The IIT Kharagpur has set on a journey to discover an ancient technique of architecture. This technique is used in building ancient Indian landmarks such as the Dilwara Jain temple or the Kailasa temple of Ellora caves. Such ancient structures are marvels of architecture built from top to base cutting a “single gigantic stone.” These monuments or landmarks have been standing tall since ages and has protected itself from the devastating natural calamities.
IIT EXPLAINS…
IIT Kharagpur Director Professor Partha Pratim Chakrabarti has said, “We are amazed to think about the tools used in construction of structures such as the Dilwara temple or the Kailasa temple.
These structures were built from top, while modern day architecture talks about elevation from the ground, he said. “We have to find out the design and implementation technology of these structures. We have to study the symbols dating back to that era,” he said.
SANDHI Culture Science
Construction of the Kailasa temple of Ellora caves in Maharashtra was attributed to 756-773 CE, while the Dilwara Temple in Rajasthan was completed between the 11th and 13th centuries CE.
The IIT Kharagpur director said the course was part of the SANDHI (Scientific Approach to Networking and Designing of Heritage Interfaces) spearheaded by the institute to revisit India’s ancient heritage and history.
SandHI is a science-culture initiative to re-visit India’s ancient past through the lens of scientific inquiry and already underway in Varanasi. Classes under the course have started in the IIT-KGP campus, Professor Partha Pratim Chakrabarti said.
