Temples Architecture Styles of Himachal Pradesh

         Temples Architecture Styles of  Himachal Pradesh

The art and  architecture styles in Himachal Pradesh  have been preserved in various temples, forts, palaces, rock-cut cave temples. stupas and other monumental edifices. The  real builders of temples, forts and other structures were monarchs as well as the people, who prompted by their religious zeal,
brought their own stone or wood for constructing temples or sculptures. The religious edifices of Himachal Pradesh can broadly be divided into following categories:

(i) Wooden temples;
(ii) Shikhara temples;
(iii) Pagoda style temples;
(iv) Pentroof temples;
(v) Buddhist Monasteries.

(i) Wooden Temples- The early wooden temples in Himachal Pradesh have a similarity with the Gupta style. The  excellence of wooden craft can be seen in many of the carvings still preserved in the temples of Chamba, Kullu, Mandi, Upper Shimla Hills  and Satluj valley. The styles and forms of the temples are based on square forms and seemed to have a connection with that of the older

 Jain temples of Northern India. These wooden temples can broadly be divided  into two distinct types, namely,

Hill type-pentroof and
Pagoda type. 

The pentroof or hill-syle temples are made of stone tiles and are the most ancient in the state. The best examples of the wood-roof temples are Mrikula Devi Temple at Udaipur in Lahaul-Spiti district, Bijli  Mahadev, Jagatsukh and Nirmand  temples in Kullu district, Lakshana Devi Temple at Bharmour and Shakti Devi  Temple at Chatrari in Chamba district.

In  the pagoda type temple, wooden structures and successive roofs are placed one over the other making them in some cases like multi-storey structures. The temples at Naggar, Mandi, Nirmand and Sarahan come under this category.


(ii) Shikhara or Nagara Temples- In this  category there are two types of temples, namely, pyramidal and latika type. In pyramidal (appearance temples) style there is amalaka at the top and they are crowned with a Chhatra or a Kalasa. The entrance of the temple is usually through re an ornamental porch generally supported by pillars.The presiding deity is placed in the inner cells. Some of these  temples have a mandapa in the front,  which sometimes has a sloppy roof. The Shikhara type temples are largely found in Chamba, Mandi, Kangra, Baijnath and the Kullu.


(iii) Pagoda Style Temples. The structure of such temples is dome-shaped and they are comparatively of later periods. There is perceptible Muslim influence on such  temples, and are largely found in  Bilaspur and Nurpur areas of the state.


(iv) Pentroof Temples -There are two striking examples of such temples in  Himachal Pradesh, and these are at  Masrur and Shashan in Jubbal.

(v) Buddhist Monasteries- The Buddhist temples and monasteries have their own influence in some areas of Himachal  Pradesh. The introduction of Buddhism in the Pradesh goes back to the 3rd century B.C. King Ashoka, the Great, sent a few missionaries to the Himalayas to preach Buddhism. The Chinese  Pilgrim  Hiun Tsiang also mentioned in his Brahmi and Kharoshti inscriptions the increasing  influence  of Buddhist religion. The great Buddhist follower Padmasambhava is credited with preaching and establishing Buddhism as new religion of the people of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti areas. This saint came the from Udiyan in Swat valley and spread eyes of  the message of Buddhism in the form of place Vajrayana tantric system during the 8th century. The monastery at Tabo, which was built in the 9th century, happens to be one of the most important centres of  Buddhism in the state and it preserves an exceedingly rich treasure of fresco paintings, comparable to the world renowned frescoes of Ajanta, Ellora and Bagh caves.

Legend of Temple Worship - There is a legend that Maharishi Jamdagni, after his return from pilgrimage of Kailash to Kullu. retired to village Malana. At that time he was carrying on his head 18 different god idols. While crossing the high mountains of Chanderkhani the basket containing the 

idols was thrown off by stormy winds and they were scattered in all directions. The  falling of the idols led them to make  themselves into gods. The people then started worshipping them, which ultimately established the beginning of idol worship.So, it is said that Kullu valley has the distinction of being pioneer in idol worship.A brief description of the temples is given according to their location in each district.