A great civilization can be defined by the magnificence of its architectural legacy. India has lot to boost about its architectural heritage right from the ancient times up to the colonial period. The country has several famous monuments like the world famous Taj Mahal and Qutub Minar and still more covered in obscurity.
Indian architecture is a healthy blend of various architectural styles portraying the influences of regional variations, cultural background and dynastic control. The Hindu architecture mainly concentrates on religious themes and there are several examples of this in the forms of the temples spread in every nook and corner of India. The Islamic architecture was grand in form and creation as it concentrated on building massive mausoleums, mosques and forts.
The temples in India can be divided into three different styles based on the regional variations. The temple building style of north India was called the Nagara or Indo-Aryan Style of Architecture. The south Indian Style of Architecture was called the Dravidian Style of Architecture. The temples of Central India possessed both the north and South Indian feature and thus were called the Vesara Style of Architecture. The 'Vesara' is probably the corrupted version of the word 'Misra' meaning Mixture or blend. The examples of temples are the Khajuraho Group of temples, Sun Temple, Konark, Shore temple etc.
Islamic architecture is a combination of Indo-Islamic-Persian style of Architecture that flourished in the Indian subcontinent during the Medieval and the Mughal period. This new style combined elements of Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist and Persian features, which had been introduced in India during the early period of the Delhi Sultanate. The finest examples of this period are the Qutub Minar, the Red Fort, the Humayun's Tomb, the Taj Mahal etc.
The British left a huge legacy of language, social customs, the modes of administration and their buildings in India after leaving India. The architectural works of the British reflects an unusual adaptation of locally available raw materials and weather to fulfill the longing for home. Thus the European styles are visible in a tropical land. The various examples of the Indo- European architecture are the Victoria Memorial, Gateway of India, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Fort St. George etc.
An architectural feat in itself, each monument is a strikingly brilliant representation of incredible artistry, shrouding a sense of mystery, fascination and romance. Be it the marvel in white marble, the unparalleled Taj Mahal; or the splendor in red sandstone, the imposing Red Fort; or the magnificence of temple art of Khajuraho, Konark and Hampi, therein is evident the master craftsmanship and elegance, that brings to the fore the grandeur of the bygone era.
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