Different Schools of  Nagara-style Temple Architecture

1. Orissa – The most prominent feature is the shikhara (deal), which rises vertically and curves inwards at the top. The main type is square while the top type is circular. It has beautifully carved exteriors and usually bare interiors. Unlike the Nagara temples in the north, most Orissa temples have perimeter walls.

2. Chandel – Unlike the Odisha style, these temples were designed as one unit of him, with Shikhara curving from bottom to top. Several shikhara miniatures rise from the central tower, and towers that gradually rise towards the main tower cover both the arcades and halls.

3. Solanki – Similar to the Chandel School, but with a carved ceiling that looks like a real dome. A distinctive feature of these temples is small and intricate decorative motifs. Carvings can be seen both inside and outside the walls, except for the central temple.

Nagara Style of Temples

An Important topic that keeps asking in many government exams is the different forms of Temple architecture. In this topic, there is a subtopic called the Nagara style of temples. We have seen many questions coming from these topics and students need to focus and study thoroughly. In this article, we are going to discuss features of the Nagara style of Temples.

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Nagara Style of Temple Architecture: An Introduction

The Nagara style of temple architecture was popular in northern India. In northern India, it is common for the entire temple to be built on a stone platform with a staircase leading to it.  Another unique feature is the lack of elaborate boundary walls or gates.  Garbhagriha is always under the tallest tower.  There are many subdivisions in the Nagara temples, depending on the form of Shikhara. Amalaka or Kalash installed in Shikhara is another distinguishing feature of this form of temple style.  The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple in Madhya Pradesh is an example of Nagara-style temple architecture.  Other examples of Nagara-style temples in India are the Sun Temple in Konark, the Sun Temple in Modhera, Gujarat, and the Ossian Temple in Gujarat....

Classification of Nagara-Style Temple Architecture

1. Rekha-Prasad or Latina: These temples are characterized by simple shikhara with square bases and inwardly curved walls with pointed apexes. Early medieval temples such as the Markhera Sun Temple in Madhya Pradesh (MP). The Sri Jagannath Temple in Orissa was built in the Rekha Prasad Shikhara style....

Different Schools of  Nagara-style Temple Architecture

1. Orissa – The most prominent feature is the shikhara (deal), which rises vertically and curves inwards at the top. The main type is square while the top type is circular. It has beautifully carved exteriors and usually bare interiors. Unlike the Nagara temples in the north, most Orissa temples have perimeter walls....

Famous Nagara Temples in Different Parts of India

1. Nagara Temples in Central India...