DIFFERENT STYLES OF

ARCHITECTURE
• In ancient India, temple architecture of high standard developed in almost all
regions.
• The distinct architectural style of temple construction in different parts was a
result of geographical, climatic, ethnic, racial, historical and linguistic diversities.
Ancient Indian temples are classified in three broad types.
• This classification is based on different architectural styles, employed in the
construction of the temples.
•Three main style of temple architecture are the Nagara or the Northern style,
the Dravida or the Southern style and the Central or Chalukyan style.

An illustration of Hindu temple Spires (Shikhara, Vimana) built using concentric circle and rotating-
squares principle. The left is from Vijayanagar in Karnataka, the right is from Pushkar in Rajasthan.
 1. NAGARA OR NORTH INDIAN STYLE( A.D 600 to present day)
• The Nagara style is typically characterised by the architectural wonder, which
ideally portrayed the craftsmanship of the artists.
• A study of the temples of northern India reveals two distinct features, in Planning
and in Elevation.
• In plan, the temples were basically quadrangle with graduated projections in the
centre.
• In elevation, it resembles a tower gradually inclining inwards in a convex curve.
• According to the plan the projections are carried upwards to the top of the
Sikhara, and thus there is strong emphasis on vertical lines in elevation. The Nagara
style is spread across various parts of India.
It therefore, exhibits diverse verities and implications in separate outlines of
development and elaboration. Such plans and the curvilinear tower are, however,
common to every medieval temple of northern India.

On account of regional difference, architecture of the temples of Nagara style can be

classified according to diverse regions, such as, Orissa, Central India,
Rajputana, Gujarat and Kathiwar etc. .
 • LINGARAJA
• SUN TEMPLE
• JAGANNATH PURI
• MUKTESHWAR TEMPLE

• KANDARIYA
MAHADEVA TEMPLE
• LAKSHMANA TEMPLE • SOMANATH TEMPLE
• SAS-BAHU TEMPLE
 TEMPLE OF KHAJURAHO GROUP (M.P) (950-1050 A.D)

• The Temples Of Khajuraho ( Chhatrapur Dt.) are situated about 160 km south – east of Jhansi.
• There were more than 85 temples but now remain about 30 in numbers occupying an area of
2.5 sq.km.
• The temples were built with sand stone of soft black colour during the rein of Chandella
rajput Dynasty of bundelkhand.
• The founder of this dynasty was nannuka.
• The temples have definitely individual character.
• The Plan of the temple is of Latin cross, the longest side lying on east-west axis the entrance
being on the east.
• The temple is divided into three main parts
i.Cella or ‘Garbha Griha’.
ii.An assmbly hall or ‘mantapa’
iii.An entrance portico or ‘ardha,matapa.
• A vestibule or ‘antrala’ is also sometimes added to cella and transcept on each side of the
main hall or mahamantapa.
1)
• Kaṇḍāriyā Mahādeva Temple is located in the Chatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh
in Central India. It is in the Khajuraho village, and the temple complex is spread over an
area of 6 square kilometres (2.3 sq m).
• It is in the western part of the village to the west of the Vishnu temple.

Kandariya Mahadeva Lakshmana temple at Khajuraho

2)
• Lakshmana temple is located in the Western Temple complex
in Khajuraho. Khajuraho is a small village in Chattarpur District of Madhya
Pradesh, India
•The structure consists of all the elements of Hindu temple architecture. It has entrance
porch(ardh-mandapa), Mandapa, Maha-Mandapa, Antarala and Garbhagriha.
TEMPLE OF RAJPUTANA GROUP(8th – 11th century)

• During 8th to 11th century Rajputana people turned an endless sea of sand into a
breathtaking variety.
• They made great stride in art of temple buildings, forts and splendid palaces.
• The temples have 3 to 5 shrines.
• Shikhara over cella is similar to Orissa group of temples, but more refined in treatment.
• the pillars are exquisitely carved with foliated motif.
TEMPLE OF ORISSA GROUP( Kalinga)(A.D. 800 to1250)

• The Kaḷinga architectural style is a style which flourished in the

ancient Kalinga region or present eastern Indian state of Odisha and northern Andhra
Pradesh.
• The style consists of three distinct types of temples: Rekha Deula, Pidha Deula and
Khakhara Deula.
• The former two are associated with Vishnu, Surya and Shiva temples while the third
is mainly with Chamunda and Durga temples.
• The Rekha Deula and Khakhara Deula houses the sanctu sanctorum while the Pidha
Deula constitutes outer dancing and offering halls.
• Taking the Kalinga pattern of architecture to its zenith, these Odisha temples are
unique in both plan elevation and decoration details.
• They consist of a structural due, the main temple or shrine and the frontal porch. The
main temple, known as Vimana or Deula, is the sanctum enshrining the deity. And the
porch or Jagamohana is a congregation place for the devotees.
• Vimanas are constructed on a square base and are marked by a curvilinear tower or
shikhara and is known as rekha deula. The porches of the temples rest upon rectangular
bases which are horizontal platforms arranged successively in a receding formation to
constitute a pyramidal superstructure.
Pyramidal roof
chaapra

Jagmohana