Snippets of Information - Architecture / Sculptures / Statues
* 11 Dec 2025
Hyderabad House (State Guest House of Honorable Prime Minister of
India) at 1, Ashok Road, New Delhi has played host to Foreign Heads of State, Heads of Government
and other personages since India’s Independence. This butterfly shaped
edifice was the most impressive of all royal dwellings for the Maharajas
in the city. With the Central dome, Quadrangular gardens, Circular
foyer and stairway, archways & obelisks, Hyderabad House blends
predominantly European architectural features with Moghul motifs.
Hyderabad House, just north of India Gate exemplifies the richness of
taste in art, architecture and craftsmanship.
The unit has been recently awarded ISO-22000: 2005 certification for its
immaculate upkeep & service standards & is honoured &
recognized as one of New Delhi’s 100 iconic building by Hindustan Times.
Source: India Tourism Development Corporation, itdc.co.in
Image Source: Zee News
The last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, ruled over a
kingdom so wealthy that legends claimed he owned pearls enough to fill
entire swimming pools and palaces spread across erstwhile Deccan like
scattered jewels. When the British shifted India’s capital to Delhi from
Calcutta, the Nizam sought a presence in the new city that matched both
his fame and his self-image.
The Hyderabad House emerged in a butterfly-shaped plan, with its
sweeping wings opening along the surrounding roads and its entrance
aligned with the approach road on the hexagon. Lutyens borrowed this
layout from his 1903 creation, which was Papillon Hall in
Leicestershire. The result was a residence that instantly overshadowed
every other princely palace in the capital. Its construction cost a
staggering 200,000 pound in the 1920s, which would equal roughly 1.4
million pound or Rs 170 crore in 2025. The house perfectly mirrored the
Nizam’s immense wealth, which at that time made him the richest man on
earth. Even without matching the scale of the Viceroy’s House, the
Hyderabad House carried a presence that very few structures in Delhi
could rival.
The Hyderabad House has 36 rooms and features courtyards, arches,
stairways, fireplaces and fountains. Its design blends European style
with a touch of Mughal elements.
Source: Tarique Anwar, Zee News
*23 Jul 2025
Architectural styles
- rock-cut structures (Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain temples)
- Hindu temple architecture (Dravidian style prevalent in southern India and the Nagara style dominant in the north)
- Indo-Islamic architecture (Mughal architecture)
- Rajput architecture ( grand forts, palaces, and temples, showcasing a
blend of indigenous Indian styles with influences from Islamic and
Persian architecture)
- European influence (styles such as Neoclassical, Gothic Revival, and Baroque)
- Indo-Saracenic architecture (fusion of Indo-Islamic and European architectural elements)
Source: universalinstitutions.com
* 23 Jul 2025
The term 'architecture' has its roots in the Latin word ‘tekton,’
denoting a builder. The emergence of the architectural discipline
aligned with early humans constructing shelters for their dwelling. In
contrast, ‘sculpture’ originates from the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root
‘kel,’ signifying ‘to bend.’
Source: universalinstitutions.com
* 23 Jul 2025
The Council of Architecture (COA) has been constituted by the Government
of India under the provisions of the Architects Act, 1972, enacted by
the Parliament of India, which came into force on 1st September, 1972.
The Act provides for registration of Architects, standards of education,
recognized qualifications and standards of practice to be complied with
by the practicing architects. The Council of Architecture is charged
with the responsibility to regulate the education and practice of
profession throughout India besides maintaining the register of
architects. For this purpose, the Government of India has framed Rules
and Council of Architecture has framed Regulations as provided for in
the Architects Act, with the approval of Government of India.
Source: coa.gov.in
* 23 Jul 2025
Vihara is the place where Monk (Bhikhu) use to stay for
the small period of three months during Varsavasa period. The purpose
of the Vihara (monastery) was to provide residential facilities to the
monks and during other times the monks were not expected to stay at a
place for more than three nights. In the later period Vihara has played a
long and distinguished role; they belong to different creeds, sects
and religions, and differ widely in function and organization as well as
in size and status. But they all have the common characteristic of
collective living for the sake of a higher spiritual life.
Source: heritageuniversityofkerala.com
* 23 Mar 2022
Chaukhandi Stupa, Sarnath, Varanasi, UP
The Chaukhandi Stupa marks the spot where Buddha was reunited with the
panchavargiya bhikshus (Mahanama, Koudanna, Bhaddiya, Vappa and
Asvajita). It was originally
constructed in the 5th Century AD. The structure which stands atop a
terraced rectangular plinth, is capped by a later addition, an octagonal
tower. Govardhan, son of Raja Todarmal, added the
octagonal tower in commemoration of Mughal ruler Humayun's visit. It is
considered a big blessing to have a walk around the Chaukhandi Stupa and
complete the Kora.
Some images of Buddha, such as the image of buddha in dharmachakra
pravartana mudra and other statues found during excavations at this
Stupa are believed to be rare artefacts and classic examples of art from
Gupta period.
According to a notification issued by Union Ministry of Culture,
Chaukhandi Stupa, an ancient Buddhist site located in Sarnath, Uttar
Pradesh (UP) has been declared as ‘protected area of national
importance’ by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
- The Stupa is known as ‘Chaukhandi’ because of its four armed plan.
- The stupa is an ancient Buddhist site which evolved from burial mounds and served as a shrine for a relic of Buddha.
- It also finds mention in account of Hiuen Tsang, celebrated Chinese traveler of 7th century AD.
Source: gktoday.in
* 3 March 2022
There is a stucco 80 feet high elephant statue of 16-17th
century, in a grove outside the Thuravu Melazhagar (also called
Azhagarkovil and Azhagapuri) temple, 6km from Sri Brahadeeswara temple,
Gangaikondacholapuram in Ariyalur district, Tamil Nadu.
"Silpa texts describe how the plaster for these stucco figures is to be
prepared, and mention 200 types of bricks. Different shapes of bricks
are spoken of in the Satapatha Brahmana," says sthapathy Umapathy
Acharya.
Source: Massive wonder by Suganthy Krishnamachari, Nov 25, 2010, thehindu.com
View image at india-info pinterest collection
* 3 March 2022
Scientific analysis of the Ajanta and Sithannavasal paintings has
revealed that the plaster used for preparing the ground for the
paintings and the pigments used are all in conformity with the technical
descriptions given in texts like Kasyapa Silpa Sastra,
Vishnudharmottara and Aparajitapraccha. The same kind of plaster is used in the stucco figures that we see in villages, showing the unbroken tradition in our arts, points out Umapathy.
The list of ingredients that go into making the plaster, is mind
boggling - powdered lac, decoctions prepared from the barks of trees
such as the banyan, peepul, fig and acacia catechu ; the decoction of
gooseberries; Belliric myrobalan ; sand, pulverised stone and pebble;
curd and clarified butter; extract of wood-apple, Bilwa tree; linseed
oil, sandal oil, camphor oil and sesame oil; yellow orpiment; powdered
barley, black gram and wheat; powdered ginger, black pepper and if
possible, gold and silver dust too!
The process of extraction of the required colours from plants, roots,
shoots, leaves and minerals in the soil is also explained in detail in
the silpa texts, says sthapathy Veezhinathan Acharya. The ribs inside
the horse and elephant are made of acacia catechu wood, and bound with
processed coir rope and darbha grass.
Source: Massive wonder by Suganthy Krishnamachari, Nov 25, 2010, thehindu.com
* 15 Feb 2022
Statue of Sri Ramanuja at the ashram of Tridandi Chinna Jeer Swamy at Muchintal, Andhra Pradesh - The 'Statue of Equality',
was installed to mark the 1,000th birth anniversary of the Vaishnavaite
saint Sri Ramanujacharya. It is built of Panchaloha, a combination of
gold, silver, copper, brass and zinc by Aerospun Corporation in China
and shipped to India. It is the second largest seated statue in the
world.
The base building, 16.5 mts tall, has a meditation hall, where a 54 inch
statue of Ramanujacharyulu made of 120 kg gold, representing the years
he lived is installed.
Source: thehindu.com
Total height of Statue of Equality - 216 ft.
Total height of Statue of Ramanuja - 108 ft.
Total height of Bhadra Vedi - 54 ft.
Total height of Padma Peetam - 27 ft.
Total height of Thridandam - 135 ft.
Number of Lotus petals - 54
Number of Elephants under Lotus - 36
Number of Sankhas and Chakras - 18 + 18 = 36
Educational gallery featuring exhibits about the inspiring life story of Ramanujacharya.
A library with all the Vedic scriptures
Auditorium for seminars and panditha sabhas.
Omnimax theatre for different shows.
A few reminiscences of Ramanujacharya’s life will come alive through technology.
Replicas of 108 Divya Desams around Ramanujacharya Swamy - built in
stone, rich with ornate architectural detailing and accompanied with
audio guides explaining
Inside the Bhadra peeta, a 120 kgs gold statue, swarna murthy, of Ramanujacharya swami.
Abhisheka through a musical fountain.
Mukhamandapam, a common corridor for all 108 Divya Desas.
Source: statueofequality.org
* 15 Feb 2022
Unakoti, Tripura
Ancient Shri Ganesh sculpture carved on the rocks at Raghunandan Hills,
Unakoti (one less than a crore), Tripura, North East India
The Largest open air rock sculpture gallery in India, built in 6th
century as per sources. Cut into a huge mountain, numerous colossal
sculptures of Bhagwan Shiva, Ganesha, Maa Durga many more adorned this
magical place.
Source: Bharatvarsa, fb: @IndiaTales7
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