Indian architecture

The Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. When Shah Jahan built the mausoleum the Mogul Empire had reached its zenith and could ill-afford further extravagant spending. The emperor was dethroned and imprisoned for the last eight years of his life by his son Aurangzeb.

The Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds, built in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, in 1799. A fine example of Rajput architecture, the five-storey palace is partly an ornate facade. From the lower of its 953 windows, the ladies of the harem could discreetly observe activities in the city's main street.

Taj Mahal, Agra, India. Begun in 1632 by the emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his wife, the Taj Mahal is a fusion of Hindu and Muslim architectural styles.

Hampi in Karnataka, India, is famous for its ruined temples. Hampi was at its height in the 14th century, when it was the capital of one of the largest Hindu empires in the country's history. Sculptures in the city depict scenes from the Indian epics Rāmāyana and Mahābhārata.

The Mehrangarh Fort at Jodhpur, India, seen from the Jaswant Thada cenotaph. Situated on a hill overlooking the city of Jodhpur, the fort dominates the landscape.

The 4th-century step well at Bhandarej, Rajasthan, northern India. This five-storey well, with its rich designs and symmetrical structure, is a spectacularly well-preserved example, and was built for use by both nobles and commoners.

The ancient Amber Fort is set high on the rugged hills outside Jaipur, India. The Jaipur royal house held court there for seven centuries. The magnificent gateways, courtyards, and pavilions, and the glittering chambers of inlaid mirrors, have been carefully preserved.

The interior of the Amber Fort outside Jaipur, India. Building was commenced in 1552 by Maharaja Man Singh, the Rajput commander of Emperor Akbar's army. The fort is famed for the inlaid mirrors and rich golden decoration of its chambers.

Kumbhalgarh Fort lies about 64 km/40 mi from Udaipur. Isolated and magnificent, it was built in the 15th century by Rana Kumbha. Situated on top of the Aravalli mountains at 1,100 m/3,600 ft, the fortress has only once been captured. Its walls stretch over 30 km/19 mi.

Interior of the Mehrangarh Fort at Jodhpur, India. Delicately latticed balconies and elaborate panels, carved from stone, characterize the architecture of the palaces that lie within the fort.

The Qutb Minar Tower in Delhi. Built in the early 13th century and named after Sultan Qutb ud Din Aibak, this red sandstone tower is 72 m/236 ft high. The diameter of the tower tapers from 14 m/47 ft at its base to 3 m/9 ft at the peak. It is the tallest free-standing stone structure in India.

Elaborate carving on the Qutb Minar tower in Delhi, India. Built around 1200, the tower has since had additional storeys constructed, and has also been restored on several occasions. The differences in patterns and building materials, and the various inscriptions, are a record of the developments in Indian culture and architecture.

Architecture of the Indian subcontinent. Essentially, there are four periods or styles in Indian architecture: Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Western. In function, design, and decoration, Indian architecture was for many centuries essentially religious. The Buddhist style of temple-building emerged during the 4th century BC and formed the classical architecture of India. The Hindu styles did not begin to fully develop until about the 6th century AD, and Muslim styles were brought by the Mogul invasions beginning AD 1000 (e.g., the Taj Mahal). Finally, European styles were introduced during the British colonial period.

Buddhist The classical architecture of India emerged during the Buddhist dynasties, which began in the 4th century BC. Cave temples appeared in the 3rd century BC, imitating the structure and decoration of the wooden architecture of the period (now entirely lost). From small rock-cut shrines and sanctuaries, they evolved into large complex temples and monasteries, their walls richly decorated with reliefs, statues, or paintings. They include the temple at Karli (1st century AD) and the Ajanta caves. The earliest surviving stupas, reliquary mounds, date from the 2nd century BC. They too became larger and more complex, culminating in such monuments as the Great Stupa of Sanchi (3rd century BC-1st century AD), a huge dome surrounded by railings and elaborately carved gateways. Secular buildings from the Buddhist period include the palace of Emperor Asoka (273-232 BC) at Patna, modelled on a palace in Persepolis, Persia.

Hindu Although examples of Hindu architecture can be dated to the later centuries BC, a characteristic style began to flourish in the 6th century AD with the growth of Hindu dynasties. Hindu temples initially drew heavily on Buddhist styles, though their plans were based on mandalas, schematic diagrams of the creation of the universe. The Temple of Vishnu at Deogarh (6th century) is the earliest extant stone-built temple. The Elephanta cave temples, richly decorated with carvings, date from the 8th-9th centuries. Many Hindu temples were sculpted out of rock (rather than cut into rock, as cave temples were), for example, the Temple of Kailasa at Ellora (8th century AD) which is the world's largest monolithic temple. Whether rock-cut or stone-built, Hindu temples became highly ornate, and characterized by a high tower covering the main shrine. The Visvanatha Temple, Khajurāho, is typical. In the north, Hindu architecture began to decline following the Mogul invasions which began AD 1000. In the south, where it continued to develop, vast compounds grew up around temples, the gates of the perimeter walls becoming large, highly carved pyramids.

Muslim During the early period of Muslim architecture, a Persian style was imported directly, for example, the Great Mosque in Delhi, the Qutb-ul-Islam 1193. During the second period, beginning 1526 with the founding of the Mogul dynasty, the evolution of Indian architecture was influenced by local architects and craftsmen. This era gave rise to such monuments as the Tomb of Humayun, Delhi, 1569, the now abandoned city of Fatehpur-Sikri 1568-75, and the Taj Mahal at Agra (1632-48), one of the most familiar architectural images of India.

Western The architecture of the colonial period and independence has carried on in the complex tradition ranging from Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker's plan for New Delhi to Le Corbusier's plan and buildings for Chandigarh 1950-56.