Nagara (North Indian) Styles

Dravidian (south

Indian) Style

Nagara style of Architecture The Nagara style has its origin in the

structural temples of the Gupta period. In Nagara style temples, the structure

consists of two buildings the main shrine taller and an adjoining shorter mandapa.

The temples mainly are formed of four chambers the Garbhagriha (shrine), the Jagmohan (mandapa) ,the Natyamandir (dance pavilion) and the Bhogamandir (offerings hall).

Dravidian style of Architecture

It consists primarily of temples with pyramid shaped towers and are constructed of sandstone, soapstone or granite.

The majority of the existing structures are located in the Southern Indian states

Dravidian style temples consist of the three following parts, the Gopuram, the Mandapa and the Vimana .

Comparison between Nagara style and Dravidian style

DIVISIONS IN THE NORTH INDIAN TEMPLE

DIVISIONS IN THE SOUTH INDIAN TEMPLE

GOPURAM(SOUTH)

MANDAPA(NORTH)MANDAPA (SOUTH)

ANTARALA(SOUTH)

GARBHA GRIHA(NORTH)

SHIKARA(NORTH)

AMALAKA

KALASHA (NORTH)

KALASHA(SOUTH)

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLES

NORTH INDIAN TEMPLE

SOMNATH TEMPLE

The Somnath Temple is located on the west coast of Gujarat, India.

Somnath Temple is known as "the Shrine Eternal". This legendary temple has been destroyed and rebuilt several times by Islamic kings and Hindu kings respectively.

The Somnath temple has been a pilgrimage site from ancient times on account of being a Triveni sangam the joining of three rivers.

Soma, the Moon God, is believed to have lost his lustre due to a curse, and he bathed in the river Saraswati at this site to regain the lustre.

Somnath temple

SOMNATH AND THE TRIVENI SANGAM

The three rivers are kapila, Hiran and Saraswathi

SOUTH INDIAN TEMPLE

BRIHADESHWARA TEMPLE

The  Brihadeshwara  is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva which is located in the city of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.

It is an important example of Tamil architecture during the Chola dynasty.

It is one of the largest temples in India and the most prized architecture built by emperor Raja Raja Chola I.

Brihadeshwara temple

It is popularly known as the 'Big temple', turned 1000 years old in 2010. The temple is a part of the UNESCO world heritage site.

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