Indian Architecture with focus upon Mysore palace and Chamundeswari temple in Mysore!

1. INDIAN ARCHITECTURE

2. INTRODUCTION
• The architecture of India is rooted in its history, culture
and religion. Indian architecture progressed with time
and assimilated the many influences that came as a
result of India's global discourse with other regions of
the world throughout its millennia-old past. The
architectural methods practiced in India are a result of
examination and implementation of its established
building traditions and outside cultural interactions.
Though old, this Eastern tradition has also incorporated
modern values as India became a modern nation state.
The economic reforms of 1991 further bolstered the
urban architecture of India as the country became more
integrated with the world's economy. Traditional Vastu
Shastra remains influential in India's architecture during
the contemporary era.

3. Post Maha Janapadas period (1500
BC—200 AD)
• The Buddhist stupa, a dome shaped monument, was used in
India as a commemorative monument associated with storing
sacred relics. The stupa architecture was adopted in Southeast
and East Asia, where it became prominent as a Buddhist
monument used for enshrining sacred relics. Fortified cities
with stūpas, viharas, and temples were constructed during the
Maurya empire (c. 321–185 BC).Wooden architecture was
popular and rock cut architecture became solidified. Guard
rails—consisting of posts, crossbars, and a coping—became a
feature of safety surrounding a stupa. Temples—build on
elliptical, circular, quadrilateral, or apsidal plans—were
constructed using brick and timber. The Indian gateway arches,
the torana, reached East Asia with the spread of Buddhism
.Some scholars hold that torii derives from the torana gates at
the Buddhist historic site of Sanchi (3rd century BC – 11th
century AD).

4. Early Common Era—High Middle
Ages (200 AD—1200 AD)
• North Indian temples showed increased elevation
of the wall and elaborate spire by the 10th century.
Richly decorated temples—including the complex
at Khajuraho—were constructed in Central
India.Indian traders brought Indian architecture to
South east Asia through various trade routes.
Grandeur of construction, beautiful sculptures,
delicate carvings, high domes, gopuras and
extensive courtyards were the features of temple
architecture in India. Examples include the
Lingaraj Temple at Bhubaneshwar in Odisha, Sun
Temple at Konark in Odisha, Brihadishwar Temple
at Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu.

6. Late Middle Ages (1100 AD—1526
AD)
• Vijayanagara Architecture of the period (1336 – 1565 AD)
was a notable building style evolved by the Vijayanagar
empire that ruled most of South India from their capital at
Vijayanagara on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in
present-day Karnataka.The architecture of the temples
built during the reign of the Vijayanagara empire had
elements of political authority.This resulted in the
creation of a distinctive imperial style of architecture
which featured prominently not only in temples but also
in administrative structures across the deccan.The
Vijayanagara style is a combination of the Chalukya,
Hoysala, Pandya and Chola styles which evolved earlier
in the centuries when these empires ruled and is
characterised by a return to the simplistic and serene art
of the past.

7. Islamic influence and Mughal Era (1526
AD-1857 AD)
• Mughal tombs of sandstone and marble show Persian
influence.The Red Fort at Agra (1565–74) and the walled
city of Fatehpur Sikri (1569–74) are among the
architectural achievements of this time—as is the Taj
Mahal, built as a tomb for Queen Mumtaz Mahal by Shah
Jahan (1628–58).Employing the double dome, the
recessed archway, white marble and parks while
stressing on symmetry and detail was visible during the
reign of Shah Jahan.Quranic verses were described on
the walls of the buildings. However, the depiction of any
living being—an essential part of the pre-Islamic tradition
of India—was forbidden under Islam.The Architecture
during the Mughal Period has shown a very good blend
of Indian style with the Iranian style.

8. Colonial Era (1500 AD—1947 AD)
• Under colonial rule, architecture became an emblem
of power, designed to endorse the patron. Numerous
outsiders invaded India and created architectural
styles reflective of their ancestral and adopted
homes. The European colonizers created
architecture that symbolized their mission of
conquest, dedicated to the state or religion.
• The British, French, Dutch and the Portuguese were
the main powers that colonized India.

9. British Colonial Era: 1615 to 1947
• The British arrival in 1615 overthrew the Mughal empire.
Britain reigned India for over three hundred years and
their legacy still remains through building and
infrastructure that populate their former colonies.
• The major cities colonized during this period were
Madras, Calcutta, Bombay, Delhi, Agra, Bankipore,
Karachi, Nagpur, Bhopal and Hyderabad.
• St Andrews Kirk, Madras is renowned for its colonial
beauty. The building is circular in form and is sided by
two rectangular sections one is the entrance porch. The
entrance is lined with twelve colonnades and two British
lions and motto of East India Company engraved on
them. The interior holds sixteen columns and the dome is
painted blue with decorated with gold stars.

10. French: 1673 to 1954
• The French colonized a fishing village (Pondicherry) in Tamil
Nadu and transformed it into a flourishing port-town. The town
was built on the French grid pattern and features neat sectors
and perpendicular streets and divided into two sectors, French
Quarter (Ville Blanche) and the Indian quarter (Ville Noire).
French styled villas were styled with long compounds and
stately walls, lined houses with verandas, large French doors
and grills. Infrastructure such as banks, police station and
Pondicherry International Port still hold the French presence.
• To preserve Pondicherry an organization named INTACH was
formed. Authorization is needed from INTACH, to annihilate any
original French Architecture.
• French expanded their empire by colonizing coastal towns,
Yanam in Andhra Pradesh, Karaikal in Tamil Nadu and Mahe in
Kerala with a French atmosphere of quiet towns around
beaches. French spelling on signage and traffic signs still
remains.

11. Dutch: 1605 to 1825
• The Dutch entered India with the only interests of Trade in the
early 17th Century. During their 200 years in India, they
colonized Surat, Bharuch, Venrula, Ahmedabad, Malabar Coast,
Kochi and Sadras.

12. Portuguese: 1498 to 1961
• The Portuguese arrived as merchants in the 1498 and
were more driven by a Catholic missionary zeal than
gaining powers in India. The Portuguese gained a
foothold in Goa and ruled for 400 years.
• Portuguese dominance in Goa still remains evident.
Colonizers' missionary spirit built many magnificent
cathedrals, churches, basilicas and seminaries. The
Basilica of Bom Jesus (Good Jesus), Old Goa, former
capital during the Portuguese rule. The three storied
Renaissance styled church was built of plaster and
laterite in 1605, and holds the mortal remains of St.
Francis Xavier. The interior is built in a Mosaic-Corinthian
style and adorned with wood and gold leaf. The walls
embrace old painting of saints as the floor is laid with
pure white marble.

13. Republic of India (1947 AD—present)
• In recent times there has been a movement of population from
rural areas to urban centres of industry, leading to price rise in
property in various cities of India.Urban housing in India
balances space constrictions and is aimed to serve the working
class.Growing awareness of ecology has influenced
architecture in India during modern times.
• Climate responsive architecture has long been a feature of
India's architecture but has been losing its significance as of
late.Indian architecture reflects its various socio-cultural
sensibilities which vary from region to region.Certain areas are
traditionally held to be belonging to women.Villages in India
have features such as courtyards, loggias, terraces and
balconies.Calico, chintz, and palampore—of Indian origin—
highlight the assimilation of Indian textiles in global interior
design.Roshandans, which are skylights-cum-ventilators, are a
common feature in Indian homes, especially in North India.

14. PICS

15. Mysore Palace

16. Mysore Palace
• The Palace of Mysore (also known as the Amba
Vilas Palace) is a historical palace situated in the
city of Mysore in Karnataka, southern India. It is
the official residence and seat of the Wodeyars -
the Maharajas of Mysore, the former royal family of
Mysore, which ruled the princely state of Mysore
from 1399 to 1950. The palace also houses two
durbar halls (ceremonial meeting halls of the royal
court) and incorporates a mesmerizing and
gigantic array of courtyards, gardens, and
buildings. The palace is located in the central
region of inner Mysore, facing the Chamundi Hills
eastward.

17. History
• King Yaduraya first built a palace inside the Old Fort in Mysore
in the 14th century, which was demolished and constructed
multiple times. The regent of Mysore, Her Royal Majesty
Maharani Vani Vilas Sannidhna, and her son, the Maharaja of
Mysore His Highness Rajarshi Sri Sir Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV,
commissioned the British architect Lord Henry Irwin to build a
new palace to replace the old one which had been truned into
ashes by fire.Meanwhile, the royal family stayed in the nearby
Jaganmohan Palace. Construction of the current palace was
commissioned in 1897, completed in 1912, and expanded
around 1940 (including the addition of the present Public
Durbar Hall wing) during the reign of His Highness Maharaja Sri
Sir Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, the last Maharaja of Mysore
Kingdom. The construction was completed in 1912, but the fort
continued to be beautified and its inhabitants were slowly
moved to the newer extension built off the palace.

18. Architecture
• The architectural style domes of the palace is commonly
described as Indo-Saracenic, and blends Hindu, Muslim,
Rajput, and Gothic styles of architecture. It is a three-
stone structure with marble domes and a 145 ft five-story
tower. The palace is surrounded by a large garden. The
entrance gate and arch hold the emblem and coat of arms
of the kingdom of Mysore, around which is written the
kingdom's motto in Sanskrit: "न बिभॆति कदाचन" (never
terrified). The palace has three entrances: the East Gate
(the front gate, opened only during the Dasara and for
VVIPs), the South Entrance (for public), and the West
Entrance (usually opened only during the Dasara). In
addition, there are numerous secret tunnels from the
palace cellar leading to Srirangapatna, other palaces, and
confidential areas.

19. • The three-story stone building of fine gray granite with
deep pink marble domes has a facade with several
expansive arches and two smaller ones flanking the
central arch, which is supported by tall pillars. Above the
central arch is a sculpture of Gajalakshmi, the goddess of
wealth, prosperity, good luck and abundance with her
elephants. There are three major exclusive temple
buildings within the Old Fort, and about 18 inside the
palace heart building. The Maharajas of Mysore were
devotees of Goddess Chamundi, which is why the place
faces Chamundi Hills. Besides, head of the Parakala Mutt
stays the spiritual rajguru (royal teacher and guide) as a
reason of which the palace is built next to an even older
Parakala Mutt headquarters.

20. Special events
• Every autumn, the Palace is the venue for the
famous Mysore Dasara festival, during which leading
artists perform on a stage set up in the palace
grounds. On the tenth day of the festival Vijaya
Dashami, a parade with caparisoned elephants and
floats originate from the palace grounds.

21. PICS

22. Attractions
• The Palace houses several rooms of importance. These
include:
• An audience chamber which was the hall for private
audiences, where the king would confer with his
ministers. It was also the chamber in which he gave
audience to people deserving special attention
• The Diwan-e-aam, a public durbar where the general
population could meet the king at scheduled times to
submit petitions
• The royal wedding hall
• An armory which contains arms used by the members of
the royal family. It contains lances, cutlasses, and other
14th century weapons as well as those used in the early
twentieth century, such as pistols.

23. Chamundeshwari Temple

24. The Chamundeshwari Temple
• The Chamundeshwari Temple is located on the top
of Chamundi Hills about 13 km from the palace city
of Mysore in the state of Karnataka in India.The
temple was named after Chamundeshwari or Durga,
the fierce form of Shakti, a tutelary deity held in
reverence for centuries by Mysore Maharajas.

25. Krouncha Peetham
• The Chamundeshwari Temple is considered as a Shakti
Peetha and one among the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas. It is
known as Krouncha Pitham as the region was known in
Puranic times as Krouncha Puri. The origin of Shakti
Peethas is associated to the mythology of Daksha yaga
and Sati's self immolation.
• Shakti Peethas are divine seat of Shakti due to the falling
of body parts of the corpse of Sati Devi, when Lord Shiva
carried it and wandered in sorrow. There are 51 Shakti
Peeth linking to the 51 alphabets in Sanskrit. Each temple
have shrines for Shakti and Kalabhairava. The Hair of Sati
Devi is said to have fallen here, the Shakti is addressed
as Chamundeshwari Devi.

26. Description
• The original shrine is thought to have been built in the
12th century by Hoysala rulers while its tower was
probably built by the Vijayanagar rulers of the 17th
century. In 1659, a flight of one thousand steps was built
leading up to the 3000 foot summit of the hill.At the
temple are several images of Nandi (the bull mount of
Shiva). There is a huge granite Nandi on the 800th step
on the hill in front of a small Shiva temple a short
distance away. This Nandi is over 15 feet high, and 24
feet long and around its neck are exquisite bells.
• The temple has a seven storey tall Gopura decorated with
intricate carvings. The deity of the goddess is said to be
made of gold and the temple doors of silver.

27. PICS

29. PRESENTED BY:
SRUTHI LAKSHMANAN