Monuments of India
¤ Monumental Heritage Has Its Roots In Mohenjodaro and Harappa Civilization
The famous monumental heritage of India–the forts, palaces, temples, mosques, churches etc. is an evidence proving that architecture in India had been a form expression.
The era of architecture in India began with the settlement of the cities of Mohenjodaro and Harappa. The Great Bath, the Assembly Hall and the Drainage System are a few examples of the earlier architectural forms. Architecture in India evolved over a period of time, incorporating definitive influences from its various rulers , be it Hindus, Muslims or British.
¤ Religious and Spiritual Monuments
Hindu architecture concentrates immensely on the religious and spiritual. The construction of Temple was what architecture was all about. The famous Khajuraho Temples, Jain shrines at Dilwara, Jagannath Temple at Puri, Konark Sun Temple and Kailashnath Temple at Ellora are some of the finest medieval specimens of famous Hindu Architecture.
The Muslim invasions brought about a tremendous change in the forms of architecture, with the features like arches, tombs, mosques, minarets etc. Qutub Minar, Taj Mahal, Jama Masjid (Delhi) remain unexcelled even today.
¤ British Style of Architecture
Leaving more than a lasting impact on India’s architecture, the British followed various architectural styles – Gothic, Imperial, Christian, English Renaissance and Victorian being the essentials. The Rajabai Tower at Mumbai (Bombay), Victoria Memorial at Calcutta, Law Courts at Chennai (Madras) and the layout of the cities of New Delhi and Chandigarh are few of the examples symbolizing the British colonial architecture in India.