Amazing Kalyani(Temple tank) at Hulikere near Halebidu(Karnataka)
Dated: ~12th century CE
Note the details of aedicula. Fractal pattern is obvious.

#ReclaimTemples #WalkToTemple
Chand Baori stepwell, Abhaneri ,Rajasthan
Dated: ~9th Century CE
The four sided 13 storied stepwell is over 100feet deep and lined with over 3500steps with an amazing geometrical precision. This stepwell is one of the largest stepwells, a magnificent device to store water.
A large stepwell and temples, Bundi(Rajasthan)
Anda(dome) surmounted by Kalasha forms the Shikhara of temple.
It is known as Dabhai Kund. Currently filled with dogshit and garbage. It is maintained by ASI.
Aqueducts of SahasraLinga Talao, Gujrat
Dated: ~11th century CE
It was functional till some point in 17th century CE. Mesmerizing combination of art and hydrolic engineering!
Towards the western end there is a rudra kupa in which water from the river Saraswati was collected and then allowed to pass into the inlet channel of the Sahastralinga Tank. This cistern is about forty meters in diameter.
Remains of pavilion and aqueducts, SahasraLinga Talao
Near the middle of the eastern embankment are the remains of the old Siva temple, comprising the basements of the pavilions together with a colonnade of forty eight pillars; it was in good condition till 16th century.
Stepped pond of Sun temple, Modhera
Dated: ~11th century CE
This huge pond measures 53.6*36.6m². This pond is geometrically more complex for it utilized fractal pattern.
Note ornately carved Shikhara. Imagine the beauty of sight with exquisite temples reflected in Kunda!
Perspective!

Surya Kunda, Sun Temple, Modhera(Gujrat)
Dated: ~11th century CE
Just note the scale of construction! Tropic of cancer pass through this temple complex.
One more from same SuryaKunda, Sun Temple, Modhera(Gujrat)
Dated: ~11th century CE

Note the scale of construction! This temple is result of perfection in geometry and astronomy. Sun rays illuminate the sanctum on the days of equinoxes.
Kalyani(Temple pond) of ancient BhogaNandishwara Temple, Nandi Hills, Karnataka
Note amazing symmetry!

Cloister lined with elaborate Makara Arch niche runs around this Kalyani. History of stepped ponds can be traced back to Sindhu-Saraswati valley civilization.
Raniji ki Baodi(Queen's Stepwell), Bundi
Dated: 17th century CE
The stepwell also served as temple for miniature shrines are carved depicting Dashavatara and Trimurti. The stepwell is almost 46m in length.
Torana(s)are exquisitely carved. Bundi is home to more than 387 stepwells.
Swastika well, also known as Marpidugu Perunkinaru, was dug by King Kamban Araiyan. One inscription found in this well is in poetical form and describe the immortal life of man.
~8th century CE.
It is located behind the Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple in Thiruvellarai(Tamilnadu).
A magnificent old stepwell from Dholpur(Rajasthan)
Stepwell is probably 3tierred and lined with magnificent corridors.
Unfortunately, it is filled with garbage and not maintained. Govt. should wake up and restore all these historical stepwells.
See more:
Correction, I'm told that this huge stepwell is actually 7 storeyed. Here is clipping published in some local news paper telling about its sorry state. This stepwell is an engineering marvel adorned with exquisite 'Torana'(arches).
Sent by: Jitendra Sharma
Kund(stepped pond) at RamNagar fort, Varanasi.
People of all class can be seen here.
Elaborate corridors surrounds the pond in a similar manner as we see in temple ponds of South Indian Temples.

As seen by Thomas Daniell in 1790s
A stepwell in Bundi(Rajasthan)

#WorldHeritageDay
Spectacular view of Vidyadhar Stepwell, Baroda

Note Kirtimukha, bell&chain and lotus pattern. In construction this stepwell is similar to other Gujrati Stepwell like Adalaj, Dada Harir Vav etc.

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More from @wiavastukala

Jul 26, 2018
Thread on GunPowder
1)Finely crafted Cannon with tiger's head like opening, Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur (Rajasthan)
"India’s military technology is history’s greatest ‘hidden’ secret."
Until early 19th century CE, India alone had total monopoly over production of gunpowder.
2)"Unlike China, with an odd textual reference or a drawing or a singular artefact, was the entire industry in India – which remained unrivalled in the history of the world. Compared to China’s paltry production of gunpowder, India’s widespread and organized gunpowder production
3)...system points towards indigenous development. [There are reports, that in “664 an Indian visitor to China reportedly demonstrated the peculiar flamability of saltpeter and provided instructions on how to locate it (Pacey 1990, 16)."]”
Read 4 tweets
Feb 11, 2018
Just see the huge, finely cut pieces of stone used in this temple. Also note the pointed arch(lotus petal arch) niche at the centre of the rectangular temple(fourth image). There are thousands of such temples lying in ruins.
Central niche of Adina Masjid, Pandua
These mihrabs are nothing but niche(s) sans Vigraha as suggested by E. B. Havell.
1. Trefoil arch resting pillars with Kalasha base(such pillars are depicted in Shunga sculptures)

2. Trefoil arch with extant Shikhara of Kalinga type
Here is a Pala era Vigraha(sculpture) of Vishnu of most exquisite form.
Note the proportions of trefoil arch and columns. Exact same and why not, after all both are product of same tradition. It is a lie that Torana were only wooden gateways of Sanchi type.
Read 4 tweets
Jan 27, 2018
Thread on ancient naval defence system of India

1)Relief depicting naval vessel, Borobudur Temple, Java(Indonesia)
Dated: ~8th century CE or older
Even before the accounts of the 1st century BC, there were written accounts of Shipbuilding and war-craft at sea.
2)Professor R.C. Majumdar says that there existed a comprehensive book of Naval-architecture in India dating back to 2nd century BCE, if not earlier.
3)The history of Indian shipping and maritime activities goes back probably to the early times of the Rgveda. The Jatakas, the Greek and Roman authors, the early Tamil poems as well as a host of archaeological discoveries in India and abroad
Read 32 tweets
Jan 14, 2018
1)Remains of temples from Ayutthaya city, capital of ancient Siam(Thailand)
Ayutthaya was named after 'Ayodhya' of Ramayana. Ayutthaya was one of the prominent cities of ancient Indic world, with the population perhaps reaching 1,000,000 around 1700 CE. Brahmins played great role
2) Temples of Ayutthaya were numerous in forms. For example this temple was essentially modelled after Stupa and having pointed arched niche in cardinal directions, typical Indian feature. Second one, is similar in form except it follows usual square plan.
3) Wat Chaiwatthanaram was built to represent mount Meru and followed a plan somewhat similar to Angkor. Central temple is flanked by 4 small towers replica of main Shrine. There are 4shrines at the corners of cloister.
Read 8 tweets
Jan 1, 2018
1)A Preacher(Brahmin) Expounding The Poorans. In The Temple of Unn Poorna(Annapurna), Benares(Uttar Pradesh)
Note the stylized trefoil arch ending as lotus bud. Trefoil arch is one of the most popular arch form from ancient Gandharan region to ancient Bangal.
2) It was Bengal style of architecture which was influential in temples of Bagan, Burma. Burmese records also hints that Brahmins from Bengal region were chief architects. Hence, presence of true arch in Burmese temples is not surprising at all.
3)..due to lack of major stone queries, and brick being main construction material it was necessity of Bengal school of architecture to employ arches. Without it, civil architecture wouldn't have been that effective. Burmese temples used curvilinear Shikhara with Stupa domes.
Read 5 tweets
Dec 2, 2017
Depiction of a temple having a dome and entrance framed within a 'pointed arch'
Dated: ~1-3rd century CE
Entrance is likely derived from arched torana with concentric arches, space between them is beautifully decorated with scrollwork and floral patterns. #Gandhara
Dome of the temple was capped by Kalasha.

Fortunately there are various temples same features which survived the wrath of Islamic invaders. See the one in below link

Link: m.facebook.com/story.php?stor…

In the above temple, we can see the space for similar projected door frame.
Head of Skanda, Peshawar

Dated: ~2-3rd century CE
Read 35 tweets

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