Famous Temples in India

Architecture

Sanchi is well known to all of us as a place associated with Buddhism. It may sound rather surprising but apart from the Buddhist Viharas, Chaityas and Stupas, there is a Gupta Temple in Sanchi that heralds the beginning of Temple Architecture in India. Sanchi thus reflects the religious and architectural heritage of India. There are three layers in the Sanchi hill also referred to as shelves. They are the crowning shelf, intermediate shelf and lower shelf. The Gupta Temple adorns the intermediate layer. Make sure to visit this Gupta temple No.17 which has stood the test of time.

Gupta Temple was constructed in Indian Style of architecture, there are images of several gods round the wall inside the sanctum. The sanctum is small in size and has a portico (mantapa) in its frontage. It stands on a low basement in square shape said to be of 3.85 m X 3.72 m and 3.9 m high. On entering the sanctum one will see the Lord Shivalinga covered in a glass box, probably to protect it from being touched and spoiled by the over enthusiastic devotees. The seven headed snake metal image is kept decoratively and as a mark of sacred sign. The temple has a covered space and as a pillar that has an extension at the doorway. The mantapa stands on four pillars which are like square shaft in lower part and eight and sixteen sides on the focal point.