Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c15.20

c15.20

Sirpur, Madhya Pradesh Temple of Lakshmana, c A D. 800 the most notable were those at Jaggayyapeta, Bhattiprolu, Ghantasala and Amaravati, which, at the beginning, of the Christian era, as examples of the Buddhist style of architecture, could have had few equals. What gave the stupas of the south their imposing appearance and artistic character was that, apart from the grand towering dome, most of them were constructed with an exterior surface of white marble richly carved in bas-relief. Unfortunately time, and the ruthless hand of the spoiler, have dealt hardly with these monuments, and in most instances nothing remains except the foundations with fragmentary portions of the marble casing, but in spite of this almost entire obliteration, it is possible, from the existing records, to gain a very fair idea of their style.