Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c34.10

c34.10

Less like copies of the Newar shrines of Nepal, but still resembling the architecture of the Himalayas, is a series of temples in South Kanara, a tract of country on the western side of Mysore State. There are as many as sixteen examples of this style, all Jain temples and situated at Mudabidri, about twenty miles north-east of Mangalore, the earliest dating from the twelfth century, and the others at intervals during the following four centuries. Although built of stone masonry, these buildings are clearly copies of wooden construction, as may be seen in the shape and design of their verandahs which have pillars resembling chamfered logs of wood, sloping roofs imitating planks, and gables formed on the penthouse principle, with wide projecting eaves. And in the style of their architecture as displayed in the pyramidal roof of overhanging stories, supported by brackets and struts, they recall the types common in the mountains of the north, as well as to a lesser degree the stone temples of Kashmir. In the case of these Mudabidri temples some of the similarity to the Himalayan style may be accounted for by the builders in each region endeavouring in their construction to solve problems presented by the extreme changes of climate, in mitigating the effect of the fierce tropical sun alternating with heavy monsoon rains. Yet it is difficult to believe that the analogy between the two styles of building and methods of construction is due to both people reasoning alike