Architecture

Architecture Knowledge Guide

Study through the Time Period 

There have been great dynasties who contributed to ancient Indian architecture. One of the ways to understand the origins of architecture in India is through the works of Dynasties which ruled this country in order of appearances

  • Early Society - Indus Valley Civilization 3300 BCE - 1700 BCE
  • Urban & Religious - Mahajanapadas 600 BCE–320 BCE Stone Architecture, Rock Cut Caves, Stupas, Standalone temples, Kausambhi Palace
  • Classical Period - 320 BCE - 550 BCE - Ancient Indian Arches
  • Early Middle Ages - 550 CE - 1200 CE - Hoysala Architecture
  • Late Middle Ages - 1100 CE - 1500 CE - Vijayanagara Architecture
  • Late Middle Ages - 1100 CE - 1500 CE - Early Indo-Islamic Architecture
  • Late Middle Ages - 1100 CE - 1500 CE- Rajput Architecture
  • Early Modern Period - 1500 CE - 1858 CE - Buddhist Architecture
  • Early Modern Period - 1500 CE - 1858 CE- Mughals Architecture
  • Early Modern Period - 1500 CE - 1858 CE - Maratha Architecture
  • Early Modern Period - 1500 CE - 1858 CE- Sikh Architecture
  • Early Modern Period - 1500 CE - 1858 CE- Colonial Architecture
  • European Colonial Era - 1615 - 1947

The people who helped spread this knowledge

There have been many great scholars who have helped to put the pieces of the puzzle together. They dedicated their lives to understanding the architecture of India in its entirety. Amongst the various archaeologist, one of the initial ones was James Fergusson, whose writings helped showcase the diversity of Indian architecture to the world. Although his last travel to India was in 1845, he wrote his first treatise the previous year and read it at the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland at the end of the year. This was "On the Rock-Cut Temples of India”. As Fergusson lectured systematically about the cave temples in various regions quite early, he became well known in Britain as a specialist in Indian architecture. This lecture got such a good response that the British government was prompted into preserving them and reproducing their mural paintings.