The history of temple architecture in the North-East, Bengal, and Odisha reveals distinct styles. The history of architecture in the North-East and Bengal is complex due to renovations, with later brick or concrete temples now surviving. Terracotta was a prevalent medium, molding plaques depicting Buddhist and Hindu deities until the seventh century in Bengal.

• Assam and Bengal showcase significant regional schools through sculptures, reflecting diverse influences and developments.

Assam’s Architectural Evolution

About: In Assam, a sixth-century sculpted door frame from DaParvatia near Tezpur reflects Gupta influences.

• Timeline: A post-Gupta style persisted until the tenth century, followed by the emergence of a distinct Assamese style by the twelfth to fourteenth centuries.
• Influence: The Ahom style, influenced by Tais from Upper Burma and Pala style from Bengal, is evident in the seventeenth-century Kamakhya temple (a Shakti Peeth dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya) in Guwahati.

Evolution of Styles in Bengal

About: Bengal’s temple styles vary from the Pala style (ninth to eleventh centuries) to the Sena style (eleventh to thirteenth centuries).

• Features: Pala rulers, patrons of Buddhist monastic sites, influenced the local Vanga style in temples, such as the Siddheshvara Mahadeva temple in Barakar, evolving into loftier forms in subsequent centuries. 
  • Characterized by a tall curving shikhara crowned by a large amalaka, it shares similarities with contemporary temples in Odisha.

• Material: Terracotta brick temples in Bengal, influenced by local vernacular traditions and Islamic architecture, proliferated in the seventeenth century.
• • The black-to-grey basalt and chlorite stone pillars, along with arched niches in these temples, significantly influenced the earliest Bengal sultanate buildings at Gaur and Pandua.
  • Local vernacular building traditions played a key role, especially the shape of the curving or sloping side of the bamboo roof seen in Bengali huts.
    • This distinctive feature, known as the Bangla roof, later found adoption in Mughal buildings, becoming a recognizable architectural element across North India.
  • During the Mughal period and beyond, terracotta brick temples were constructed across Bengal and Bangladesh.
  • The architectural influence also extends to incorporating forms of arches and domes taken from Islamic architecture.
  • Examples: Prominent locations for these temples include Vishnupur, Bankura, Burdwan, and Birbhum, with most dating to the seventeenth century.
• Amalgamation: Temples submerged in Telkupi, Purulia District, showcased architectural styles aware of prevalent nagara sub-types in North India.

Architectural Features in Odisha

About: Odisha’s temples, classified into rekhapida, pida deul, and khakra orders, form a distinct sub-style within the nagara order.

• Location: Most of the main temple sites are located in ancient Kalinga—modern Puri District, including Bhubaneswar or ancient Tribhuvanesvara, Puri and Konark. 
• Features: Shikharas (called deul) in Odisha temples are vertical until the top, sharply curving inwards, with square ground plans.
  • Deuls are preceded, as usual, by mandapas called jagamohana in Odisha.
  • Odisha temples often include boundary walls, distinguishing them from other styles.

• Sun temple at Konark: It was built around 1240, is a vast complex with a very high shikhara that reached 70m before collapsing in the nineteenth century.
  • The vast complex is within a quadrilateral precinct of which the jagamohana or the dance-pavilion (mandapa) has survived.
  • The temple, resembling a chariot, has walls covered in detailed ornamental carvings, including twelve pairs of enormous wheels representing the Sun god’s chariot wheels.
  • A massive sculpture of Surya carved out of green stone and strategically placed images captured the sun’s rays in the garbhagriha.

Hills Architecture

About: The hills of Kumaon, Garhwal, Himachal, and Kashmir gave rise to a distinctive form of architecture.

• Influence: Proximity to Gandhara sites like Taxila and Peshawar influenced Kashmir, blending with Gupta and post-Gupta traditions from Sarnath, Mathura, Gujarat, and Bengal.
  • Frequent travels of Brahmin pundits and Buddhist monks contributed to the intermingling of Buddhist and Hindu traditions in the hills.
• Features of Hill Architecture: Wooden Tradition in the Hills: Hills maintained their own tradition of wooden buildings with pitched roofs.
• Temples often showcase a blend of styles, with the main garbhagriha and shikhara in rekha-prasada or latina style, while the mandapa reflects an older form of wooden architecture.
• Some temples adopt a pagoda shape, highlighting the uniqueness of hill architecture.

Timeline of Hill Architecture Development

The Karkota Period in Kashmir: The Karkota period in Kashmir, especially during the eighth and ninth centuries, is significant for temple architecture.

• Pandrethan temple, possibly dedicated to Shiva, exemplifies Kashmir’s wooden building tradition, featuring a peaked roof slanting outward.
• Features: Moderately ornamented, it deviates from post-Gupta aesthetics, emphasizing simplicity with a row of elephants and a decorated doorway.

• • Chamba Sculptures and Tradition Fusion: Chamba exhibits an amalgamation of local traditions with a post-Gupta style, seen in sculptures like Mahishasuramardini and Narasimha at the Laksna-Devi Mandir.
    • Influenced by the metal sculpture tradition of Kashmir, these sculptures in yellow color possibly feature an alloy of zinc and copper.
    • Significance: An inscription at the temple, built during the reign of Meruvarman in the seventh century, indicates its historical significance.

• Nagar Architecture in Kumaon: Temples at Jageshwar in Almora and Champavat near Pithoragarh in Kumaon represent classic examples of nagara architecture in the region.

• • Features: These temples showcase the regional adaptation of architectural styles, contributing to the rich heritage of hill architecture.

Conclusion

Temple architecture across North-East, Bengal, and Odisha showcases distinct regional styles. Assam reflects Gupta and Ahom influences, while Bengal blends Pala and Sena styles with local traditions. Odisha boasts a unique sub-style within the Nagara order. Hill architecture, influenced by Kashmir and Gupta traditions, incorporates wooden buildings with pitched roofs. Rich architecture reflects the intermingling of cultures and artistic expressions.

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