Architectural Wonders of India

 Architecture and brilliant sculptures of Indian ancient temples leave all its tourists spellbound with their astounding beauty.

With almost all the temples built during historic and medieval times, a trip to these temples will amaze you. While writing this story I am sure a singular certainty that will echo in our heart will be “how blessed we are to be Indians”. You can't stop the pride you feel if anyone mentions the word 'India.' We would be the richest nation in the world if culture and heritage were the currency. Come to think about it, we have been! As it was popularly known as 'Sone ki Chidiya' (The Golden Sparrow.

Precision, intricacy and exquisiteness of the craft leave us awe-struck and wondering at the knowledge and skill of the people back in the day. 

In terms of history, customs and heritage buildings, India is one of the richest countries in the world. In its ancient temples, historic forts and architecture lies the rich and impressive past of this region. Taking into account this majestic nation's polished and opulent historical temples, we have decided to unravel the marvels of Indian architecture and shortlist some of the most famous architectural wonders of India.

This temple was built in the 13th century. Belavadi Sri. Veeranarayana Temple is one of the classical example of Hoysala architecture where in unique temple plan is executed. The temple is a trikuta having Sri. Veeranarayana in the center facing East, Sri. Venugopala facing North and Sri. Yoganarasimha facing South.

If one lies down at the main entrance of the Garbhagriha and look straight towards the East direction, you will find that the entire length of 270 feet is flawlessly leveled to such accuracy that you will keep wondering. One can also see the horizon about 3 kms away without any disturbance in the level, this kind of expertise in leveling needs to be appreciated. Also on Summer Solstice, one can see the direct Sunlight entering the Garbhagriha without any hindrances.

Uthirakosamangai, Mangalanatha Swamy temple is a Shaiva temple situated near Ramanathapuram. At the entrance of the main precinct, the temple features exquisite stone carvings of Yali (mythological dragon), depicted with a rolling stone ball inside its mouth and it's free to move you can see it but you cannot pull it out.

 To amaze you, after carving the Lion's mouth, ancient sculptors would have worked for countless days, and slowly chiselled this stone ball inside. This temple was entirely built 3000 years ago using advanced technology.

 

The temple is built according to Hoysala architecture with a wide-open mantapa (hall). It is a medium-sized Hoysala temple with certain vastu features similar to the Veera Narayana Temple, Belavadi in mantapa structure and size.

The lamp in this temple ignited in that period is still flaming till today. The temple was founded in 1196 C.E. by Amruteshwara Dandanayaka under Hoysala King Veera Ballala. On the walls of this temple, the Ramayana and Mahabharata are carved. There are palm and coconut farms surrounding the temple. The temple looks elegant and attractive and seems to be a newly built temple.

 

The Chennakeshava Temple also referred to as Keshava, Kesava or Vijayanarayana Temple of Belur, is a 12th-century Hindu temple in the Hassan district of Karnataka state, India. The temple was built over three generations and took 103 years to finish. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is reverentially described in medieval Hindu texts and remains an important pilgrimage site in Vaishnavism.

The temple is remarkable for its architecture, sculptures, reliefs, friezes as well its iconography, inscriptions and history. The temple artwork portrays, through various friezes, scenes of secular life in the 12th century, dancers and musicians, as well as a pictorial narration of Hindu scriptures such as the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas.

On a lotus-shaped structure, the entire temple is pillared and each inch of its walls shows edgy, intricate carvings. And every bit of our history is depicted by these carvings: from Ramayana to Mahabharata, from the human lifecycle to Kamasutra.

Mythologically speaking, the walk from the kund to guda mandap via the main temple is observed as the transcending journey from death to moksha. It's mesmerising.

The remains of the Sun Temples at Modhera are relics of times gone by when reverence of the natural elements fire, air, earth, water and sky were at their peak sharing space with myriad manifestations of Vedic gods.

The exclusively carved temple complex and the magnificently sculpted kund are jewels in the art of masonry of the Solanki period apparently which was also known as the Golden Age of Gujarat. Savor your voyage through time to the magnificent eons of the Golden period as you get welcomed personally by the life like icons, narrating stories and legends of Modhera!

 

It is one of the five major Shiva temples or Pancha Bootha Sthalams (each representing a natural element) representing the element – Earth.

The temple's Raja gopuram (the entrance tower to the temple) reaches a height of 59 meters and is one of the highest in South India. The Aayiram Kaal Mandapam, or the' hallway with a thousand pillars' that was designed by the Kings of Vijayanagar, is one notable feature of the temple. The interior walls of the temple are adorned with an array of 1,008 Siva lingams. With 5 prakarams (or courtyards), the campus is 25 acres and has a thousand-pillared hall. Kampai Tirtha, the temple tank is believed to have an underground holy river.

Murudeshwara Temple is renowned for being the second tallest statue of Shiva in the world. This temple, built on Kanduka hill, is truly unique for some extraordinary characteristics not seen in any temple in the world. The temple, located between Honnavar and Bhatkal, is surrounded by the waters of the Arabian Sea on three sides, and the scenic scenery that unfolds in front of our eyes is breathtaking from the top of the hill.

At the entrance of this ancient temple, Murudeshwara Temple is world renowned for the 123-foot Lord Shiva statue and a contemporary Rajagopuram or tower. This is the tallest Rajagopuram in the world, standing at 249 feet. (It is tallest than Qutab Minar of Delhi) Inaugurated in May 2008, the new addition to Murudeshwara Temple is this mammoth building. The gopuram consists of 22 floors and is the only gopuram equipped with lifts. Visitors may go to the top floor and have an aerial view of the Arabian Sea and Lord Shiva's statue. Another exclusive feature of this temple is the life-sized statues of two elephants at the base of the gopuram.

 

Thiruvanaikaval (also Thiruvanaikal, Jambukeswaram) is a famous Shiva temple in Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu. It is more than 1800 year old temple.

Thiruvanaikkoil Temple is one of the Panchabhootas (signifying the 5 natural elements) and represents water. Hence this temple is also referred as 'Appu Sthalam' and the ShivaLingam here is called as 'Appu Linga' The sanctum of Jambukeswara has an underground water stream. The water underneath the Jala Linga continuously flows and nobody knows from where it comes and flows.

 

Onakona Temple in Balod district of Chhattisgarh is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This Mahakal Temple has amazing architectural style, built without beams.

A thousand years old, the engineering of this sivamandira would impress you. If we build a simple building, we need to put a beam on it, but even after being such a massive and enormous temple, it is not a beam in this temple.

Suchindram temple is an important pilgrim centre and the site of the famous Thanumalayan Temple. There is an Anjaneya, (or Hanuman), statue which stands at 22 feet (6.7 m) and is carved of a single granite block. It is one of the tallest statues of its type in India.

The striking aspect of this temple is that it is dedicated to the Trinity of God, Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma. The major attractions of this temple are the four musical pillars with a height of 18 feet. These pillars have been carved out of a single granite stone. Located in the area of Alankara Mandapam, these pillars when struck create various musical notes, presenting exceptional example of architecture.