The Gupta period is often called the Golden Age because of its rich cultural heritage, particularly in art, architecture, language, and literature.
This era was characterized by political stability and prosperity, allowing Indian art and architecture to flourish creatively.
Unlike earlier periods, Gupta art and architecture were predominantly indigenous, with minimal foreign influence.
Most of the surviving architectural structures from this time are religious in nature.
Temples were constructed using dry stone masonry, carefully shaped and arranged to achieve the desired form.
Mortar was not used in construction. Instead, the tenon-and-groove method was employed, where a protruding section (tenon) of one stone block was fitted into a corresponding hole in another block.
A fundamental temple design emerged during this period, becoming the standard for Indian temples.
The structure featured a simple square sanctum (garbhagriha) with a flat roof, accompanied by a low-pillared porch or mandapa at the front.
The garbhagriha was a compact chamber (approximately 10 feet by 10 feet), designed to house the temple’s main deity.
In front of it, an extended porch with supporting pillars provided space for devotees to stand and worship.
While the interiors of these temples remained plain, the doorways were richly decorated with intricate carvings.
