Architecture in Ancient India (Part-II) 

Khajuraho temples, Bhimbetka rock shelters and Sanchi stupa are listed among the UNESCO world heritage site in India. Mandu fort is not listed in the world heritage site.

The freestanding temples are supposed to have originated in the Gupta period. Ladkhan, that is one of the earliest temple belongs to Chalukya of Badami. In Khajuraho temples all the compartments of the temple are connected internally and externally. Kailashnath temple at Kanchi was build by Pallavas. It is a beautiful example at Kanchi was build by Pallavas. It is a beautiful example of Dravida style of temple architecture built by Narsinghavarman-II (Rajasimha) and later completed by his son Mahendra Verman-II. Therefore it can not be considered as earliest freestanding temple of Dravida style.

Teli Temple of Gwalior presents a perfect fusion of the Nagara and Dravidian architectural styles of India. The Shikhar (pinnacle) of the Temple is Dravidian in style, shereas the ornamentation is done in the Nagara style.

The Hoyasaleshvara temple (Lord of the Hoysalas) at Halebid in Karnataka was built in dark schist stone by the Hoysala king. Hoysala Temples are sometimes called hybrid or vesara as their unique style seems neither completely dravida nor nagara, but somewhere in between. They are easily distinguishable from other medieval temples by their highly original star-like ground-plans and a profusion of decorative carvings.

The Kanheri caves constitute a group of rock-cut monuments that are located to the north of Borivali on the western outskirts of Mumbai. The Kanheri caves demonstrate Buddhist influence on the art and culture of India built during 1st century BC.

Jain Temple of Abu is one of the most elegant Jain temples known the world over for its extraordinary architecture and marvellous marble stone carvings. This temple was built by Vimal Shah who was the feud of the then Chalukya ruler of Gujarat, Bheemdev-I.

The Palitana temple of Jainism is located on Shatrunjaya hill near the city of Plaitana in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat. This temple dedicated to 1st Jain Thirthankara Adinatha.

Elephanta caves are believed to have been built by the Rashtrakuta dynasty. This island is located on an arm of the Arabian Sea, consists of two groups of caves-the first is a large group of five Hindu caves, the second one includes a smaller group of two Buddhist caves. The Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, representing the Shaiva Hindu sect, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Trimurti of Elephanta showing the three faces of Shiva is akin trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (shiva), which was the royal insignia of the Rashtrakutas.

Elephanta caves are believed to have been built by the Rashtrakuta dynasty. This island is located on an arm of the Arabian Sea, consists of two groups of caves-the first is a large group of five Hindu caves, the second one includes a smaller group of two Buddhist caves. The Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, representing the Shaiva Hindu sect, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Trimurti of Elephanta showing the three faces of Shiva is akin trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (shiva), which was the royal insignia of the Rashtrakutas.

Elephanta caves are believed to have been built by the Rashtrakuta dynasty. This island is located on an arm of the Arabian Sea, consists of two groups of caves-the first is a large group of five Hindu caves, the second one includes a smaller group of two Buddhist caves. The Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, representing the Shaiva Hindu sect, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Trimurti of Elephanta showing the three faces of Shiva is akin trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (shiva), which was the royal insignia of the Rashtrakutas.