# Nagara Style Hindu architectural style [](/wiki/File:Architecture_of_a_Vishnu_temple,_Nagara_style,_1915_sketch.jpg) Design of a Vishnu Temple belonging to the *Nagara Style*, drawn in 1915 AD. **Nagara Style** or **Nagara architectural style** is a [Hindu](/wiki/Hinduism "Hinduism") style of temple architecture, which is popular in [Northern](/wiki/North_India "North India"), [Central](/wiki/Central_India "Central India"), [Western](/wiki/Western_India "Western India") and [Eastern India](/wiki/East_India "East India"), especially in the regions around [Malwa](/wiki/Malwa "Malwa"), [Rajputana](/wiki/Rajputana "Rajputana") and [Kalinga](/wiki/Kalinga_(historical_region) "Kalinga (historical region)").[[ssv.asia_Sprawling_high-concept_cinematic_YouTube_channel_banne_4611d8c6-78a9-4cc4-9c4d-4896fb37d53d__1_-removebg-preview.png]](#cite_note-Dhaky1977p7-1) Temples classified as Nagara Style are found in [Madhya Pradesh](/wiki/Madhya_Pradesh "Madhya Pradesh"), [Uttar Pradesh](/wiki/Uttar_Pradesh "Uttar Pradesh"), [Rajasthan](/wiki/Rajasthan "Rajasthan"), [Uttarakhand](/wiki/Uttarakhand "Uttarakhand"), [Himachal Pradesh](/wiki/Himachal_Pradesh "Himachal Pradesh"), [Gujarat](/wiki/Gujarat "Gujarat"), [Odisha](/wiki/Odisha "Odisha"), [Jharkhand](/wiki/Jharkhand "Jharkhand"), [Bihar](/wiki/Bihar "Bihar"), [Maharashtra](/wiki/Maharashtra "Maharashtra"), [Andhra Pradesh](/wiki/Andhra_Pradesh "Andhra Pradesh") (areas bordering Odisha) and [West Bengal](/wiki/West_Bengal "West Bengal") (southwest and [Sundarbans](/wiki/Sundarbans "Sundarbans") areas). In [fifth century](/wiki/5th_century "5th century"), the use of simple curved *[Shikhara](/wiki/Shikhara "Shikhara")* ([spires](/wiki/Spire "Spire")) begins in the temples; the earliest such temples being classified as Early Nagara Style. The Early Nagara Style was transformed into the Mainstream Nagara Style in the [seventh century](/wiki/7th_century "7th century"). This architectural style is one of the two main styles of [Hindu temple architecture](/wiki/Hindu_temple_architecture "Hindu temple architecture"), the other being the [Dravidian architectural](/wiki/Dravidian_architecture "Dravidian architecture") style.[[ssv.asia_Sprawling_high-concept_cinematic_YouTube_channel_banne_4611d8c6-78a9-4cc4-9c4d-4896fb37d53d__1_-removebg-preview.png]](#cite_note-Dhaky1977p7-1) Nagara style has three sub-styles or schools, which differ slightly from each other. The sub-styles or schools are *Orissa school*, *Chandel school* and *Solanki school*. Developed in North India, this style of temple is built on a simple stone platform. One or more *Sikhara*s are observed in temples, but the earliest temples consist of only one *Sikhara*. The *[garbhagriha](/wiki/Garbhagriha "Garbhagriha")* is always located directly below the highest *Sikhara*. Also, the Nagara Style is characterized by the absence of boundary walls, which are widely used in the [Dravidian architectural](/wiki/Dravidian_architecture "Dravidian architecture") style of [Hindu temple architecture](/wiki/Hindu_temple_architecture "Hindu temple architecture"). Some temple complexs and individual structures in the Nagara Style are listed as [UNESCO](/wiki/UNESCO "UNESCO") [World Heritage Sites](/wiki/World_Heritage_Site "World Heritage Site").[[a]](#cite_note-8) ### Origin and formative stage [[edit](/w/index.php?title=Nagara_Style&action=edit&section=2 "Edit section: Origin and formative stage")] The Nagara temple style evolved from the [Gupta](/wiki/Gupta "Gupta") structural temples. From about the 5th century onwards, the development of Nagara temple style began, which passed through three classes of formative stage and got its present form. ## Schools of Nagara Style [[edit](/w/index.php?title=Nagara_Style&action=edit&section=3 "Edit section: Schools of Nagara Style")] Nagara architectural style are observed in northern, western and eastern parts of India. Since its origin, this style has gone through various changes to its present form. Variations within the style have developed over time from region to region, which have come to be recognized as sub-styles. Nagara architectural style has three sub-styles namely *Chandel*, *Solanki* and *Odisha* sub-styles. The *Chandela School* or *Chandela sub-style* of temple construction originated in [Central India](/wiki/Central_India "Central India"). It was developed by the [Chandel dynasty](/wiki/Chandelas_of_Jejakabhukti "Chandelas of Jejakabhukti"), the rulers of the Bundelkhand region (then called *Jejakabhukti*).This school or sub-style of temple construction is also known as *Khajuraho* School or sub-style. Temples built in this style have intricate carvings, which adorn the inner and outer walls. The sculptures in the temple are known for sensual themes, which were inspired by [Vatsyayana](/wiki/V%C4%81tsy%C4%81yana "Vātsyāyana")'s *[Kama Sutra](/wiki/Kama_Sutra "Kama Sutra")*. Sandstones are mainly used in the construction of temples. * Vamana Temple * Vishwanath temple * Chitragupta temple This *Solanki* school or sub-style originated in northwestern India, particularly in the present-day [Indian states](/wiki/States_and_union_territories_of_India "States and union territories of India") of [Gujarat](/wiki/Gujarat "Gujarat") and [Rajasthan](/wiki/Rajasthan "Rajasthan"). As this sub-style expanded and developed, the [Solanki](/wiki/Solanki_dynasty "Solanki dynasty") kings provided support and encouragement. The walls of the temple, built in the Solanki sub-style, were without sculptures. Inside and externally the *[garbhagriha](/wiki/Garbhagriha "Garbhagriha")* and *[mandapa](/wiki/Mandapa "Mandapa")* are interconnected. A terraced water tank, known as *Surya Kund*, is excavated next to temples of this sub-style. This sub-style has also come to be known as the [*Māru-Gurjara*](/wiki/M%C4%81ru-Gurjara_architecture "Māru-Gurjara architecture") school or sub-style since the 20th century. The *Odisha* school or sub-style originated in the coastal regions of [eastern India](/wiki/East_India "East India"), especially the present [Indian state](/wiki/States_and_union_territories_of_India "States and union territories of India") of [Odisha](/wiki/Odisha "Odisha") and [Andhra Pradesh](/wiki/Andhra_Pradesh "Andhra Pradesh") bordering Odisha. This school or sub-style of temple construction is also known as *[*Kalinga*](/wiki/Kalinga_architecture "Kalinga architecture")* School or sub-style.