| Structure | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Great Bath (Mohenjo-Daro) | 39 ft × 23 ft × 8 ft deep; used bitumen for waterproofing; surrounded by corridors and rooms |
| Granary (Harappa) | Brick platform with air ducts; divided into units; located near River Ravi |
| Granary (Mohenjo-Daro) | Largest building; 150 ft × 75 ft; near citadel |
| Assembly Hall (Mohenjo-Daro) | Four rows of brick pillars; square hall |
| Dockyard (Lothal) | 218 m × 37 m; world's earliest known dock; connected to Sabarmati River |
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Anda | Hemispherical dome containing relics |
| Harmika | Square railing on top of anda |
| Yashti | Central pillar/mast |
| Chhatra | Umbrella-like structure on yashti (1, 2, or 3 tiers) |
| Medhi | Circular terrace for circumambulation |
| Vedika | Railing enclosing sacred area |
| Toranas | Ornamental gateways (usually four, facing cardinal directions) |
| Stupa | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh) | Largest and best preserved; built by Ashoka (3rd century BCE), expanded by Sungas and Satavahanas; four ornate toranas with Jataka tales; no Buddha images |
| Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) | Mahachaitya; Satavahana period; marble panels with narrative sculptures; dome drum decorated |
| Bharhut (Madhya Pradesh) | Built by Sungas; stone vedika with medallions; Jataka and Avadana stories; now dismantled |
| Dhamek (Sarnath) | 128 ft high; marks Buddha's first sermon; geometric and floral patterns |
| Chaitya Hall | Details |
|---|---|
| Karla (Maharashtra) | Largest rock-cut chaitya; 45 m long, 14 m high; Satavahana period; elaborate facade; 37 pillars |
| Bhaja (Maharashtra) | 200 BCE; 14 rock-cut caves; wooden ribs visible; plain stupa |
| Bedsa (Maharashtra) | Hinayana phase; plain interiors; massive pillars |
| Ajanta Cave 19 & 26 | Mahayana phase; ornate sculptures; Buddha images; painted ceilings |
| Cave Complex | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Ajanta (Maharashtra) | 30 caves; 2nd century BCE to 5th century CE; Buddhist; Hinayana and Mahayana phases; famous frescoes; Caves 1, 2, 16, 17 notable for paintings |
| Ellora (Maharashtra) | 34 caves (Buddhist 1-12, Hindu 13-29, Jain 30-34); 6th-10th century CE; Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) carved from single rock |
| Elephanta (Maharashtra) | 7 caves; 5th-8th century CE; Shaivite; Trimurti sculpture (20 ft); Portuguese damaged statues |
| Badami (Karnataka) | 4 caves; Chalukya period (6th century); Caves 1-3 Hindu, Cave 4 Jain; Vishnu as Varaha and Narasimha |
| Udayagiri-Khandagiri (Odisha) | Jain caves; Chedi dynasty (1st century BCE); double-storied Rani Gumpha; Hathi Gumpha inscription by Kharavela |
| Structure | Details |
|---|---|
| Kailasa Temple (Ellora) | Cave 16; Rashtrakuta king Krishna I; carved top-down from single rock; twice the area of Parthenon; replica of Shiva's Kailasa; gopuram, mandapa, Nandi pavilion |
| Shore Temple (Mamallapuram) | Pallava period; Narasimhavarman II; 8th century; granite; five-storied; faces Bay of Bengal; UNESCO site |
| Five Rathas (Mamallapuram) | Five monolithic temples named after Pandavas; Pallava period; different architectural styles; Draupadi, Arjuna, Bhima, Dharmaraja, Nakula-Sahadeva rathas |
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Garbhagriha | Innermost sanctum housing main deity; windowless |
| Mandapa | Pillared hall for worshippers |
| Ardhamandapa | Entrance porch |
| Antarala | Vestibule connecting mandapa and garbhagriha |
| Shikhara | Curvilinear spire above garbhagriha |
| Amalaka | Circular ribbed stone atop shikhara |
| Kalasha | Pot finial on top |
| Sub-style | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Latina/Rekha-Prasada | Simple square base; single shikhara curved |
| Phamsana | Broader, shorter; pyramidal; no amalaka |
| Valabhi | Rectangular base; wagon-vaulted roof |
| Sekhari | Main shikhara with multiple miniature shikharas |
| Temple | Details |
|---|---|
| Khajuraho Group (Madhya Pradesh) | Chandela dynasty (950-1050 CE); 85 original, 25 surviving; Kandariya Mahadeva largest; sandstone; erotic sculptures; UNESCO site |
| Lingaraja Temple (Bhubaneswar) | Dedicated to Shiva; Somavamshi king Jajati I (11th century); 180 ft high; deul and jagamohana |
| Jagannath Temple (Puri) | 12th century; Anantavarman Chodaganga; Rath Yatra festival; 214 ft high |
| Sun Temple (Konark) | Narasimhadeva I (1250 CE); chariot design with 24 wheels; 7 horses; UNESCO site; Black Pagoda |
| Vishvanatha Temple (Khajuraho) | Dedicated to Shiva; Chandela; perfect proportions; open mandapa |
| Lakshmana Temple (Khajuraho) | Dedicated to Vishnu; Yashovarman (954 CE); panchayatana style (five shrines) |
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Vimana | Pyramidal tower over sanctum; storied structure |
| Gopuram | Monumental entrance tower; taller than vimana in later periods |
| Mandapa | Pillared halls; multiple types (kalyana, ardha, maha) |
| Prakara | Enclosure wall with ambulatory path |
| Dwajasthambha | Flagstaff pillar in front of sanctum |
| Balipitha | Altar for offerings |
| Temple | Features |
|---|---|
| Shore Temple (Mamallapuram) | Granite; two shrines (Shiva and Vishnu); earliest structural temple; UNESCO site |
| Kailasanatha (Kanchipuram) | Rajasimha; sandstone; 58 small shrines; prototype of later Dravidian temples |
| Vaikuntaperumal (Kanchipuram) | Three-storied; dedicated to Vishnu; Nandivarman II |
| Temple | Features |
|---|---|
| Brihadeshwara (Thanjavur) | Rajaraja I (1010 CE); 216 ft vimana; single granite block capstone (80 tons); UNESCO site; frescoes |
| Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Rajendra I; similar to Thanjavur; 185 ft high; graceful concave curve |
| Airavatesvara (Darasuram) | Rajaraja II (12th century); chariot-shaped; intricate carvings; UNESCO site |
| Temple | Details |
|---|---|
| Durga Temple (Aihole) | 6th century; apsidal plan; unique Buddhist chaitya influence; elevated platform |
| Lad Khan Temple (Aihole) | Flat-roofed; earliest structural temple; pillared hall |
| Virupaksha Temple (Pattadakal) | UNESCO site; Chalukya queen Lokamahadevi; 740 CE; blend of northern and southern styles |
| Temple | Details |
|---|---|
| Chennakesava (Belur) | 1117 CE; Vishnuvardhana; star-shaped platform; soapstone; Darpana Sundari sculpture |
| Hoysaleswara (Halebidu) | 1121 CE; twin shrines; elaborate friezes; 10,000 sculptures; lathe-turned pillars |
| Keshava Temple (Somanathapura) | 1268 CE; trikuta (three shrines); perfect symmetry; star-shaped; 64 cells |
| Monument | Details |
|---|---|
| Qutub Minar | Qutb-ud-din Aibak; 73 m high; five storeys; red sandstone and marble; victory tower; UNESCO site |
| Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque | First mosque in India; 1192; used temple pillars; Arabic inscriptions; later expanded |
| Alai Darwaza | Alauddin Khilji (1311); first true arch in India; red sandstone with marble; horseshoe-shaped arches |
| Iron Pillar | Within Qutub complex; 7.2 m high; rust-resistant; Sanskrit inscription; Gupta period |
| Kingdom | Key Examples |
|---|---|
| Bengal Sultanate | Adina Mosque (largest in India, 1374); curved cornices; terracotta decorations |
| Jaunpur Sultanate | Atala Mosque; huge screen arches; propylon style |
| Gujarat Sultanate | Sidi Saiyyed Mosque (Ahmedabad): intricate jaali work; tree of life; Jama Masjid (Ahmedabad): 260 pillars; Indo-Islamic fusion |
| Bahmani Kingdom | Gol Gumbaz (Bijapur): Ibrahim Adil Shah II; largest dome in India (44 m diameter); whispering gallery; four minarets |
| Monument | Details |
|---|---|
| Humayun's Tomb (Delhi) | Built by Haji Begum (1570); first garden tomb; red sandstone and marble; double dome; Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas; UNESCO site; prototype for Taj Mahal |
| Purana Qila (Delhi) | Sher Shah Suri period; Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque; octagonal Sher Mandal |
| Monument | Details |
|---|---|
| Fatehpur Sikri | Built 1571-1585; red sandstone; UNESCO site; Buland Darwaza (54 m, victory gate), Panch Mahal (five-storied pavilion), Diwan-i-Khas, Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chishti (marble with jaali) |
| Agra Fort | 1565-1573; red sandstone; semicircular plan; Jahangiri Mahal, Khas Mahal; UNESCO site |
| Akbar's Tomb (Sikandra) | Completed by Jahangir; five-tiered structure; blend of Hindu-Islamic; white marble top storey |
| Monument | Details |
|---|---|
| Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah (Agra) | Nur Jahan for her father; 1628; first all-marble Mughal structure; extensive pietra dura; prototype for Taj Mahal; "Baby Taj" |
| Shalimar Bagh (Kashmir) | Terraced Mughal garden; three terraces; 587 fountains |
| Monument | Details |
|---|---|
| Taj Mahal (Agra) | 1632-1653; Mumtaz Mahal's tomb; white marble; 73 m high dome; four minarets (43 m); pietra dura; UNESCO site; Yamuna riverfront; symmetrical charbagh; Ustad Ahmad Lahauri (architect) |
| Red Fort (Delhi) | 1638-1648; red sandstone; Diwan-i-Am, Diwan-i-Khas, Rang Mahal, Moti Masjid; Peacock Throne; UNESCO site |
| Jama Masjid (Delhi) | 1650-1656; largest mosque in India; red sandstone and marble; three domes; two minarets (40 m); courtyard holds 25,000 |
| Moti Masjid (Agra Fort) | 1648-1654; pristine white marble; private mosque; three domes |
| Shalimar Bagh (Lahore) | 410 fountains; three-level terraced garden |
| Monument | Details |
|---|---|
| Hawa Mahal (Jaipur) | Sawai Pratap Singh (1799); pink sandstone; 953 jaali windows; five-storied; honeycomb structure; allowed royal ladies to observe street |
| City Palace (Jaipur) | Sawai Jai Singh II; blend of Rajput and Mughal; Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal |
| Amber Fort (Jaipur) | Raja Man Singh I; red sandstone and marble; Sheesh Mahal (mirror palace); Diwan-i-Am, Diwan-i-Khas |
| Lake Palace (Udaipur) | Jag Niwas; white marble; mid-18th century; island palace on Lake Pichola |
| Mehrangarh Fort (Jodhpur) | Rao Jodha (1459); 125 m above city; red sandstone; seven gates; intricate jaali work |
| Temple | Features |
|---|---|
| Padmanabhaswamy (Thiruvananthapuram) | Dravidian and Kerala styles; gopuram 30 m; granite; reclining Vishnu; seven-tiered gopuram |
| Vadakkunnathan (Thrissur) | Classic Kerala style; circular shrine; murals; Shiva temple |
| Sabarimala | 18 sacred steps; hilltop shrine; simple architecture |
| Building | Details |
|---|---|
| Victoria Terminus/CST (Mumbai) | Frederick William Stevens; 1887; UNESCO site; Gothic revival with Indian elements; central dome; turrets |
| Gateway of India (Mumbai) | George Wittet; 1924; Indo-Saracenic; yellow basalt; commemorates George V visit (1911) |
| Rashtrapati Bhavan (New Delhi) | Edwin Lutyens; 1929-1930; 340 rooms; central dome (height 56 m); Mughal gardens |
| Victoria Memorial (Kolkata) | William Emerson; 1906-1921; white marble; Indo-Saracenic; museum |
| Madras High Court | Indo-Saracenic; red sandstone; 1892; lighthouse tower |
| Structure | Details |
|---|---|
| Lotus Temple (Delhi) | Fariborz Sahba; 1986; Bahai House of Worship; 27 marble petals; nine sides |
| Akshardham (Delhi) | 2005; pink sandstone and marble; traditional Vedic architecture; 234 pillars; no steel used |
| IIM Ahmedabad | Louis Kahn; 1962-1974; exposed brick; geometric forms; modernist |
| IIM Bangalore | B.V. Doshi; terraced architecture; amphitheater design |
| Capitol Complex (Chandigarh) | Le Corbusier; 1952-1965; High Court, Secretariat, Legislative Assembly; Open Hand Monument; UNESCO site |
| Fort | Details |
|---|---|
| Golconda Fort (Hyderabad) | Qutb Shahi dynasty; 13th century foundation; acoustics system; Fateh Rahben (victory cannon); diamond trade center |
| Gwalior Fort | 8th century; Tomar dynasty; Man Singh Palace (15th century); turquoise tiles; Teli ka Mandir, Saas-Bahu temples |
| Jaisalmer Fort | 1156; Rawal Jaisal; yellow sandstone (Golden Fort); living fort (population resides); UNESCO site |
| Chittorgarh Fort | Largest fort in India (700 acres); UNESCO site; Rana Kumbha Palace; Vijay Stambh (37 m victory tower); Kirti Stambh (Jain tower of fame) |
| Red Fort (Agra) | Akbar (1565-1573); red sandstone; Jahangiri Mahal, Khas Mahal, Sheesh Mahal; UNESCO site |
| Technique | Description |
|---|---|
| Corbelling | Arch created by progressively projecting stone courses; used in early Indian temples |
| True Arch | Voussoir stones with keystone; introduced by Islamic architecture |
| Double Dome | Outer dome for exterior appearance, inner dome for interior proportion; Lodi period onwards |
| Pietra Dura | Inlay work of semi-precious stones in marble; perfected under Shah Jahan |
| Trabeate | Post-and-lintel system; beams across pillars; used in temples |
| Arcuate | Arch and dome construction; Islamic architecture |
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Jaali | Perforated stone/marble screens; allows light and air |
| Jharokha | Overhanging enclosed balcony; projecting windows |
| Chhatri | Elevated dome-shaped pavilion; ornamental |
| Guldasta | Decorative pinnacles on corners |
| Arabesque | Intricate geometric and floral patterns; Islamic architecture |
| Muqarnas | Stalactite-like ornamentation in vaults |
| Site | Location |
|---|---|
| Ajanta Caves | Maharashtra |
| Ellora Caves | Maharashtra |
| Elephanta Caves | Maharashtra |
| Mamallapuram Group of Monuments | Tamil Nadu |
| Great Living Chola Temples (Brihadeshwara, Gangaikonda, Airavatesvara) | Tamil Nadu |
| Group of Monuments at Pattadakal | Karnataka |
| Group of Monuments at Hampi | Karnataka |
| Khajuraho Group of Monuments | Madhya Pradesh |
| Qutub Minar and its Monuments | Delhi |
| Humayun's Tomb | Delhi |
| Red Fort Complex | Delhi |
| Fatehpur Sikri | Uttar Pradesh |
| Taj Mahal | Uttar Pradesh |
| Agra Fort | Uttar Pradesh |
| Sun Temple (Konark) | Odisha |
| Hill Forts of Rajasthan (6 forts) | Rajasthan |
| Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park | Gujarat |
| Rani ki Vav (Queen's Stepwell) | Gujarat |
| Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Victoria Terminus) | Maharashtra |
| Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai | Maharashtra |
| The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier (Chandigarh Capitol Complex) | Chandigarh |
| Jaipur City | Rajasthan |