Why does India attract Foreign tourists?
And the number of foreign tourists is increasing every year.
Why not, Our India was attracted by Invader from all over the world, and many invaded, looted and we face destruction too.
You go anywhere, live in any country, do anything, you cannot escape the pride that you feel when someone mentions the word “India”
If Culture, tradition and Heritage were Currency, we would be the Richest Country In the World.
Out of all these One Things stood tall and remained constant for centuries, that is The Architecture.
“Indian Architecture”
- Monolithic Nandi-Chamundi hills-Mysore-Karnataka
Nandi atop the Chamundi Hills is the third-largest in India. This is a granite monolithic sculpture about 16 feet in height and 24 feet long
Look at the Carvings Nandi wearing a Ghantala mala (bell chain), earrings and other jewellery.
2. Relief depicting naval vessel-Borobudur Temple-Java-Indonesia-8th century CE or older
Ancient Navy: That our History books won't tell You.
The Cholas Who had a strong Navy and who Conquered south-east Asia.
During the reign of Raja Raja and his son, there was a complex classification of a class of vessels and its utility.
The close diplomatic tie between the Song dynasty of China and the Medieval Cholas facilitated many technological innovations to travel both ways.
3. Sun Temple-Katarmal-Uttarakhand-13th century CE
Look at this Carved Wood Door.
Chain for locking the door, This door is a good example of Himachal Pradesh woodcarving, where the number of temples was made of wood.
The door is divided into four panels and depicts various Hindu gods and goddesses such as Siva-Parvati, Laksmi-Narayana, Narasimha- the fourth incarnation of the Vishnu, Brahma and Bhairava.
4. Warangal Fort-Telangana-12TH Century- During Kakatiya Dynasty-UNESCO World Heritage Site-2010
Perfectly Carved Pillar
Perfectly carved Ceiling Panel
5. Rani Ki Vav Stepwell-Patan-Gujarath-Built-in 13TH century.
The picture below has been featured in the New 100 Rupees Note
This site was recently declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site-2014
6. Jain temple-Ranakpur-Rajasthan
The face of a demon with five bodies that represent the five aspects of evil according to Jainism. These evils are 1) attachment 2) anger 3) greed 4) intoxication 5) sensual craving.
7. Hoysaleshwara Temple-Halebid-Karnataka-12TH Century
Hoysala Sculpting Magic, one of the largest temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in South India.
It took 30 years to complete the Sculptures.
Shanthala Devi Dancing Anklet ( Just Look at the Finishing)
This is the most famous sculpture of the Chennakeshava temple.
The details, as far as our eyes, shaded from the sharp sun, can see, are astoundingly minute, created patiently by a talented sculptor working with soapstone.
The sculptor’s imagination is vivid and full of grace.
8. Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple-Srirangam-Tamil Nadu-Dravidian Architecture.
The hall of 1000 Pillars is a fine example of planned theatre-like structure and opposite to it.
The Raja Gopuram(Main Temple Tower) is worlds second tallest Gopuram, 237 Feet from the base.
9. Khajuraho-Group Of Monuments-Madhya Pradesh-One of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Khajuraho is famous for Erotic Sculpture.
It was built over a span of 200 years from 950–1150 AD.
10. Chennakesava Temple-Somanathpura-Karnataka-Another Hoysala Architecture.
11. Gwalior Fort-Madhya Pradesh-10TH Century
Interior Of the Fort
12. Vidyashankara temple-Sringeri-Karnataka
Temple built in the 14th century (1338)is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple stands almost at the entrance to the River Tunga and is an architectural marvel.
A fusion of Hoysala, Chalukya, Vijaynagar and Dravidian styles.
13. Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy temple - Ananthpur District-Andhra Prades.
Temple was estimated to have been constructed between 1490 and 1509.
The massive yet incomplete North Gopura of Bugga Ramalingeswara temple is a source of a mystery for historians.
14. Statue of Adi Varaha - Sun Temple Modhera
15. Mahabodhi temple-BODHGAYA-Bihar-place Of Gautham Buddha’s Enlightenment.
This Temple was built by Emperor Ashoka and was later renovated in the 1ST Century AD during the Kushana period.
16. The wheels at Sun Temple Konark.
This Wheel serves as an Accurate Sundials and is an inspiration for the modern-day watches.
One can calculate the precise time of the day by just looking at the shadow cast by these spokes.
Konark Sun temple also has two huge lions on either side of the entrance. Each lion is shown crushing an elephant. Beneath each elephant lies the human body.
The lion represents pride and elephant represents money.
Problems faced by Human beings shown in one shot… THOKK…
17. Nilakantha Temple-Udaypura-Madhya Pradesh-10th century CE
Note: The Elaborately Carved Flower Patterns.
18. Lord Vishnu on Garuda-Belahan Temple-East Jawa-Indonesia-11Th Century CE
19. Jaina tablet - Mathura-India-Hindu Civilization-Kushan Empire
A similar tradition is also observed in Gandharan sculptures where Stupa/temples are depicted being flanked by four towers. A stupa is three-tiered with slanting walls.
20. Exquisitely carved monolithic pillar from SriRangnathSwamy Temple-Srirangam-Tamil Nadu
Ahem, just look at the Level Of Detailing. Horses bearing riders on their backs and trampling with their hoofs upon the heads of the rampant tiger.
21. Aundha Naganatha Temple-Hingoli-Maharashtra
Built by Yadavas of Devagiri-13TH Century. Apart from the religious significance, the temple itself is worth seeing for its unbelievably beautiful carvings.
22. An inscription dating back to 7th century CE in written in old Malaya language in Kawi script, derived from Pallava script.
23. Durga as MahishasuraMardini - Rangmandapa pillar of Sun Temple-Modhera-Gujarath.
24. Domical bay ceiling art in outer Mantapa - Veera Narayana Temple-Belavadi-Karnataka
This Magnificient Hoysala Temple was built in 1200 C.E, by Hoysala King Veera Ballala 2. This is said to be the largest Temple of the Hoysala Dynasty.
This temple wasn't ransacked by the invaders though it was close to Halebidu. Might be because of its less popularity or Remote Location.
25. Shyam Rai Temple- Bishnupur-West Bengal -17TH Century
One of the prioritized monuments on the Archaeological Survey of India’s list. It has Panch Ratna meaning five-tower structures.
It has beautiful terracotta sculptures on depicting various scenes from Ramayana, Krishna Leela and Mahabharata.
26. Chand Baori stepwell, Abhaneri-Rajasthan-9th Century CE-
This stepwell is one of the largest step wells of ancient India, a magnificent device to store water.
An architectural masterpiece with 3.500 symmetrical narrow steps going down.
27. Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram (Tamilnadu)
NOTE: Badly eroded Nandhi.
There is no way that a marble temple built in 500BCE would show lesser erosion than a granite temple of the 8th century under similar climatic and geological conditions regardless of what inscriptions say, its pure baloney. Inscriptions, Numismatics can be planted and manipulated but not the erosion caused by nature.
28. Nellaiappar Temple-Tirunelveli - Musical Pillars
I have written about this temple in previously, an interesting fact about this pillar is that when tapped on these pillars a classical music notes sound is produced.
These pillars are a testimony to ancient Hindu understanding of sound and physical properties.
29. Kandaria Mahadeva Temple-Khajuraho-11th century CE
Just look at this Majestic Gopuram, Temples in India are beyond the visual treats.
30. THE SAPTA MATRIKAS - ‘Sapta, means Seven and ‘Matrika’ means Divine Mother.
‘Sapta’ + ‘Matrikas’ = A Group of Seven Divine Mothers.
Place: Kailasanathar Temple, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu - Built by Rajasimha Pallava (Pallava Dynasty) - 7–8TH Century AD
The Sapta Matrikas are incarnations of Goddess Shakti (the goddess of power). They are namely - Brahmani, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani and Chamundi.
31. The Chennakeshava Temple, Belur, Hassan district, Karnataka. Early 12th-century.
32. Sun Temple, Modhera, Gujarat.
33. Dwarapalaka at Hoysaleswara temple, Halebidu, Karnataka. 12th-century
Man just look at this
34. 1800 years old Jambukeswarar Temple, in Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) district, Tamil Nadu. Dedicated to Lord Shiva.
So, with these Pictures of Architectural marvel of Ancient Indians, what i think is Hinduism is not only about god, its primary objective is to educate and learn at the same time.
India has most majestic and more complex structure than any in the world (Proudly saying it),
our civilization was extremely advanced in terms of Arts, Science, music, Culture etc. It is unfortunate that many of us are not ready to accept the fact.
Indian temples are always a mystery and many are still unsolved.
Thank you :)
Jai Hind!!!
Image Source: Google, Facebook - Lost Temples
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