explorArchi

Hampi Ruins, Vijayanagara Empire Site, Karnataka

Set against dramatic granite boulder landscapes, the Hampi ruins reveal the spatial intelligence of Vijayanagara architecture—where mandapas, temple fragments, and sacred pathways merge seamlessly with terrain, creating a dialogue between built form and nature.

[ Hampi Ruins Vijayanagara Architecture Granite Landscape Temple Mandapa Heritage Site ]

At SPA Vijaywada, with the students of VIT Bhopal.

📍 Golconda Fort, Hyderabad, Telangana

A monumental expression of Deccan military planning, Golconda Fort rises through layered granite ramparts, defensive gateways, and elevated bastions that merge architecture with topography. From its famed acoustic system to terraced fortifications, every element reflects strategic design shaped by climate, terrain, and power.

[ Golconda Fort Architecture Deccan Military Design Acoustic Engineering Granite Fortifications ]

At Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, with the students of Jadavpur University, Kolkata.

Location: Ibrahim Roza, Vijayapura (Bijapur), Karnataka

Often called the “Taj Mahal of the Deccan,” Ibrahim Roza represents the height of Adil Shahi architecture, where mosque and tomb face each other in perfect balance—defined by symmetry, refined proportions, and restrained ornamentation.

Architectural pointers:
- Twin composition: tomb and mosque on a shared axis
- Central dome with corner minarets and chhatris
- Dressed stone masonry with delicate surface carving
- Strong emphasis on symmetry and proportional harmony
- Elevated plinth creating visual dominance and clarity

[ Ibrahim Roza Vijayapura Adil Shahi Architecture Deccan Sultanate Design ]

At Mandore garden, with the students of NIT Raipur.


[ Mandore garden NIT Raipur students of architecture ]

📍Hoshang Shah’s Tomb, Mandu, Madhya Pradesh

Often cited as India’s first marble-clad mausoleum, Hoshang Shah’s Tomb is a benchmark in early Indo-Islamic architecture, where strict symmetry, cubic massing, and a restrained dome establish a prototype that later influenced Mughal funerary design.

Architectural pointers:
- Square plan with perfect bilateral symmetry
- Central hemispherical dome with corner chhatris
- Marble facing over stone masonry core
- Minimal ornamentation, emphasis on proportion
- Clear geometric hierarchy and axial planning

[ Hoshang Shah Tomb Mandu Indo Islamic Funerary Architecture Early Mughal Influences ]

📍The Matrimandir, Auroville, with the students of Techno India University, Kolkata .tiu

Frame: Mehrangarh Fort Jodhpur



[ Mehrangarh fort rajput architecture ]

Classrooms on board with the students of Sister Nivedita University, Kolkata.

Location: Mandore Garden, Mandore (near Jodhpur), Rajasthan

Temple-like royal cenotaphs (dewals) in Mandore Garden showcase Rajput architecture through red sandstone, layered pavilions, and sculptural detailing—where memorials are designed with the dignity of sacred spaces.

Architectural pointers:
- Cenotaphs designed as temple forms (dewals)
- Red sandstone typical of Marwar region
- Vertical shikharas with stepped articulation
- Open mandapas and colonnaded platforms
- Structures integrated within garden landscape

[ Mandore Garden Architecture Rajput Memorial Design Red Sandstone Craft ]

Students of KIIT School of Architecture and Planning, Bhubaneswar at Ghat of the Narmada, Maheswar.