Journal of Architectural Engineering Technology
Open Access

Perhaps India's greatest aesthetic achievement is architecture. Architecture in India has a vast and illustrious history that dates back thousands of years. It encompasses the Indian subcontinent's building traditions, which include what are now India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The first Indian structures were composed of wood, followed by brick. Few examples of such ancient structures have survived the harsh Indian climate, particularly those made of wood. Stone construction began to emerge on the subcontinent about the 6th century BC. Indian architects quickly developed a high level of expertise in stone carving and construction. Stone has become popular for large buildings of considerable magnitude by the 7th century ad. In India, there are numerous mediaeval stone temples still standing [1].

Sculpture appears to have been the preferred mode of aesthetic expression, and Indian architecture and sculpture have a long history of collaboration. Rock-cut, or cave, architecture-temples or other structures carved into cliffs-is frequently little more than massive sculpture. Sculpture can also be seen on free-standing stone structures. Sculpture and architecture are frequently inextricably linked. Religious structures account for the majority of surviving examples of Indian architecture prior to the year 1200. Buddhist shrines, or stupas, as well as Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain temples, make up the majority of them. Monks' homes provide some insight into how nonreligious architecture might have appeared. However, few instances of palaces and regular dwellings from the time period have been discovered.

The Indus valley civilization, which lasted from roughly 2500 to 1700 BC, was the earliest urban society on the Indian subcontinent. It had bustling cities and towns, mostly in what is now Pakistan's Indus River valley, but also in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and other parts of India. Archaeologists have discovered ruins that show the Indus valley civilization had a thriving urban architecture. Its biggest cities, like Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, and Kalibangan, were grid-planned. They had made plans for a sophisticated drainage system. Each of the big cities had a fortified "citadel" mound as well as a larger lower area. Brick was the most popular building material; however wood was occasionally used as a substitute for it. The roofs, which were flat, were likewise made of wood. The houses were of different sizes. Many of them had an open patio with rooms on either side, including a bathroom. Brick stairways led to what must have been upper stores or flat roofs in several cases [2-4].

Considering the Mauryan empires dominance and vast territory, which lasted from around 321 to 185 BC, its architectural remains are surprisingly scant. This empire, on the other hand, is responsible for some of the earliest surviving instances of colossal Indian architecture. Stupas, such as the beautiful Great Stupa at Sanchi, are among the most important (Madhya Pradesh state, India). The stupa is the Buddhist faith's most well-known monument. It consists of a mound in the shape of a dome that houses religious art facts or remains. The stupa evolved from mounds built over the burial bones of the deceased that were discovered in India long before Buddhism. Sanchi's Great Stupa's dome represents the dome of heaven encompassing the world. It is encircled by a large stone wall.

The stupas grew larger and more elaborate throughout the era between the end of the Mauryan dynasty and the emergence of the Gupta dynasty. The stone railings of stupas, such as those in Bharhut (Madhya Pradesh state), Sanchi, and Amaravati, are frequently beautifully carved with relief sculpture (Andhra Pradesh state). During this time, important schools of Buddhist sculpture flourished in Gandhara (northwestern Pakistan) and Mathura (Uttar Pradesh state) [5].

The majority of the construction at the time was made of wood or brick, and none of it has survived. Several buildings, however, are portrayed on relief sculptures. Walled and moated cities with gigantic gates, magnificent multistory mansions, and pavilions with a variety of domes are depicted in the sculptures. The use of arched windows and doors is a prominent aspect of early Indian architecture. The relief sculptures also portray primitive thatched-roof houses, which served as the foundation for most Indian architectural forms. During the Gupta dynasty, temples of a simpler form with flat roofs were also built. Stupas, rock-cut temples, and monasteries were also constructed. Some of the cave temples of this time, particularly those at Ajanta, were sculpted with incredible detail and splendour.

Buildings emulating contemporary styles of European architecture were created in India from at least the 16th century. In these constructions, European styles were typically given a strong local Indian character. Some of this work was of considerable merit, particularly the Baroque architecture of the Portuguese colony of Goa, India. Splendid structures were built there in the second half of the 16th century. The church of Bom Jesus, which was finished in 1605, is one of the most notable of these churches that has survived.

Several structures in India were built in the 18th and 19th centuries that were heavily influenced by Western Neoclassical styles. The building styles of ancient Greece and Rome inspired Neoclassic architecture. Indian patrons imitated European Neoclassical buildings in India, particularly in areas under European rule or influence. Later, the British endeavored, with varied degrees of success, to merge Western and Indian architectural traditions in styles known as Gothic revival and Indo-Saracenic (which combines both Islamic and Indian components) (which includes both Islamic and Indian elements). The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus), a railway station in Mumbai, is a notable example of a British Gothic revival building in India. Buildings in India's major cities began to take on more European influences. Cities gradually adopted the mixed styles that resulted.

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