Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c11.42

v2.c11.42

Indian architecture art started from Maurya Dynasty actually. Ashoka Pillar was thought to be the earliest stone architecture in India and once widely distributed in many places. From the perspective of architecture, Ashoka Pillar was clearly symbolic, and was the combination of carving and architecture art. During the Ashoka era, there were many grottoes architecture emerging, such as Sudama Grottoes dug in Balaber Mountains of Bihar and Lomas Rishi Grottoes dug in Longshu Mountain near Gaya. They were the pioneer of grottoes architecture such as *Chaitya* and *Vihara* grottoes of later Indian Buddhism. Stupa was another important building during Ashoka era. The Great Stupa at Sanchi near Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, was the model of early Indian stupa architecture, with a hemispherical bowl in the centre and was founded in 3ʳᵈ century