Dravidian School of Architecture
- Oldest Style of Architecture
- Started by Pallavas and flourished under cholas
- Chola style is what came to be known as Dravida Style
- Features
- High Boundary Wall
- Gopuram – Decorated Gateway
- Panchayatan Style
- Shikhara in Nagara is called as Vimana in Dravidian School
- On top of Vimana there is Shikhara = equivalent of Kalash & Amalak
- Only one vimana – no vimana or shikhara in subsidiary shrines like Nagara style
- Antarala – Vestibular tunnel between Assembly hall & garbhagriha
- The entrance of garbhagriha has sculptures of Dwarpal – {Mithun & Yakshas}
- Crucified ground plan & upraised platform
- E.g
- Brihadeshwara Temple, Tanjore (by Raja Raja 1) >1000 years old
- Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple (Rajendra 1 son of Raja Raja 1 after conquering Gangetic delta)
Styles of Dravida Architecture
Pallava Style
- Began Under Mahendra Varman and studied under 4 groups
- Stage 1 – Mahendra Group
- Rock cut caves; no real temples
- Word mandap used instead of temple
- E.g
- Adivaraha cave
- Durga Cave
- Stage 2 – Narsimhan Varman Group
- Decoration in rock-cut caves
- Mandapas now become rathas
- 6 rathas in 1 cave
- Largest Rath – Darmaraj Rath – Precursor to Dravidian Style
- Smallest Rath – Draupati Rath
- Stage 3 – Rajsimha Varman Group
- Real structural Temple
- E.g
- Shore temple, Mahabalipuram
- Kailashnath Temple, Kanchipuram
- Stage 4 – Nandivarman Group
- Developed small temples
- Had all features of Dravida Style
Chola Style
- under Patronage of Cholas
- Revived Pallava style and Temple architecture reached its glory
- Chola style is what came to be Known as Dravida Style
- Vimana dominates the whole structure and rest discussed in 1st para.
- E.g
- Brihadeshwara Temple, Tanjore (by Raja Raja 1) >1000 years old
- Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple (Rajendra 1 son of Raja Raja 1 after conquering Gangetic delta)
Vijayanagara Style
- Under the patronage of Vijayanagara empire with capital Hampi
- Variations from Dravidian Style
- Gopuram on all sides and enlarged
- More than 1 mandap and 1 central mandap called Kalyan Mandap
- Highly decorated with supernatural horse motifs and geometrical pattern
- Religious and secular architecture
- Religious – Vithalsamy Temple & Virbadhra Temple at Lepakshi
- Secular – Lotus Mahal, Hall of dance at Lepakshi
Nayaka Style / Madurai Style
- Under patronage of Nayaka Rulers
- New features in addition to Dravida style
- Presence of Parakarns or huge corridors in portico, around garbhagriha
- Very High Gopuram – Meenakshi temple has the tallest gopuram in the world
- Intricate carvings all over the walls
- E.g – Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
Vesara Style of Architecture / Karnataka Style / Chalukya Style
- Flourished under Chalukyas
- 7th – 8th century AD
- Fusion of Nagara and Dravida style
- Emphasis on Vimana and Mandap
- Open Ambulatory around sanctum
- E.g
- Ladkhan temple (aihole)
- Temples at Badami
Hoysala Architecture
- Under the patronage of Hoysalas near Mysore
- 1050-1300 AD
- Main Centres – Belur, Halebidu, Sringeri
- Multiple Shrines around central pillared hall = equality to all deities unlike Panchayatan Style
- Star-shaped ground plan or stellate plan
- Built on an upraised platform called Jagati
- Use of soft stone – Chlorite schist for intricate carving
- e.g
- Chennakesava Temple, Somnathapuram
- Hoyasaleshwar Temple, Halebidu
Pala Architecture
- Under Palas (Buddhist) & Senas (Hindu) rulers
- Bihar – Bengal Region
- 8th -12th century
- Influence of both Buddhism and Hinduism
- Sculptures were highly decorated and polished
- Metal and stone were used for sculptures
- Use of burnt bricks & clay or terracotta
- e.g
- Siddheshware Mahadeva Temple, Barakar
- Temple of Vishnupur