Learn about Nagara style of architecture used for building Ayodhya Ram Temple
By iastoppers.com
The Ayodhya Ram Temple, set to be inaugurated on January 22, 2024, follows the Nagara style of architecture, prevalent in northern India
The Nagara style of architecture, originating in the 5th century CE from the Gupta style, has evolved over the years, with sub-styles like Solanki, Chandel, and Odisha
Nagara-style temples are constructed on stone platforms with steps leading up, lacking boundary walls, a distinctive feature compared to Dravidian temples
Characterized by one or more Sikharas, the earliest Nagara temples had a single Sikhara directly above the 'garbhagriha'
The 'Latina' or rekha-prasada type of Shikhara is square at the base, with walls curving or sloping inward to a point on top
In the Phamsana style of Shikhara, temple roofs consist of slabs rising to a single point over the center, while Valabhi Shikhara features a roof rising into a vaulted chamber
Amalaka or Kalash, installed on Shikharas, is a characteristic feature of the Nagara style
The Nagara style's notable examples include the Konark Sun Temple in Odisha, the Sun Temple in Modhera, and the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple in Madhya Pradesh
The Ram Temple, at approximately 161 feet in height and 28,000 square feet in area, is reported to be the largest temple in India