Architecture styles in India have been evolving and myriad throughout the years. For instance, India has a rich presence of monasteries and stupas reflecting the spirit of Buddhism. It is also the land of magnificent Rajput hill forts, Hindu temples, and a combination of Indian style with Afghan and Persian designs. 

Further, the modern architectural wonders in the country exhibit a thoughtful usage of resources and space for sustainability. Here we present to you our list of the best 10 architectural marvels in India that stand out for their social, religious, cultural, and engineering peculiarities.

Architectural Marvel: A Definition

A building that is considered remarkable because of its design and construction is called an architectural marvel. The iconic features in the design and the intricate details make an architectural marvel awe-inspiring and unique. 

Architectural marvels can leave an everlasting impression on the world by representing a particular place and time. Modern wonders in architecture focus mostly on destination tourism and profitability.

Also read: 10 Architectural Marvels You Need to See

Traditional Architectural Marvels in India

1. Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 

Taj Mahal, a mausoleum built in the 17th century by Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor, is one of the most famous architectural marvels in India. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site combining Indian, Persian, and Mughal architectural styles. Taj Mahal is also one of the seven wonders of the world on account of its transcendental design, which creates an optical illusion.

2. The Sun Temple, Konark, Odisha

The sun temple, designed as the sun god’s chariot with 24 wheels, each 10 feet in diameter, showcases the sculptural brilliance of the Kalinga architectural style. Further, the chariot is dragged by seven horses and guarded by two lions crushing the elephants at the entry making it unique among the architectural marvels in India.  

The temple faces east, and the chariot wheels serve as sundials to calculate time. Following the Kalinga architecture style, the temple complex consists of a main sanctum, smaller shrines, an audience hall, and a dining hall. 

3. The Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Aurangabad, Maharashtra

These famous architectural marvels in India, parts of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, are rock-cut cave structures. Ajanta consists of 30 rock-cut cave monuments used for living, education, worship, and other pursuits. The walls of the caves are adorned with numerous exotic sculptures, murals, frescos, colonnades, porches, and refined carvings and paintings.

Ellora is a set of 34 rock-cut temples and monasteries of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism, representing religious harmony in architecture. The Kailasha Temple, a man-made wonder with unique engravings and chisel, is part of the Ellora caves. 

4. Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, Rajastan

Hawa Mahal showcases a combination style of Islamic Mughal and Hindu Rajput architecture. The name of the structure translates into Palace of Winds as it consists of over 950 windows. The windows adorned with motifs in white limewash cool down the inner space in the desert heat. The 50-foot-high building is an extension of the chamber of women in the city palace and acts as a viewing screen.

5. University of Nalanda, Rajgir, Bihar

Nalanda was an important Buddhist center of higher learning from 5th CE to 12 CE. The university’s compound flourished as a result of the patronage of the Pala and Gupta kings. During its peak, the university could accommodate about 1000 teachers and 10,000 students. The features of this ancient university which make it one of the famous architectural marvels in India include splendid monasteries, grand lecture halls, and spacious courtyards.

Modern Architectural Marvels in India 

6. The Lotus Temple, New Delhi

Designed by Fariborz Sahba, an Iranian architect, the Lotus Temple is a house of worship of the Baháʼí Faith. The structure was completed in 1986  with a lotus-shaped edifice with 27 free-standing marble petals forming its nine sides. Its 40-meter-tall central hall could accommodate about 2,500 people. The other architectural elements of the temple complex include pathways, ponds, and gardens.

7. Indian Institute Of Management–Ahmedabad (IIM–Ahmedabad)

IIM Ahmedabad, which exemplifies modernist architecture, was built by Louis Kahan between 1962 and 1975. The building has a massive scale and is built with local materials such as bricks, inspired by ancient architecture. 

IIM Ahmedabad has become one of the best architectural marvels in India because its layout encourages education to happen inside and outside the classroom. The geometrical facade of IIM, Ahmedabad also helps in regulating the temperature in the inner spaces.

8. Infosys Campus, Mysuru and Pune

Hafeez Contractor designed the egg-shaped building of the Infosys campus with a combination of architectural and structural engineering skills. The structure created using aluminum and glass cladding on a steel-framed shell is receiving the platinum rating for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building for its sustainable approach. 

Carbon neutrality is also a highlight of the buildings in the Infosys campus that help reduce energy consumption and heat load from artificial lighting. Further, the campuses practice efficient water management systems through wastewater recycling and rainwater harvesting. 

Also read: The World’s Most Coolest Corporate Headquarters

9. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus or the erstwhile Victoria Terminus showcases a combination of Indian architecture of the late 19th century and Gothic or Victorian styles. 

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is also one of the modern architectural marvels in India for its intricate works in stone and wood, large central dome, and stained glass windows. The British architect F. W. Stevens planned and executed this terminus which today receives about 3 million commuters through its gates daily

10. The Statute of Unity

This 182-meter-high statue was built in memory of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first home minister and deputy prime minister of independent India. Among the architectural marvels in India, the Statue of Unity is distinguished as the tallest statue in the world. It is said to be visible from a distance of 7 kilometers.

1700 tons of bronze and 18000 tons of reinforced steel were used to construct the statue. Michael Graves designed the Statue of Unity that stands on the river island, Sadhu Bet on the banks of Narmada. 

What Lessons Does the Aspiring Architects of TKM School of Architecture Learn From the Architectural Marvels in India? 

Aspiring architects of TKM School of Architecture can learn several valuable lessons from the famous architectural marvels in India. They learn that buildings can convey the history and architectural brilliance of a given era. 

Our students learn that traditional and modern architectural marvels in India not only reflect the native architectural style of a place but also communicate a lot about communal spaces, social hierarchies, and gender dynamics. They also learn how iconic architectural structures express a set of values and either challenge or reinforce existing power dynamics.