architectural wonders of the India.
Answers
Taj Mahal Lotus Temple Golden Temple Gol Gumbaz Qutub Minar Charminar Gateway of India India Gate Taj Hotel
HALA MATE,
1. Temples of Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
If stones could talk, the sculptures of Mahabalipuram would reveal the fancies of our ancestral past. Welled up in heritage, history and culture, Mahabalipuram is an erstwhile port city off the Coromandel coast. Mahabalipuram has archived the glories of the Pallava dynasty in such a manifesting way that every sculpture draws a parallel to its story with an irresistible longing of distinct possibilities. It is here in Mahabalipuram you will learn that some histories are better off written in stones than textbooks.
2. Konark Sun temple, Orissa
Modelled to look like a chariot, Konark is a spectacular carved out of sandstone. A sculpted structure plonked on 24 wheels, gives an illusion of being pulled by 7 horses and 2 lions that guard it. The engineering those days was so baffling that the wheels act as sundials that can accurately calculate time.
3. Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
Engulfed by a burgeoning forest, Khajuraho was camouflaged under a thick grove of green until a young British officer rediscovered it in 1838. With an inscription tracing it back to the Chandela dynasty, the Group Temples of Khajuraho became a subject of speculation owing to its undaunted, carnal and erotic depictions. The walls of the temples are embellished with cult representations of Apsaras and demigods. Several theories associate with this untypical statues - some say the scenes were chiselled to educate the people, while some studies suggest that they depict the love and marriage of Shiva-Parvati. Although these temples are only known famed for its erotic sculptures, they barely constitute 10% of the depictions. The central theme of the temple revolves around the Tantric concept that the male counterpart holds the form and potential, while the female holds energy. The temples are an amalgamation of Jainism and Hinduism.
4. Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh
The story of Taj Mahal is eternally imbibed on the pages of history ever since its construction began. Shah Jahan, the romantic that he was, added soul to the beautiful monument by aligning every curve and arch of the mausoleum to a significant piece of love story. Every part of the mausoleum narrates a tale of romance and tragedy. Its tomb, minarets, calligraphed murals and excerpts from Quran transpire Shah Jahan’s undying love for Begum Mumtaz. Taj Mahal’s eternal grace and symmetry resonate the tragic romance that lived between the couple.
5. Hampi, Karnataka
When you are in Hampi, you will experience a flashback of the past, a peek into the erstwhile Vijayanagara kingdom and witness a whole lot of Hindu mythology through laboriously carved sculptures. While India is renowned for having intricate and elaborate stone carvings, Hampi is especially known for the acoustic and musical stone pillars at Vithala Temple. What sort of crazy engineering must have gone behind making stones that sound like instruments!
6. Great Living Chola Temples, Tamil Nadu
Built by the Chola dynasty between 11th and 12th centuries, the walls of Great Living Chola Temples perform a beautiful and dramatic tale from the chronicles of Chola rule. Not only were these temples an epicentre of worship, but also were they an important centre for business. There are stories about priests, devadasis and musicians that float the air. The temples play a stage to so many legends that make us peer into the daily musings of the royal and bourgeois. Interestingly, the granite carvings have taken inspiration from the Pallava’s architectural style.
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