Temple and Their Architectural Style in Himachal Pradesh: An Overview

Abstract

The traditional architecture of Himachal Pradesh is developed and mostly present in the form of numerous temples constructed in different parts of the state. It is the outcome of the prevalent topography, available natural resources, extremes of the climate and other natural forces. These temples are the best-known example of successful experimentation with locally available building materials and indigenous construction techniques to produce architectural marvels. It is also best reaction to the harsh climate of hilly regions and other natural forces. The present study simply described the temple architecture distribution and its types in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The whole study is based on primary as well as secondary sources of data. Various kinds of temple architecture have been discussed in this study i.e., Shikhra Style, Pyramid style, Tower Style, Pent Roof Style and Dome Style. Himachal Pradesh has been a meeting place of various art and culture. Broadly Himachal art can be divided into three group each distinguished by the recurring theme of Hinduism and Buddhism. These are (1) Khasha Art (2) Indo Aryan Art (3) Indo-Tibetan Art. Therefore, Himachal Pradesh has been a meeting of varied art and cultures. But, the main focus of study is related to Hinduism as it has large number of architectures related to Hinduism than others.