Vijayanagara architecture facts for kids

The Vijayanagara Empire was a powerful kingdom in southern India. They built many amazing structures. These included grand buildings, monuments, holy shrines, and statues. All of these were made from stone.

The stone was carved with incredible detail. You could see designs of gods and stories of brave heroes. This special way of building was called the Dravidian style. It was a very popular way to build things at that time.

Amazing Buildings of Vijayanagara

The Vijayanagara Empire existed from the 14th to the 17th century. Its capital city was Hampi, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rulers loved art and architecture. They made sure their cities had beautiful and strong buildings.

Why Stone Was Used

Stone was the main material for building. It was strong and lasted a long time. This helped the buildings survive for hundreds of years. The builders were very skilled at working with stone. They could make it look like wood or other materials.

The Dravidian Style of Architecture

The Dravidian style is a type of architecture from South India. It is known for its tall, pyramid-shaped towers called gopurams. These towers are often covered with many sculptures. Temples in this style usually have a main shrine and large halls with many pillars.

Key Features of Vijayanagara Buildings

• Intricate Carvings: Every part of the buildings, from walls to pillars, was covered in detailed carvings. These carvings showed gods, goddesses, animals, and scenes from myths.
• Pillared Halls: Many temples had large halls with hundreds of pillars. These pillars were also carved beautifully. Some even had musical notes when tapped!
• Large Temples: The empire built huge temple complexes. These were not just places of worship. They were also centers for learning, art, and community life.
• Water Structures: They also built impressive water tanks and canals. These helped supply water to the city and its gardens.

The buildings of Vijayanagara show the great skill of the builders. They also tell us a lot about the beliefs and stories of the people who lived there.

Images for kids

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  Virupaksha temple, Raja Gopura (main tower over entrance gate) at Hampi, Karnataka

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  Typical dravidian shrine and mantapa of the Vijayanagara period at Balakrishna temple in Hampi

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  Early 14th century Shiva temples on Hemakuta hill built during the rule of Harihara Raya I incorporates the stepped Kadamba style nagara shikhara (superstructure)

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  Typical shrine at Hazare Rama temple in Hampi

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  Pillared open mantapa incorporating Hoysala style "staggered square" layout at Vittala temple in Hampi

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  Kudure gombe (horse doll) pillars in a mantapa at Hampi

See also

In Spanish: Arquitectura vijayanagara para niños