This book analyses ancient Indian architecture for the interested layman, the tourist, the contemporary professional and students of architecture. It has been written by a promising and practising modern Indian architect. This volume explodes the common myth that Hindu temples are the result of an obscure, exotic and irrelevant art. The author in fact shows that the traditional craftsman in creating his masterpieces experienced influences similar to those felt by his contemporaries elsewhere or even by architects today. Ancient edifices are described against the backdrop of the environment that formulated them – the geographic, climatic, social, political and historical conditions and, of course, the geomantic theories of Buddhist and Hindu planning. We study them not as isolated phenomena but as links in the chain of aesthetic attitudes from the founding of the Indus Valley Civilisation in 2500 B.C. up to the 17 century A.D. This story of the Buddhist, Jain and Hindu building arts of India is illustrated with ample photographs, drawings and sketches specially selected by the author.
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