Indian Architecture and Ancient Indian Architecture with details

Meaning of Architecture

If we break down the word vastu kala, we get two parts. Vastu + Kala.

The word Vastu is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Bas' which means to live, settle, reside, etc.
 In other words, it means house, residence, abode, etc.
Vastu means architecture, derived from the Latin word lectin, which means builder.

Origin of Architecture

Ever since man built a shelter for himself, the science of architecture is considered to have originated.

Size and expansion:

Architecture expands the structure and construction of buildings.

Materials used

Wood, metal, stone, bricks, glass, sand, cement, and a mixture of various other materials are commonly used in architecture.

Principles of Architecture

Architecture includes the study of engineering and mathematics; it is very important to have accurate knowledge of measurement in it.

Indian Architecture

Indian architecture is the story of the development of building construction in India, from the ancient Indus Valley Civilization to the Mughal and British rule. The rise and fall of great empires, the invasion of foreign rulers, and the convergence of different cultures and styles reflect the development of Indian architecture.

Features of architecture in the Indian context

The development of a country reflects its architecture. The architecture of a region reflects its inclination towards society and culture.

Most of the artistic and architectural remains in India are religious, such as the construction of temples and caves made by cutting rocks; all these display Indian ancient art.

Parts of Indian Architecture

Ancient Indian architecture

1. Harappan Art, 
2. Mauryan Art, 
3. Mauryan Post-Mauryan Art, 
4. Gupta Art, South Indian Art

Medieval India

1. Delhi Sultanate, 
2. Mughal Period

Modern India, Modern Indian architecture

1. Indo Gothic Style
2. Neo-Roman Style

Architecture of the Harappan Period, 

Ancient Indian architecture with details

Before the third century BC, an influential civilization emerged on the banks of the Indus River, which later spread to a large part of northwest and western India, which we today know as the Harappan Civilization or Indus Valley Civilization. Man started realizing the importance of architecture in life in the third century BC, and the materials found during excavations, such as statues, seals, earthen pots, and ornaments, show how artistic this civilization must have been at that time, and the organized cities of Harappa and Mohenjodaro must not have been different from today's architecture at all. The planned spread of roads, houses, and drains for water drainage, the use of developed planning, and the engineering of the Harappan civilization are proof of their knowledge and skills of the actual period.

Main architecture of the Harappan civilization

The remains of Harappa and Mohenjodaro reveal the remarkable skill of their city planning. The cities here were based on the rectangular grate system.

The network of roads was based on the current system.

The roads were in the north-south and east-west directions and cut each other at right angles, which clearly shows how strong their architecture was that even today we try to build the current roads on their own system. We have kept the current architecture on par with the ancient architecture.

Types of buildings

There were mainly three types of buildings.

What are housing, 

• public buildings,
• public baths, and
• granary

For construction, Harappan people used baked clay bricks made by humans and used gypsum as mortar.

City division

The city was divided into two parts.

1. High citadel (fort)

1. Lower City

The citadel, situated at a height in the western part, was used for the construction of huge buildings.
Like granary, administrative building, hall with pillars and courtyard, etc. The buildings situated in the lower part were the residences of the rulers and the elite class.

Standard construction method

Standards were constructed very cleverly so that insects could not enter them. For this, they used to make small holes for airflow, and the stands were installed at a height so that the moisture could not spoil the grains due to being above the ground.

The standard construction method of public bath

The public baths were constructed in the form of small rooms so that one could not see the other while bathing. This reflects the importance of purity in their culture. A typical example of this bath is the large bathroom found at Mohenjodaro.

The lower part of the city

In the lower part of the city, small buildings with one room each have been found. These must have been used as residences by the working-class people.

 Two-story buildings

Most of the buildings were single-story, but stairs have been found in some houses, which indicates that these were probably two-story buildings. The presence of two-story buildings in the building construction method indicates that the construction of buildings must have been based on economic status.

Advanced Drainage System

The most important feature of the Harappan civilization was their drainage system. Small drains coming out of each house were connected to the big drains built along the main road, and the water from the drains built in the house went directly into the big drains.

For regular cleaning and maintenance, the drains were kept covered so that the external garbage could not enter the drain, and cesspits were built at regular distances so that the waste flowing in the drains could collect there and cleaning would be easy. Cleanliness was emphasized both personally and publicly so that cleanliness was maintained in the cities.

Conclusion

The ancient Harappan civilization can be seen as an excellent example of architecture. The building construction method—the construction of granaries, bathrooms, wells, and drains—was not at all different from the current construction method. In a true sense, it can be said that the progress of a country is linked to its construction method. From ancient civilization to the present civilization, the construction of a country has been based on its architecture. If we look at the present performance, the area where the construction of roads, buildings, and railway tracks is of high standard, that area progresses more than other areas. The architecture in India is of medium quality. To make it accessible to the people, the government and administration will have to work together. The new construction methods being used in foreign countries will have to be adopted and constructed in the country.

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