HISTORY OF

ARCHITECTURE
3rd Semester section B

By Asst. Prof Manasi Lecture 4:

Chudhari
Course Overview

To be studied as development of building forms in

response to social, religious, aesthetic and
environmental factors

Study should focus on 3 dimensional forms, plan

forms, faade organization, structural solution,
construction methods and ornamentation.
 Objectives of the course:

Architectural styles ranging from pre historic to

modern times

Evolution of architecture in relation to time with special

emphasis to social, religious and environmental factors

Developments in the construction technology in

different periods
Expected skills

Knowledge to identify the common characteristics

among the monuments of a particular style

Acquire graphic skills to present a building, analyze

its elements and explain the composition

Acquire knowledge on good practices of

architecture in the past.
 Unit - 2

EVOLUTION OF HINDU TEMPLE FORM,

EARLY ROCK CUT EXAMPLES; EARLY
CHALUKYANS
HINDU TEMPLE
FORM
Questions
What are the characteristic features of early
Chalukyan Temple Architecture at Pattadkal.
(Feb 2014)
Describe the architectural features of Kailasa
temple at Ellora, with the help of neat
sketches.
Describe the architectural features of any
one important temple of Pattadkal with the
help of plan and elevation. (April -2011 RR)
Outline the form and architectural character
of early rock cut temple architecture with
suitable examples. (Sept 2014)
Explain with sketches any one example of
early Chalukyan temple. Compare with other
styles in terms of a) Planning and spatial
Questions
What is the significance of studying the
temples at Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal?
Explain with sketches the style at Durga
temple Aihole.
How Shikhara of the Hindu temple evolved
during early Chalukyan period. (April 2008)
Giving few examples with the help of neat
sketches describe the characteristic features
of temple architecture of early Chalukyans
( Nov 2008)
The historical evidences at Badami, Aihole
and Pattadakal indicate the experimental
evolution of form of Shikhara for Hindu
temple architecture. Explain the same with
CENTRAL HINDU STYLE

Early chalukyan architecture

The architecture falls into two distinct types (i) rock-cut (ii)
structural
Rock cut cave temples at Badami
The chalukyan capital city Badami was protected by a fort
wall surrounded by a moat
The superfluous water of agastyathirtha was a sporting
place for the royal families.
Badami was also a religious centre
Godesses banashankrari was the presiding deity.
 The most interesting thing from architectural point of view
is is a series of 4 cave temples hewn from top to bottom in
the scrap of a southern hill called ranmandal
These are brahminical in nature , one shaivite, two
vishnavites, and the fourth belongs to jaina
(i) Cave 1( shaiva cave)
(ii) Cave 2( Vaishnava
cave)
(iii) Cave 3(vaishnav cave)
(iv) Cave 4 (jaina cave)
 Structural temples
In addition to the rock cut cave temples at badami
chalukyans also built several structural temples along the
edge of the lake and hill tops.
The early chalukyans combined some some features of
contemporary north and south indian style of construction
i.e nagar and dravidian respectively to create their own
style of construction
Which is characterized by high platform , pithas ornate
door frames, plinth moulding , vestibule
 1. Lad khan temple
at aihole
The temple stands on square
plan of 15 m side with high
platform.
It is consist of an open pillared
porch leading to a large
square mantapa with 2 square
group of pillars
The nanthi fills the central bay
Whose ceiling contains
sculpture of naga with its tail
twisted around
 The pillars have cushion capitals with floral abacus supporting
the ponderous bracket
There are lattice window on north and south sides and
perforated circles ofradiating fish design set in square frame
in the eastern and western sides
The roof is sloping , rising in two tires , with a sma;ll cubical
shikara containg images of surya , shiva , and vishnu on its
three sides.
No mortar is used for the construction of this temple.
 2. Durga temple at aihole
The temple stands on a high
moulded plinth 3m high and
consist of pillared hall
2 flights of steps one from north
and another from south are
provided in front of the porch
There is garuda over the shrine
door which is elaborately
carved
 Light is admitted into the hall and passage through stone
grills of perforated pattern
2 raws of Columns separate the temple hall into a central
nave and two side aisles
The inner columns are beautifully sculptured.
There are several inches in the wall s containg beautiful
images of god and goddesses
The roof of mukha mantapa is flat
Upper portion has follen down
 The temple derives its name because of the fortlike
encloseure called durga
 3. Bhutanath group of temples at

badami
These temples are situated on
the eastern edge of the lake
These temples stand on high
plinths, two to three metres
high.
The big temple has a
mukhamantapa or pillared hall,
the door frame of which consist
of sculptures of ganga and
yamuna flanked by
dwarpalakas.
 A shiva-linga is enshrined in the temple, over which rises a
vimana of kadamb nagar style which is characterised by
receding tiers resembling a stepped pyramid culminating in a
final or kalasa
 4 . Jambulinga Temple at
Badami
(696-733 A.D)This temple is dedicated
to three gods, Bramha, vishnu and
Mahesh. All the three shrines are
places in the common mantapa, which
exhibit good sculpturesque quality.
The tower is built of bricks and
app[ears to be later addition.
 5. Malegitti shivalaya
at badami
The temple stands on a spur of
the rugged hills on the north
side of badami.
It contains a porch assembly
hall and shrine.
The square porch consist of
large monolithic pillares with
heavy bracket capitals.
 The entrance is guareded by two dwarpalakas.
Sculptures of shiva and vishnu with makara torana at the back,
are carved on the south and north walls of temple into which
are built square perfolated stone windows that let in a subdued
light faintly illumining the interior of the hall.
The high plinth contains a row of the lions and elephant
symboling strength.
 The outer wall contains a belt of dwarfs dancing , rollicking
playing musical instrument .
The door frame of the srine is richly ornamented with
garuda in the middle holding two serpents.
The temple is also called because of its assosiation with a
lady garland
 6. Papanath Temple at
The temple is providedPattadkal
with a
covered ambulatory passage, a
vestibule or an antrala and
open portico in front.
The pillare and beams are
exquisitely carved and
decorated with incidents from
Ramayana and Mahabharata.
The temple is characterised by
Rekha- Nagar shikhara, i.e. a
beehive- shaped curvilinear
somewhat conical tower.
 7. Virupaksha Temple at
Pattadkal
The entrance to the temple is by
the Malaprabha river in which the
pilgrims usually take bath before
entering the temple to worship
the deity.
The temple has a large pillared
hall approached through porches,
in the front and either side with a
Nandi mantapa on its axial
plan.
It has a covered ambulatory
round the cella on which rises a
vimana of Dravidian style.
 The inscriptions show that the temple was built by
Vikramaditya II in honour of his queen Lokamahadevi, to
celebrate another victory over Pallava kings of Kanchipuram.
Its lavish disposition shows distinct advancement in temple
development Further it served as a model for the world
famous Kailasa temple at Ellora.
DURGA TEMPLE
BACKGROUN
D
Early
Chalukyan
Style
ROCK CUT

Badami Caves
CENTRAL
INDIA
STRUCTURAL

Durga Temple
Rashtrakut
a Style
Ladkhan Temple

Virupaksha
DURGA TEMPLE

Not a Goddess
Durga temple
(durg= fort)
At Aihole,the
first capital of
Chalukyan
dynasty
Chalukyan
dynasty-3 imp.
Architect
ural
Highlight
Elevated Plinth

s..
Apsidal sanctuary like
Buddhist Chaitya
Pillared Gallery
encircling Sanctum
2 Aisles;2 rows of
columns;1 nave
1 entrances 2 flight of
stairs
Square Shikhara
CARVINGS !
The Entrance & The Ceiling

Ceiling

Entrance
 Corridor

Niche
s

Carvin
Pillars CORRIDOR
Square Shikhara

BROKEN KALASA

REMAINING SHIKHARA

PROPER
SHIKHARA
Carvings
 The temple
Pattadakal
Aihole
Badami
Pattadakal, The Red Town was a progressive city in the Chalukyan
period.

8th Century Jambuling Temple

Kashi Vishveshwara
Temple
8th Century
 A mother interviews a college
student
while her daughter documents it.
There are four large and six small temples in this
complex
Holy Cow of the male kind
One more
 Aihole
A sprawling temple complex of 125 temples now
in ruins.
Excavation and restoration
are ongoing processes
Temples here were built over a period of five centuries from the 7 th to
12th century
beginning with Rashtrakutas followed by Kalyan and then Badami
Chalukyas.
Mortar-less assembly was the
specialty of Aihole architecture
Bada
mi

Chalukya king Pulakeshi shifted his capital from Aihole to Badami in

540 A.D.
Badami is famous for its four cave
temples
Lakeside Temple Complex: A
Panorama
A closer Look at the Lakeside Temples
Bhootnath (Lord Shiva) Temple
Another Bhootnath
Temple

Badami caves in the background

Dashavatars Carved on rocks
Lord Vishnu Resting;
we shall rest too