Monuments and Remains: An Archaeological Journey

The Present Book "Monuments and Remains : An Archaeological Journey" is mainly based on the observation made during the tour visit while visiting the various  monuments and sites under various Circles of ASI and different State Archaeological sites. In his archaeological journey I have tried to cover the limitless gamut of Indian art and architecture in small description. Some may unfortunately have dropped on the way while trying to recollect them.

Thus, in this tour I have had a very clear idea regarding the various architectural styles including the rock-cut architecture and structural. In the evolution of rock cut architecture we had very well understanding of the step by step developments that had taken place in the plan and sculptural executions of the Chaitya, Viharas starting from a simply designed Barabar caves to the more complex and ornate caves of Ajanta. Similarly in the rock cut architecture of the Brahmanical and Jaina temples we had an understanding of the developments that took place. In case of structural temples we had seen the evolution of the various styles of temple architecture such as the Nagara, Dravida, Vesara and Kalinga styles. In the Nagara style we have noticed the development from the temple no. 17 at Sanchi of the Gupta period to the temples of Khajuraho of the Chandella period. In the Dravida style similarly noticed from the simple temples of the Pallava period in Mamallapuram and Kanchipuram and to the most evolved styles of the Vijayanagar period in Hampi through the intermediary stages of the temples of Cholas of Tanjavur. We had a very nice opportunity of seeing all the three styles viz. Nagara, Dravida and Vesara styles at Pattadakkal of the times of the Chalukyas of Badami. The evolution in the Kalinga style has been noticed in the various temples of Bhubaneswar in Orissa. In this book I also cover the brick temples of West Bengal.