctuary of Hindu and Jain
temples, what may be called the "holy of holies" or "sanctum
sanctorum".
5. JAIN ARCHITECTURE
• generally close to Hindu temple architecture, and in ancient times
Buddhist religious architecture.
• Jain temple architecture developed in many regions of
India as Hinduism spread; Jain architectural
advancements were also part of the Jain traditions.
Temples were erected in various sections of the nation
using Jain architecture. The majority of the specimens
are from the great period of Jaina architecture, which
lasted from A.D. 1000 to 1300, while a renaissance
occurred in the fifteenth century, coinciding with the
European Renaissance.
Jain Architectural Developments
• Jain temples may be found throughout India in places like
Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.
• Mount Abu is considered to be one of the outstanding examples of
Jain architecture. Jain architecture has a particular style that is more
Turanian in character
• The horizontal archway is the most noticeable feature of Jain
temples.
• The bracket kind of capital was also utilized in Jaina structures for
the first time in Indian architecture.
• The Aiwalli temple in Dharwad, Western India, displays the ground
layout of the Jain temples.
• This is the ground plan of the structural chaitya at Sanchi Stupa.
• The chaitya's nave has grown into a distinct porch separate from the
cell, and these two elements will be crucial to Jaina temple plans in
the coming years.
Jain Architecture - Features
• While Jain architecture first mimicked Buddhist and Hindu traditions,
they quickly developed their own distinct character.
• The main distinction is that the Jains build 'temple-cities' rather than
lonely Hindu temples, which are the rule rather than the exception.
• A Jain temple is also notable for its luxurious materials (typically
marble) and the abundance of adornment that adorns the edifice.
• A Jain temple is built on a square layout with entrances in four
cardinal directions, each of which might lead to the image of a
Tirthankara.
• The temple's interior features an unusually large number of
columns, from which a false arch/bracket springs around two-thirds
of the way up.
• These pillars, like the roof from which they are derived, are
exquisitely carved.
• Roof shapes, such as those found at Mount Abu temples, may
become fairly ornate, with marble deities and concentric rings of
sculpture.
• Domes or shikharas are typically more sharp than those seen in
Hindu temples, giving Jain temple cities a distinctive skyline of many
dome points arching into the sky.
• All Jain temples are named after one of the 24 Tirthankaras.
• Bricks were rarely employed in Jain buildings, and the practice of
cutting temples out of rock faces was utilized.
Examples:
1. Dilwara Temple in Rajasthan (insert data and pictures)
2. Shatrunjaya Temple in Gujarat (insert data and pictures)
3. Palitana Jain Temples (insert data and pictures)
6. INDO-ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
• began under influence of Islam
• monuments and buildings reflecting native/regional
Indic, Persian, central Asian, Arabic and Ottoman
Turkish architecture style were extensively built by
patrons of art and architecture in the Medieval Period.
Example:
1. Qutb Minar in Delhi, India (insert data and
pictures)
8.
MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE
• The most famous Indo-Islamic style
• a characteristic Indo-Islamic-Persian style flourished on
the Indian subcontinent during the Mughal empire
(1526–1857)
Regional Styles:
1.Rajput Architecture
Rajput architecture is an architectural style notable for
the forts and palaces of the many Rajput rulers, which are popular
tourist attractions, many of the Rajput forts are UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
Rajput architecture represents different types of
buildings, which may broadly be classed either as religious .These
much of a include temples, forts, stepwells, gardens, and palaces.
The forts were specially built for defense and military purposes
(insert pictures)
2.Sikh Architecture
Sikh architecture is a style of architecture that was
developed under the Sikh Confederacy and Sikh Empire during the
18th and 19th centuries in the Punjab region. Due to its progressive
style, it is constantly evolving into many newly developing branches
with new contemporary styles.
(insert pictures)
3.Gurudwara
A style of architecture that was developed under the
Sikh Confederacy and Sikh Empire during the 18th and 19th
centuries in the Punjab region. Due to its progressive style, it is
constantly evolving into many newly developing branches with new
contemporary styles.
(insert pictures)
4.Maratha Architecture
Maratha architecture is an influential style of architecture
constructed primarily in Maharashtra during British rule. Maratha
architecture is a combination of the characteristics of both Hindu and
Muslim architectural styles.
(insert pictures)
5.Dzong Architecture
Dzong architecture is used for dzongs, a distinctive type
of fortified monastery. The architecture is massive in style with
towering exterior walls surrounding a complex of courtyards,
temples, administrative offices, and monks' accommodation.
(insert pictures)
6.Bengal Architecture
The Architecture of Bengal, which comprises the
modern country of Bangladesh and the Indian states of West
Bengal, Tripura and Assam's Barak Valley, has a long and rich
history, blending indigenous elements from the Indian subcontinent,
with influences from different parts of the world. Bengali architecture
includes ancient urban architecture, religious architecture, rural
vernacular architecture, colonial townhouses and country houses
and modern urban styles. The bungalow style is a notable
architectural export of Bengal.
(insert pictures)
TAJ MAHAL
• Location: Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
• Year of Completion: 1648
• Architect: Ustad Ahmad Lahor
• Details:
Built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the
Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, the Taj
Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally
admired masterpieces of the world's heritage.
The Taj Mahal is considered to be the greatest
architectural achievement in the whole range of Indo-Islamic
architecture. Its recognised architectonic beauty has a rhythmic
combination of solids and voids, concave and convex and light
shadow; such as arches and domes further increases the aesthetic
aspect. The colour combination of lush green scape reddish
pathway and blue sky over it show cases the monument in ever
changing tints and moods. The relief work in marble and inlay with
precious and semi precious stones make it a monument apart.
The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 1983 for being "the jewel of Muslim art in India and
one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage".
It is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture
and a symbol of India's rich history. The Taj Mahal attracts 7-8
million visitors a year, and in 2007 it was declared a winner of the
New 7 Wonders of the World (2000–2007) initiative.
EUROPEAN COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE IN INDIA
 The Colonial History of India
1. British Raj
• Coronation of George V in India, 1911
• The British governed the subcontinent for around 200
years, finally ending with India gaining Independence in
1947. The British took over the administration of the
country and adapted the architecture of the regime to
reflect a combination of Indian designs and motifs with
Western construction methods and styles. They
commenced their regime by laying a network of roads
and railways to improve accessibility within the country
for their own interests and went on to establish many
important landmarks such as monuments, railway
stations, rest houses, government buildings, to name a
few. The Rajabai Clock Tower, Victoria Terminus, and
the Bombay High Court in Mumbai are a few notable
examples of buildings representing British colonial
architecture in India.
2. Portuguese Rule in India
• The Portuguese were the first Europeans to come to
India in 1505, with Vasco de Gama coming in 1498, and
the last ones to leave in 1961. Portuguese colonialism
outlived its English counterpart but had a very limited
influence. Some notable examples include the
Cathedral of Goa, the Cathedral for Portuguese India,
etc.
3. French Rule in India
• The French colonies in India were the smallest of the
European possessions in terms of area. The first French
venture into India happened during the 17th century,
when expeditions were sent to India for trade purposes.
The French colonisers acquired Pondicherry from the
Sultan of Bijapur and Chandannagar from the Mughal
Governor of Bengal. Both became the centres of
commercial activities for the French in India.
Examples of Colonial Architecture in India
1. Victoria Memorial : British Building in India
• Victoria Memorial, Kolkata
• Location: Kolkata, West Bengal
• Coloniser: British Empire
• Year of Completion: 1906
• Architect: William Emerson (British architect), and Vincent Esch
• Proposed by Lord Curzon in the memory of Queen Victoria,
Empress of India, the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata marks the history
of colonial architecture in India, which was prominent in the city .
Inspired by the Taj Mahal, the memorial combines elements of, both,
the British and the Mughal architecture. It consists of a large dome
at the top that is 184 feet tall, supported by four smaller domes.
White Makrana marble has been used as the primary building
material.
2. Gateway of India : British Building in India
• Gateway of India, Mumba
• Location: Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra
• Coloniser: British Empire
• Year of Completion: 1924
• Architect: George Wittet (British architect)
• The Gateway of India is a colonial building that was designed to
commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India
in 1911. It stands as a prime example of Indo-Saracenic
architecture, a fusion of Indian, Islamic, and European architectural
styles. Standing at a height of 85 feet, the monument is adorned with
intricate carvings and filigree work. Yellow basalt and reinforced
concrete have been used as the primary building materials. This
arched monument is one of the most renowned structures from the
Colonial Architecture in India.
3. Basilica of Bom Jesus : Portuguese Building in India
•
•
Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa
Location: Old Goa
• Coloniser: Portuguese Empire
• Year of Completion: 1605
• Architect: Julião Simão and Domingos Fernandes (Portuguese
architect)
• The Basilica of Bom Jesus is one of the most famous Portuguese
structures from the Colonial Architecture in India. Known for its
baroque architecture, the structure has been recognized by
UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Laterite stone brought from
Bassein was the primary building material used for its construction.
The interiors of the church have been carved using woodwork.
4. Chennai Central Railway Station : British Building in India
• Chennai Central Railway Station, Chennai
• Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
• Coloniser: British Empire
• Year of Completion: 1873
• Architect: George Harding (British Architect)
• The station served as the gateway to South India during the British
Raj and to-date is used as a landmark for the city. The station is the
busiest in South India, with 550,000 passengers using the terminus
every day. The structure is built in the Gothic Revival style and
consists of a clock tower reaching a height of 136 feet, making it one
of the tallest clock towers in Asia. Red brick has been used as the
primary building material.
5. St. Francis Church : Portuguese Building in India
• St. Francis Church, Kochi
• Location: Fort Kochi, Kochi
• Coloniser: Portuguese Empire
• Year of Completion: 1516
• Architect: Pedro Alvarez De Cabral (Portuguese architect)
• Built in the Gothic style of architecture, the church in Fort Kochi is
one of the oldest Portuguese churches from the book of Colonial
architecture in India. The body of Portuguese explorer Vasco de
Gama was originally buried in this church in 1524. It was originally
a wooden structure, but bricks and mortar were used later to
strengthen it. Later, the church also witnessed the Dutch
occupation and British rule.
6. National Gallery of Modern Art : British Building in India
• National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi
• Location: New Delhi
• Coloniser: British Empire
• Year of Completion: 1954
• Architect: Charles G. Blomfield and Francis
Blomfield(British architects)
• Built for Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and Maharani
Gayatri Devi, the National Gallery of Modern Art is
known for its classical revivalist style. Initially used as a
residence for the Maharaja and his wife, the place was
converted later into a museum and renovated by the
Indian government in 1954 into the National Gallery of
Modern Art. It is laid out in a butterfly-shaped floor plan
with a truncated dome that takes inspiration from the
dome of the Sanchi stupa.
7. Writers' Building : British Building in India
• Writers Building, Kolkata
• Location: Kolkata, West Bengal
• Coloniser: British Empire
• Year of Completion: 1777
• Architect: Thomas Lyon (British architect)
• The official secretariat building of Kolkata, the writer’s
building, was originally the principal administrative office
for junior clerks of the British East India Company (EIC).
Since Independence, this building from the Colonial
Architecture in India has housed the office of the Chief
Minister of West Bengal, cabinet ministers, and other
senior officials. The Writer’s Building is a 150-metre long
building that holds a portico in the central bay. Since its
completion, the building has undergone multiple
renovations and remodelling.
8. Pondicherry Museum : French Building in India
• Pondicherry Museum
• Location: Pondicherry
• Coloniser: French Empire
• Year of Completion: 1983
• An art and history museum in Pondicherry, the museum
is especially noted for its collection of lost wax bronzes
from the period of the Chola Empire. The Museum’s
collection includes 81 Chola bronze sculptures, ranking
it as one of the largest collections of Chola bronzes. It
has colonial building architecture with an attractive
facade and inscriptions in French. The two-story building
is painted in yellow and peach. It has large stone statues
and fossilised tree trunks displayed in the foyer and
courtyard.
9. Raj Niwas : French Building in India
• Raj Niwas - Colonial Architecture in India
 • Location: Pondicherry
• Coloniser: French Empire
• Year of Completion: 1906
• Architect: Foundation laid by Pierre Benoît Dumas
(French Governor for Pondicherry)
• Constructed during the French colonial period, Raj
Niwas served as the residence of the French Governor
of Pondicherry. Constructed in a rectangular shape with
a courtyard in the centre, the colonial building’s facade
features a beautiful colonnade of arched windows with
wrought iron railings. The roof is covered with red tiles,
which provide a striking contrast to the white walls of the
building. Today, it serves as the official residence of the
Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry and is one of the
most revered structures from the Colonial Architecture
in India.
• Maharashtra) when he was not travelling across India or in
10. Victoria Terminus : British Building in India
• Victoria Terminus, Mumbai - Colonial Architecture in
India
• Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Coloniser: British Empire
• Year of Completion: 1887
• Architect: Frederick William Stevens (British architect)
• Another lure from the Colonial Architecture in India, the
Victoria Terminus was designed by British architect
Frederick William Stevens in a Victorian Gothic Revival
style. The station features a high dome, turrets, and
pointed arches, along with elaborate carvings and
sculptures. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and
serves as the headquarters of the Central Railway of
India. With its stunning architecture and bustling train
traffic, the Victoria Terminus stands as an iconic
landmark and symbol of Mumbai's colonial architectural
heritage.
National Academies: Lalit Kala (Plastic Arts), Sangeet Natak
(Dance, Drama and Music) and Sahitya (Literature).
4. Palace Of Assembly, Chandigarh | Indian Building
• Location: Chandigarh, India
• Year of Completion: 1964
• Architect: Le Corbusier
•
Details:
Le Corbusier designed the Capitol Complex in
Chandigarh, India, comprising three buildings, the Palace of
Assembly, the High Court, and the Secretariat, as per Nehru's vision
of modern India. Nehru believed in modernism in terms of materials,
design, and thoughts, emphasizing function, light, and ventilation.
Corbusier incorporated the five points of architecture, including
pilotis, free facade, open plan, long strips of windows, and functional
roof, into the Palace of Assembly. He also utilized colors as a symbol
of modernism.
This was one of the many residences of Mahatma
Gandhi who lived at Sabarmati (Gujarat) and Sevagram (Wardha,
prison.The Bhagavad Gita was recited here daily as part of the
Ashram schedule.Influences from the Bauhaus movement are
visible strongly on the façades as well in the interiors in terms of
functionality. He tried to blend these lines with traditional Indian
architecture by designing jaalis for natural light and ventilation and
chajjas to block the strong sunlight.
5. Gandhi Ashram, Ahmedabad
• Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
• Year of Completion: 1963
• Architect: Charles Correa
• Details:
This was one of the many residences of Mahatma
Gandhi who lived at Sabarmati (Gujarat) and Sevagram (Wardha,
Maharashtra) when he was not travelling across India or in
prison.The Bhagavad Gita was recited here daily as part of the
Ashram schedule.Influences from the Bauhaus movement are
visible strongly on the façades as well in the interiors in terms of
functionality. He tried to blend these lines with traditional Indian
architecture by designing jaalis for natural light and ventilation and
chajjas to block the strong sunlight.

9. INDIAN ARCHITECTURE AFTER INDEPENDENCE (1947 6. Rabindra Bhavan, Delhi | Buildings of India
ONWARDS) • Location: Delhi, India
• Date of Completion: 1963
1. Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore | Indian Buildings • Architect: Habib Rahman
• Location: Bengaluru
• Datails:
• Year of Completion: 1956 Rabindra Bhavan was built to mark the birth centenary
• Architect: B.R. Manickam of Tagore, who in addition to being a poet and novelist, was an artist,
• Details: playwright and composer. The building is thus the home of three
Displays the revivalist style of architecture. Vidhana National Academies: Lalit Kala (Plastic Arts), Sangeet Natak
Soudha is built in the Neo-Dravidian style to sustain the historical (Dance, Drama and Music) and Sahitya (Literature).
identity of the nation. As a tribute to the temple architecture of the Influences from the Bauhaus movement are visible
earlier period, Vidhana Soudha is designed as a tribute to temple strongly on the façades as well in the interiors in terms of
architecture of the earlier period and is seen in the building – the functionality. He tried to blend these lines with traditional Indian
carved pillars, pediments, elaborate arches, and granite architecture by designing jaalis for natural light and ventilation and
construction. chajjas to block the strong sunlight.
Rabindra Bhavan was built to mark the birth centenary
of Tagore, who in addition to being a poet and novelist, was an artist,
playwright and composer. The building is thus the home of three
National Academies: Lalit Kala (Plastic Arts), Sangeet Natak
(Dance, Drama and Music) and Sahitya (Literature).

2. IIT, Kanpur | Buildings in India

• Location: Kanpur, India
• Year of Completion: 1959
• Architect: Achyut Kanvide
• Details:
A public institute of technology. It was declared an
Institute of National Importance by the Government of India under
the Institutes of Technology Act. IIT Kanpur is ranked among the
most prestigious academic institutions in India.

3. Indian Institute Of Management, Ahmedabad | Buildings of India

• Location: Ahmedabad, India
• Year of Completion: 1974
• Architect: Louis Kahn and B.V. Doshi
• Details:
The architecture of IIMA, built-in 1974, strongly shows
Louis Kahn’s concern for the hot climate of India. He blended
modern style with Indian architecture and used bricks extensively as
local vernacular materials, and limited the use of concrete. The
massive forms with punctures of geometric shapes, long corridors,
and connectivity between the buildings express functionality boldly.
Rabindra Bhavan was built to mark the birth centenary
of Tagore, who in addition to being a poet and novelist, was an artist,
playwright and composer. The building is thus the home of three