๐ Chapter 02 ยท Topic 06 ยท Temple Architecture
Ancient Temple Architecture โ Complete Revision
All key facts, dynasties, temples, UNESCO sites, and architectural terms from Chapter 02 in one quick-revision page.
โก Nagara vs Dravidian โ Quick Comparison
| Feature | Nagara (North) | Dravidian (South) | Vesara (Deccan) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tower | Curvilinear shikhara | Pyramidal vimana | Mixed |
| Gateway | No gopuram | Tall gopuram | Moderate |
| Enclosure | No large enclosure | Multiple prakaras | Moderate |
| Tank | Rare | Essential | Sometimes |
| Region | North of Vindhyas | South of Vindhyas | Deccan |
| Top element | Amalaka + Kalasha | Stupi | Mixed |
โก UNESCO World Heritage Sites โ Temple Architecture
| Site | Location | Year | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ajanta Caves | Maharashtra | 1983 | Buddhist paintings; 30 caves |
| Ellora Caves | Maharashtra | 1983 | Buddhist+Hindu+Jain; Kailasa Temple |
| Mahabalipuram | Tamil Nadu | 1984 | Pallava; Pancha Rathas; Shore Temple |
| Khajuraho | Madhya Pradesh | 1986 | Chandela; erotic sculptures |
| Elephanta Caves | Maharashtra | 1987 | Trimurti Sadashiva |
| Pattadakal | Karnataka | 1987 | Chalukya; Virupaksha Temple |
| Great Living Chola Temples | Tamil Nadu | 1987/2004 | Brihadeeswarar + 2 others |
| Hoysala Temples | Karnataka | 2023 | Belur + Halebidu + Somanathapura |
โ Master Revision Checklist โ Chapter 02
โ
Nagara = curvilinear shikhara; Dravidian = pyramidal vimana; Vesara = mixed
โ Garbhagriha = sanctum; Mandapa = pillared hall; Antarala = vestibule
โ Amalaka = ribbed disc; Kalasha = pot finial (Nagara); Stupi = dome finial (Dravidian)
โ Gopuram = gateway tower = Dravidian; often taller than vimana
โ Konark = Eastern Ganga = Narasimhadeva I = chariot design = 24 wheels = UNESCO
โ Khajuraho = Chandela = UNESCO 1986 = Kandariya Mahadeva = erotic sculptures
โ Dilwara = Mt. Abu = Solanki = white marble = Vimal Vasahi (1031 CE)
โ Brihadeeswarar = Thanjavur = Raja Raja Chola I = 1010 CE = 66 m = UNESCO
โ Meenakshi Temple = Madurai = Pandya/Nayaka = 14 gopurams
โ Pattadakal = Chalukya = UNESCO 1987 = Virupaksha Temple (740 CE)
โ Kailasa Temple = Ellora Cave 16 = Rashtrakuta = Krishna I = largest monolithic
โ Hoysala = star-shaped plan = soapstone = UNESCO 2023
โ Ajanta = 30 caves = Buddhist = UNESCO 1983 = John Smith 1819
โ Bodhisattva Padmapani = Cave 1 Ajanta = blue lotus
โ Ellora = 34 caves = Buddhist (1โ12) + Hindu (13โ29) + Jain (30โ34)
โ Elephanta = Mumbai Harbour = Kalachuri = Trimurti Sadashiva = UNESCO 1987
โ Mahabalipuram = Pallava = UNESCO 1984 = Pancha Rathas + Shore Temple
โ Arjuna’s Penance = largest open-air bas-relief = 27 ร 9 metres
โ Shore Temple = Rajasimha = ~700 CE = earliest structural stone temple in South India
โ Garbhagriha = sanctum; Mandapa = pillared hall; Antarala = vestibule
โ Amalaka = ribbed disc; Kalasha = pot finial (Nagara); Stupi = dome finial (Dravidian)
โ Gopuram = gateway tower = Dravidian; often taller than vimana
โ Konark = Eastern Ganga = Narasimhadeva I = chariot design = 24 wheels = UNESCO
โ Khajuraho = Chandela = UNESCO 1986 = Kandariya Mahadeva = erotic sculptures
โ Dilwara = Mt. Abu = Solanki = white marble = Vimal Vasahi (1031 CE)
โ Brihadeeswarar = Thanjavur = Raja Raja Chola I = 1010 CE = 66 m = UNESCO
โ Meenakshi Temple = Madurai = Pandya/Nayaka = 14 gopurams
โ Pattadakal = Chalukya = UNESCO 1987 = Virupaksha Temple (740 CE)
โ Kailasa Temple = Ellora Cave 16 = Rashtrakuta = Krishna I = largest monolithic
โ Hoysala = star-shaped plan = soapstone = UNESCO 2023
โ Ajanta = 30 caves = Buddhist = UNESCO 1983 = John Smith 1819
โ Bodhisattva Padmapani = Cave 1 Ajanta = blue lotus
โ Ellora = 34 caves = Buddhist (1โ12) + Hindu (13โ29) + Jain (30โ34)
โ Elephanta = Mumbai Harbour = Kalachuri = Trimurti Sadashiva = UNESCO 1987
โ Mahabalipuram = Pallava = UNESCO 1984 = Pancha Rathas + Shore Temple
โ Arjuna’s Penance = largest open-air bas-relief = 27 ร 9 metres
โ Shore Temple = Rajasimha = ~700 CE = earliest structural stone temple in South India