Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c16.4

c16.4

As would be expected brick architecture flourished principally in the great alluvial plains of the country where good clay was easily obtainable, but the theory of the availability of material should not be pressed too far. Much depends on the human element, and the preference of a people, under certain conditions, for the particular type of building which would best suit their purpose. As an illustration of this choice of material immense buildings almost entirely composed of brick, were constructed during the early mediaeval period at Mathura and Benares, although the extensive sandstone quarries of Rupbas and Chunar were readily accessible. Brickwork, if properly prepared, and other things being equal, has durable qualities little inferior to those of stone masonry, besides it has the advantage of being composed of small units, the flexibility of which gives greater constructional possibilities. On the other hand the use of such small elements adds to the difficulties of bridging spaces, as in the case of roofs, doorways, and all openings The Indian builder endeavoured to overcome this disability by resorting to very large bricks, some of the earlier examples being over twenty inches long, several times larger than the modern article. There was a tendency to reduce the size as time went on, so that within limits it may be said that, the larger the brick the earlier its date. But the builders soon found that even by employing exceptionally large bricks spaces could not be readily spanned so that it became the practice to introduce beams of wood over the doorways and windows, many of the earlier brick buildings thus containing a moderate amount of timber. Later, when the properties of stone for such a purpose began to be recognised, instead of wooden supports, lintels of stone were used and a phase then ensued when brick buildings with stone stressings found favour. It does not, however, follow that in every locality the two phases, of brick with wood, and brick with stone, were in the above sequence. In certain parts this order may, for various reasons have been reversed, but as a whole, constructional evolution in the art of building progressed generally on these lines.