Introduction

Indian architecture is as old as the history of civilization itself. The earliest remains of recognizable building activity in India reveal a very well developed architectural knowledge of the ancients. The temples, caityas, vihāras, stūpas and other religious structure stand testimony to the same. The artistic and architectural heritage of India is almost five millennia old. Though the Indus Valley sites of Harappa and Mohenjadaro provide substantial evidence to the extensive town-planning, the time-period of the beginnings of Indian architecture is unknown.

Datable architecture started with the monasteries and stūpas of the Buddhists and reached its golden age during the Gupta period (320-550 A.D). After the Mauryas, Guptas, Chandelas and Solankis of the North, the architecture was greatly developed by the Pallavas, Cholas, Hoysalas, Chalukyas and the rulers of Vijayanagara empire of the South.

Indians made history, but did not write any as expected by the modern World. So our present knowledge of Indian history is derived from architecture, sculpture, painting, coins, epigraphy and manuscripts. Apart from the above sources, the literature written during those times stand as a commentary to a better understanding of the history. Sanskrit literature abounds with such literary evidences that help to trace the history of India, particularly the history of architecture in our country.