A superstructure, tower or spire characteristic of North Indian temple architecture, it usually rises above the innermost sanctuary or the main pillared hall. In South India, however, shikhara refers solely to the topmost part of the superstructure, which is usually a decorated dome. Derived from Sanskrit, the word literally translates to “mountain peak.”
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Meaning ‘gateway’ or ‘arched entrance’ in Sanskrit and Pali, torana refers to a free-standing gateway marking the entrance to a Buddhist shrine or…
In architecture, uppermost member of a column or pilaster, wider than the shaft and often distinctively carved or decorated in…
A beam, window or door frame that rises above the stamba or column to provide additional support to the structure.…
An architectural term used to denote a pillar that emerges at an angle in a building or a structure.
A three-storeyed Mahayana cave temple in Ellora dating to the eighth century CE. Marked as Cave 12, it houses a…
A niche in the wall of a mosque which indicates the qibla (direction of the Kaaba in Mecca) and is…
An architectural or design element consisting of two scroll-shaped ornamental figures mounted on pillar capitals. The curving shape is believed…
Bell tower; or the upper part of this or a steeple, which houses bells; or specifically the timber structure by…