"This volume is a study of the beginning and evolution of temple architecture in India which covers sculptures and carvings as well.

With over a hundred plates of temples and carvings on them, including cave facades and pillar depictions, it deals with temples constructed by the different ancient and medieval dynasties in Indian history, particularly the Early Western Calukyan and Later Western Calukyans, Pallava, Pandya, Cola, Hoyasala and Nayaka. With illustrations that include maps, plans of caves and even viharas and caityas, it undertakes a study of the temples found in different States of India. The research discusses the variations in plans and elevations to examine development of temple architecture over time and new experiment-ations in the building of temples by use of various materials. Reconstructing art and architectural styles from the remnants of the ruined temples in many places, it explains terms and concepts in temple building and architecture and cities examples of various temple styles and traditions including the best and the earliest ones. The focus is on the Dravida and Nagara temple styles and a third hybrid form of sikhara that developed in the Deccan. Many Jaina temples are also covered.

The book will prove extremely useful for scholars and students of Indology, particularly those studying Indian religious architecture." 
                                                                                                                                            [from Blurb]

Contents

Preface

List of Plates and Figures

Transliteration Chart

Introduction

1. Rock-cut Stupas, Viharas, Caityas and Temples

2. Gupta Temples

3. Central Indian Temples

4. Temples of Orissa

5. Temples of Gujarat

6. Temples of Rajasthan

7. Early Western Calukyan Temples

8. Later Western Calukyan Temples

9. Pallava Temples

10. Pandya Temples

11. Cola Temples

12. Hoysala Temples

13. Temples of Vijayanagar

14. Nayaka Temples

15. Temples of Kerala

16. Temples of Jammu and Kashmir

17. Temples of Himachal Pradesh

18. Temples of Bengal

19. Temples of Assam

Bibliography

Index

"Dr. S. P. Gupta had been the Chairman of Indian Archaeological Society, New Delhi. A distinguished archaeologist and an art historian, Dr. Gupta had been awarded several gold medals and the Sir Mortimer Wheeler Prize for excellence in archaeology. He had worked and lectured in more than 30 countries of the world.

Vijayakumar Somasekharan Nair, Masters in Quaternary and Prehistory (Italy), M.A. Archaeology, PGDA (ASI, New Delhi), UGC/NET, is a versatile young scholar in archaeology and history." 
                                                                                                                                        [from Blurb]