Architecture has always been a prominent factor in the Indian culture showcasing traditions and marvels of design and construction. Be it palaces, temples, mosques, etc we can observe the uniqueness in craftsmanship.
Some of the most important and magnificent architectural designs that have given india an international status along with other globally accepted architectural marvels are-
1) Temples of Mahabalipuram
If stones could talk, the sculptures of Mahabalipuram would reveal the fancies of our ancestral past. Welled up in heritage, history and culture, Mahabalipuram is an erstwhile port city off the Coromandel coast. Mahabalipuram has archived the glories of the Pallava dynasty in such a manifesting way that every sculpture draws a parallel to its story with an irresistible longing of distinct possibilities. It is here in Mahabalipuram you will learn that some histories are better off written in stones than textbooks.
2) Konark Sun temple, Orissa
Modelled to look like a chariot, Konark is a spectacular carved out of sandstone. A sculpted structure plonked on 24 wheels, gives an illusion of being pulled by 7 horses and 2 lions that guard it. The engineering those days was so baffling that the wheels act as sundials that can accurately calculate time.
3) Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
Engulfed by a burgeoning forest, Khajuraho was camouflaged under a thick grove of green until a young British officer rediscovered it in 1838. With an inscription tracing it back to the Chandela dynasty, the Group Temples of Khajuraho became a subject of speculation owing to its undaunted, carnal and erotic depictions. The walls of the temples are embellished with cult representations of Apsaras and demigods. Several theories are associated with these untypical statues – some say the scenes were chiselled to educate the people, while some studies suggest that they depict the love and marriage of Shiva-Parvati.
4) Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh
The story of Taj Mahal is eternally imbibed on the pages of history ever since its construction began. Shah Jahan, the romantic that he was, added soul to the beautiful monument by aligning every curve and arch of the mausoleum to a significant piece of love story. Every part of the mausoleum narrates a tale of romance and tragedy. Its tomb, minarets, calligraphed murals and excerpts from Quran transpire Shah Jahan’s undying love for Begum Mumtaz. Taj Mahal’s eternal grace and symmetry resonate the tragic romance that lived between the couple.
5) Hampi, Karnataka
When you are in Hampi, you will experience a flashback of the past, a peek into the erstwhile Vijayanagara kingdom and witness a whole lot of Hindu mythology through laboriously carved sculptures. While India is renowned for having intricate and elaborate stone carvings, Hampi is especially known for the acoustic and musical stone pillars at Vittala Temple. What sort of crazy engineering must have gone behind making stones that sound like instruments!.
6) Golconda Fort, Telangana
Amidst the cacophony and gruffness of Hyderabad, stands tall a fort from the reign of Qutb Shah. An imposing structure with 87 semicircular bastions, 8 elephant-proof gates, few cannons, 4 drawbridges, has a royal residential complex with halls,temples, mosques, magazines and stables. An example of its outstanding engineering is the acoustic effect of a clap done near dome that is reverberated almost a kilometre away in the fort’s pavilion. This was used as a beacon in case of an attack or emergency.
7) Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
A perfect confluence of creativity and innovation, Jantar Mantar displays ambition of a visionary unfold into a mindblowing piece of reality. Jantar Mantar is a collection of real, life-sized calculating instruments which are scholarly designed to predict the time, eclipses, the location of major stars and much more. It is a brilliance in astronomical and scientific architecture that uses geometrical patterns for a celestial wonder. It was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II to create birth charts and predictions of major events like deaths, wars, weddings et al. However, today the monument is way beyond predictions. It is a symbol of national pride.
