Architecture in IndiaThe architecture of India is rooted in its:HistoryCultureReligionArchitectural Forms and Construction Details: Architecture accommodated the local and regional cultural traditions and social requirements, economic prosperity, religious practice of diferent times. Hence, the study of architecture reveals to us the cultural diversities and helps us understand the rich traditions of India.The Process of Evolution of Indian ArchitectureHARRAA! "RI#$The Harappan people had constructed mainly three types of %uildings:od&elling housesopillared hallsopu%lic %aths"AR'( HI)T#RIC "RI#$*auryan period +,--./0- 1C2 . depicted the in3uence of ersians and 4ree5s The stupas of )anchi and )arnath are sym%ols of the achievement of *auryan architecture.Colonial Architecture'i5e all other aspects, coloni6ation of Indian also had an impact on architecture style. 7ith coloni6ation, a ne& chapter in Indian architecture %egan. The $utch, ortuguese and the 8rench made their presence felt through their %uildings %ut it &as the "nglish &ho had a lasting impact on architecture.Indo-Islamic ArchitectureThe Indo.Islamic style provided spaciousness, massiveness and %readth to the Hindu architecture. In almost all the prominent %uildings, the arch, *inar and dome %egan to %e used and the mosque or *as9id %ecame a part of the landscape. The chief means of decoration &as surface decoration through the use of geometry, ara%esque and calligraphy. The *uslims %orro&ed the design of 5alash on the top of the Hindu temple %y placing a dome on the top of their %uildings. The most important sym%ol of Indo.Islamic architecture in India is the tom% or the mausoleum &hich evolved from the %asic cu%e and hemisphere of the early phase into a more detailed form during the *ughal period. In the *ughal period multiple cham%ers &ere made and tom%s &ere set in gardens, 5no&n as the Char.1agh.The most famous e:ample of tom% in India is the Ta9 *ahal. Ancient ArchitectureIn ancient India, temple architecture of high standard developed in almost all regions. The distinct architectural style of temple construction in diferent parts &as a result of geographical, climatic, ethnic, racial, historical and linguistic diversities.CAain roc5.cut temples and monasteries, &ere %uilt %et&een the Bth century and /?th century. A9antaThe A9anta Caves *aharashtra India, are -C roc5.cut cave monuments &hich date from the -nd century 1.C. The caves include paintings and sculptures considered to %e masterpieces of %oth 1uddhist religious art +&hich depict the >ata5a tales2 as &ell as frescos &hich are reminiscent of the )igiriya paintings in )ri 'an5a. The caves &ere %uilt in t&o phases starting around -?? 1.C, &ith the second group of caves %uilt around D?? A.$. "lephantaThe "lephanta Caves are a net&or5 of sculpted caves located on "lephanta Island, or 4harapuri +literally Athe city of cavesA2 in *um%ai Har%our. The roc5 cut architecture of the caves has %een dated to %et&een the Bth and 0th centuries, although the identity of the original %uilders is still a su%9ect of de%ate. The caves are he&n from solid %asalt roc5. All the caves &ere also originally painted in the past, %ut no& only traces remain.Temple ArchitectureAncient Indian temples are classiEed in three %road types. This classiEcation is %ased on diferent architectural styles, employed in the construction of the temples. Three main style of temple architecture are:the !agara or the !orthern style the $ravida or the )outhern style the