A summary of cultural traditions of the Indian subcontinent highlighted through architecture. That is Splendours of Indian Architecture, an exhibition on architectural marvels of India being held at the VNM Gallery in Kozhikode.
The exhibition that began on October 2 is curated by noted art scholar and art historian Sarayu.V. Doshi. It is organised by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). It covers successive periods of India’s architectural history from the medieval to modern era.
The exhibits are photographs with detailed captions on each structure and drawings for assistance. They start with pictures of Lothal, the remnants of Indus Valley civilisation that dates back to around 2500 BC, proceeding through the Great Stupa in Sanchi to the caves of Ajanta and Ellora, and the Elephanta caves in Maharashtra.
Viewers get a glimpse of the ‘Descent of Ganges’ structure in Mamallpuram, Rani Ki Vav, the biggest well in the country, the Khajuraho Temple, Qutub Minar, Dilwara temple in Mount Abu, Man Mandir Palace in Gwalior, Thikse Monastery in Ladakh, Humayun’s Tomb and other Mughul constructs such as Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri and Akbar’s Tomb. The curator pays tribute to the well-planned cities that are also architectural marvels -Varanasi, Jaisalmer, New Delhi and Chandigarh. The latest in the list are the Akshardham Temple in Delhi constructed in 2005 and the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link in Mumbai constructed in 2009.
The exhibition will conclude on October 17.
