The Hindu temple have always been a main attraction for tourists visiting India. But the types of architectures used are still not known by many. Here is a complete list
Nagara Architecture
- Origin: Orissa (7th-13th century A.D.)
- Found: Bhuvaneshar (mostly)
The temple is in a square with a number of graduated projections in the middle of each side giving a cruciform shape with a number of re-entrant angles on each side.
In elevation, a Shikhara, i.e., tower gradually inclines inwards in a convex curve, using a concentric rotating-squares and circles principle.
The projections in the plan are also carried upwards to the top of the Shikhara.
Most Important Temples:
• Mukteshwar Temple
• Rajarani Temple
• Lingaraja Temple
Dravidian Architecture
- Origin: South India
- Found: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu & Telangana
Consists of four main parts:
1. The principle part, the temple itself, is called the Vimana (or Vimanam). It is always square in plan and surmounted by a pyramidal roof of one or more stories; it contains the cell where the image of the god or his emblem is placed.
2. The porches or Mandapas (or Mantapams), which always cover and precede the door leading to the cell.
3. Gate-pyramids, Gopurams, which are the principal features in the quadrangular enclosures that surround the more notable temples.
4. Pillared halls or Chaultris—properly Chawadis -- used for various purposes, and which are the invariable accompaniments of these temples.
Most Important Temples:
• Meenakshi Temple
• Virupaksha Temple
• Kailash Temple
Badami Chalukya Architecture
- Origin: 450 CE in Aihole and perfected in Pattadakal and Badami
- Found: Badami District of North Karnataka
Badami Chalukya architecture of temples can be classified into rocks cut halls and structural temples.
Some exquisitely sculpted monuments have been excavated under this form of architecture.
Basic features of this form of architecture are pillared veranda, columned hall and sanctum cut out deep into rocks.
Most Important Temples:
• Mallikarjuna Temple
• Lad Khan Temple
• Durga Temple
Kalinga Architecture
- Origin: Eastern states of India
- Found: Odisha and Northern Andhra Prades
- The style consists of three distinct type of temples namely Rekha Deula, Pidha Deula and Khakhara Deula. Deula means "temple" in the local language. The former two are associated with Vishnu, Surya and Shiva temple while the third is mainly with Chamunda and Durga temples. The Rekha deula and Khakhara deula houses the sanctum sanctorum while the Pidha Deula constitutes outer dancing and offering halls.
Basic features of this type of architecture are architectural stipulation, iconography, historical connotations, associated legends, etc.
Most Iportant temples:
• Rekha Deula: Lingaraja Temple and Jaganath Temple
• Pidha Deula: Konark Sun Temple
• Khakhara Deula: Vaital Temple
Maru-Gujara Architecture
- Origin: Around the areas of Rajasthan (6th century)
- Found: Rajasthan and Gujrat
This form of architecture has a deep understanding of structures and refined skills of Rajasthan’s craftsmen of bygone era. It has two prominent architecture styles: Maha-Maru and Maru-gujara.
Maru-Gujara has 3 different divisions: the pitha, the main hall (mandovara) and the shikhara.
The Mandovara is the main wall of thr temples and it has three main sections (vedi-bandha, jangha & varandika). Whereas Shikhara is the base of the temple bearing the image of the deity.
Most Important Temples:
• Osian Temple
• Jagdish Temple
• Sun temple