 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Architecture of Gujarat" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(July 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
TheArchitecture of Gujarat consists of architecture in theIndian state ofGujarat.
The first major civilization in Gujarat was theHarappan Civilization. Their settlements, includingDholvaira andLothal are characteristic ofHarappan architecture.
Islamic architecture flourished during the rule of theGujarat Sultanate andMughal Empire in Gujarat. Buildings were built in European styles, including Gothic and Neoclassical during theBritish Colonial period.Indo-Saracenic architecture also developed during this period. After independence in 1947, modernist architecture is seen in Gujarat.
Gujarat has a large number of archaeological sites associated with theIndus Valley Civilization. The Indus Valley sites in Gujarat includeDholvaira, andLothal architecture.
The city of Dholavira has a rectangular shape and organization. UnlikeHarappa andMohenjo-daro, the city was constructed to a pre-existing geometrical plan consisting of three divisions – thecitadel, the middle town, and the lower town. The acropolis and the middle town had been furnished with their own defence-work, gateways, built-up areas, street system, wells, and large open spaces.
The extant temples Early Nagara architecture include theRoda Group of Temples, Lakodra in Vijapur Taluka, old temple atThangadh,Ranakdevi's Temple atWadhwan, the Sun Temple atKanthkot, Shiva temple at Puaranogadh atManjal inKutch. Harishchandra-ni-Chori atShamlaji, olderBhadreshwar Jain Temple (rebuilt now) and the Temple III ofRoda Group of Temples are some other extant temples of the 9th century.[1]
%2c_From_East.jpg)
The Saurashtra architecture is in continuum of earlier Gupta period architecture found in caves atUparkot andKhambhalida. More than hundred temples ofMaitraka period is known. Almost all of them are located along the coastal belt of the westernSaurashtra region except the one at Kalsar and few temples in the Barda hills region. Several temples of them are located in the territories controlled by theSaindhavas.[2]
The extant temples of this period are thetemple at Gop, Sonkansari (Ghumli), Pachtar, Prachi,Firangi Deval at Kalsar, group of temples at Vasai nearDwarka, Kadvar,Bileshwar,Sutrapada, Visavada, Kinderkheda, Pata, Miyani,Pindara, Khimrana, two temples at Dhrasanvel (Magderu and Kalika Temple), two temples near Dhrewad (Kalika Mata Temple), Gayatri temple and Naga temple and Sun temple at Pasnavada, early temples at Junagadh, Gosa, Boricha, Prabhas Patan, Savri, Navadra, Suvarnatirth temple atDwarka, Jhamra, Degam nearPorbandar, Sarma nearGhed. Other extant temples include the temple groups at Khimeshwara,Shrinagar,Nandeshwara, Balej, Bhansara, Odadar; and the shrines at Bokhira, Chhaya, Visavada, Kuchadi,Ranavav, Tukada, Akhodar, Kalavad,Bhanvad, Pasthar, andPorbandar.[3]
Twokunds are known of this period, at Kadvar and Bhansara. The Shaivaite monastery at the Khimeshwara group of temples is the oldest known Brahminical monastery of India, preceding three centuries to that in central India.[3]
These temples are austere in their design and simple in decoration. They are important in architectural study to know the origin of Nagara-styleshikhara and the beginning of their complex designs in temple architecture. These temples also point to the second of the two early Gujarat temple architecture schools; the north Gujarat early Nagara style and the Saurashtra style which initially influenced and ultimately ousted by the evolving Nagara style. The Saurashtra style disappeared by the tenth century.[4]
Māru-Gurjara architecture, Chaulukya style or Solaṅkī style, is a style of north Indian temple architecture that originated inGujarat andRajasthan from the 11th to 13th centuries, under theChaulukya dynasty (or Solaṅkī dynasty). On the exteriors, the style is distinguished from other north Indian temple styles of the period in "that the external walls of the temples have been structured by increasing numbers of projections and recesses, accommodating sharply carved statues in niches. These are normally positioned in superimposed registers, above the lower bands of moldings. The latter display continuous lines of horse riders, elephants, andkīrttimukhas. Hardly any segment of the surface is left unadorned." The mainshikhara tower usually has manyurushringa subsidiary spirelets on it, and two smaller side-entrances with porches are common in larger temples.
Examples of Chaulukya orMāru-Gurjara architecture includeTaranga Jain temple,Rudra Mahalaya Temple, andModhera Sun Temple. TheRani ki vav was also built during this period.
The first Muslim dynasty to rule large parts of Gujarat was theDelhi Sultanate in the 14th century. Gujarat would later be ruled by the Mughal empire,Gujarat Sultanate, and several Muslim-ruledprincely states until 1947. Thus,Indo-Islamic architecture is found all over the state.
The Indo-Islamic architecture style of Gujarat drew micro-architectural elements from earlierMaru-Gurjara architecture and employed them inmihrab, roofs, doors, minarets and facades.[6] In the 15th century, the Indo-Islamic style of Gujarat is especially notable for its inventive and elegant use ofminarets. They are often in pairs flanking the main entrance, mostly rather thin and with elaborate carving at least at the lower levels. Some designs push out balconies at intervals up the shaft; the most extreme version of this was in the lost upper parts of the so-called "shaking minarets" at theJama Mosque, Ahmedabad,[7] which fell down inan earthquake in 1819. This carving draws on the traditional skills of local stone-carvers, previously exercised on Hindu temples in the Māru-Gurjara and other local styles.[8]
The construction during therule of Delhi Sultanate in Gujarat continued earlier local architecture tradition which has reached in its pinnacle asMaru-Gurjara Architecture. The tradition continued in temples, mosques, residents and civic structures. The local tradition was modified and expanded to suit Islamic believes, rituals and practices. The construction of Islamic ritual buildings such as mosques were codified and standardised. Such codification is found in 15th century Sanskrit treatise,Rahmana-Prasada. One such early example of mosque include the Jami Mosque inMangrol built in 1383-84.[9]
The notable mosques built during this period include Mosque of Al-Iraji at Junagadh (1286–87), Rahimat Mosque in Mangrol (1382–1383), Jami Mosque of Bharuch (1321),Jami mosque of Khambhat, Bahlol Khan Gazi or Hilal Khan Kazi Mosque (1333) and Tanka Mosque (1361) inDholka. The tomb of Al-Khazeruni in Khambhat was built in 1333.[10]
Under theGujarat Sultanate, independent between 1407 and 1543, Gujarat was a prosperous regional sultanate under the rule of theMuzaffarid dynasty, who built lavishly, particularly in the capital,Ahmedabad, in its distinctive style of Indo-Islamic architecture.[11] The sultanate commissioned mosques such as theJami Masjid of Ahmedabad,Jama Masjid at Champaner,Jami Masjid at Khambhat,Qutbuddin Mosque,Rani Rupamati Mosque,Sarkhej Roza,Sidi Bashir Mosque,Kevada Mosque,Sidi Sayyed Mosque,Nagina Mosque and Pattharwali Masjid, as well as structures such asTeen Darwaza,Bhadra Fort and theDada Harir Stepwell in Ahmedabad.
TheChampaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, the 16th century capital of Gujarat Sultanate, documents the early Islamic and pre-Mughal city that has remained without any change.[12]
Indo-Islamic architecture style of Gujarat presages many of the architectural elements later found inMughal architecture, including ornatemihrabs and minarets,jali (perforated screens carved in stone), andchattris (pavilions topped withcupolas).
Mughal architecture in Gujarat includes theHazira Maqbara in Vadodara,[13] andMughal Sarai in Surat.
The 18th-century Ranchhodrai Temple inDakor shows influence of Maratha temple architecture in its main cupola.[14]
During the British colonial period, Gujarat was ruled by several princely states, the rulers of which designed elaborate palaces and public buildings. These were built in various Indo-European styles.
Gothic buildings in Gujarat include thePrag Mahal designed byHenry Saint Clair Wilkins.
The Indo-Saracenic buildings in Gujarat includes theVijaya Vilas Palace in Mandvi,Laxmi Vilas Palace andNyay Mandir in Vadodara. TheMaharaja Sayajirao University was designed byRobert Chisholm.
Rajmahal, a palace inMehsana completed in 1904, is another example designed by the English architectFrederick William Stevens.[15][16][17]
Pratap Vilas Palace and Willingdon Crescent (known Darbargarh Market now) inJamnagar has influences of European architecture.[18][19]
Thehaveli is an example of late 19th century civil architecture of the state.[20][21]Vithalbhai Haveli is one such example.[22]
Le Corbusier, was invited to Ahmedabad in the 20th century by the mill owners to design their villas as well as some public buildings. TheSanskar Kendra,Villa Sarabhai,Villa Shodhan, andMill Owners' Association Building in Ahmedabad were designed by Le Corbusier.[23]
American architectLouis Kahn designed theIIM Ahmedabad.[23]
The Premabhai Hall,Tagore Memorial Hall, and Institute of Indology in Ahmedabad were designed byB. V. Doshi, an architect who worked under both Corbusier and Louis Kahn.[24][25][26]
court houses at Mehsana for the Gaekwads of Baroda.
| Topics |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Regions of Gujarat | ||
| Districts | ||
| Major cities | ||
| Ecoregions | ||
| Economy | ||
