Temples and Architecture in the News for UPSC Prelims

Several ancient and medieval temples have been in the news due to archaeological discoveries, UNESCO recognitions, restoration projects, and judicial or heritage-related debates. Questions may focus on architectural styles such as Nagara, Dravida, and Vesara, along with their distinctive features and patron dynasties. For UPSC Prelims 2026, linking current events with art and culture static concepts is especially important.

Temples and Architecture in the News

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Key Points

Kalaburagi Fort (Bahmani Fort)

Built by Sultan Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah, founder of Bahmani Sultanate.
Noted for double fortification walls, moat, and the Hathi Darwaza gateway.

Bara Gazi Toph: Located atop Kalaburagi Fort, Karnataka; made of Panchdhatu (five-metal alloy). Counted among the world’s largest cannons.
Bahmani Kingdom: Founded in 1347 by Alauddin Hassan Bahman Shah, it was the first independent Muslim kingdom in the Deccan.

Fort William Renamed Vijay Durg

Construction of the original fort began in 1696. In second phase, construction was completed in 1781. It is named after King William III.
Located on eastern bank of the river Hooghly, Kolkata, West Bengal.
Played a key role as centre of British military and administrative power in India.
Design: Octagonal, brick-and-mortar construction, designed in a star-shaped fortification. Arched windows and Georgian-Gothic styles.
Built for defence against cannon fire; not designed for explosive shelling.
Major Structures: Dalhousie Barrack (1856), Kitchener’s House (converted in 1784), Granary Barracks (by Warren Hastings) & Vijay Smarak inside Fort William.

Brutalist Architecture

‘The Brutalist’ won three awards- best film in the drama category, best actor (Brody) and best director (actor-turned-filmmaker Brady Corbet).

Brutalism as an architectural style emerged in the UK in the 1950s during post-World War II reconstruction.
Characterised by raw exposed concrete, bold geometric forms, rugged unadorned surfaces, monochromatic appearance, high open spaces, and a strong emphasis on function over aesthetics.
Brutalism in India arrived through Le Corbusier (the Architect of Chandigarh) and continues to influence many architects, especially in Delhi and Ahmedabad.
- E.g. Tibet House and the Shri Ram Centre.

Santiniketan

Residential school and centre for art based on ancient Indian traditions and on a vision of the unity of humanity, transcending religious and cultural boundaries.
Established in rural West Bengal in 1901 by renowned poet and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore.
Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023 for its global cultural impact.

Khajurao Temples

Located in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho temples were built during the Chandella dynasty, which reached its apogee between 950 and 1050.
The Khajuraho temples are mentioned in Al-Biruni’s travelogues in 1022 AD.
Of the total 85 temples, today only about 20 temples survived. The largest and currently most famous surviving temple is Kandariya Mahadeva built in the reign of King Vidyadhara.
Other temples include Laxamana Temple, Chausath Yogini, and Chitragupta Temple.
Built of sandstone, these temples follow the Nagara style of architecture. Famous for erotic sculptures.
Belong to two different religions – Hinduism and Jainism
Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

Rani-ki-Vav

Built on the banks of the Saraswati River at Patan, Gujarat.
Initially built by Queen Udayamati in memory of her husband, King Bhima I of the Solanki dynasty, in the 11^th century.
The stepwell was constructed as a religious as well as functional structure and designed as an inverted temple highlighting the sanctity of water.
Built in Maru-Gurjara architectural style. Protected as a national monument under Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites Act of 1958.
Included in UNESCO’s World Heritage Site in 2014.

Lord Ayyappa Temple

Located in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, atop Sabarimala Hill.
Dedicated to Lord Ayyappa (Dharma Shasta), revered as a Naishtika Brahmachari (eternal celibate).
Surrounded by 18 hills & dense forests forming part of Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala.
Reconstructed in 1950 after being damaged by arson, the original stone idol was replaced with a Panchaloha (five-metal alloy) image.
Traditionally, women of menstruating age (10-50 years) were barred from entering the temple. SC’s 2018 verdict allowed women of all ages to enter the shrine.

Veerasozhapuram Shiva Temple

Amman shrine in a Lord Shiva Temple at Veerasozhapuram, Tamil Nadu, has collapsed due to heavy rainfall.

Goddess Amman is known as the mother goddess & symbolises feminine energy.

Built by King Rajendra Chola about 1,500 years ago.
Has four Nandis symbolising four Vedas and Shiva’s guardianship in every direction.
Inscriptions record land endowments during the reigns of Kulothunga Chola I and Pandya king Kulasekara Pandiyan, showing ongoing royal support across dynasties.

Kheer Bhavani Temple

Location: Tulmulla village, Ganderbal district, Jammu & Kashmir.
Dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Devi (an incarnation of Durga), regarded as Kuldevi of Kashmiri Pandits.
Built atop a sacred septagonal spring (Syandh) that is believed to change colours, interpreted as omens, e.g., black indicating turmoil.
Reconstructed under Maharaja Ranbir Singh. Further developed by Maharaja Pratap Singh and Maharaja Hari Singh (early 20th century).
Historical references in Kalhana’s Rajtarangini, Bhrigu Samhita, & Abu’l-Fazl’s Ain-i-Akbari.
Hosts the second-largest Hindu gathering in Kashmir after the Amarnath Yatra.

Kheer Bhawani Festival (Mela) is a significant annual religious gathering held at the Kheer Bhawani Temple in Jammu and Kashmir.

Karni Mata Temple

Location: Deshnok, near Bikaner, Rajasthan.
Deity: Dedicated to Karni Mata, a 14th – 15th century mystic woman and incarnation of Goddess Durga, born as Ridhi Kanwar in 1387 CE in Suwap village near Phalodi (Rajasthan).
Architecture: Features marble and silver architecture with Rajput-Mughal elements, commissioned in the early 20th century by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner.
Home to over 25,000 rats (Kaba), believed to be reincarnated descendants of Karni Mata’s family (Charan Community ancestors) and considered sacred.
Belongs to Shakta Sampradaya.

Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple

Also known as Meenakshi Amman temple, located in Madurai on the Southern bank of river Vaigai.
Dedicated to Sundareswarar (Lord Shiva) and Meenakshi (Parvathi).
Built in Dravidian style, it was once considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Viswanatha Nayak, the first Nayak King of Madurai (1559-1600 A.D.), took the initiative to rebuild it.
Restoration under Ariyanatha Mudaliar, Prime Minister of Nayak Dynasty, founder of Poligar System.
King Thirumalai Nayak (circa 1623-1659) built various complexes inside and outside the temple.
Has 14 gopurams, including two magnificent Thanga (golden) Gopurams.
The temple has the famous “Ayiramkaal Mandapam” or “Hall of 1,000 Pillars”.

Nagshankar Temple, Assam

On World Turtle Day 2025, Nagshankar Temple in Biswanath, Assam, was recognised as a model temple for freshwater turtle conservation.

Referred to as the ‘vultures of aquatic ecosystems’, turtles clean water bodies by consuming dead and decaying matter acting as Aquatic Scavengers.

It is a Shiva temple believed to be built by King Narasankar in the 4th century AD and renovated by Ahom king Su-sen-pha in 1480.
Situated on north bank of Brahmaputra.
Features a large pond, which houses 250-300 of world’s rarest species of turtles.
Turtles here are revered as reincarnations of Lord Vishnu. Some turtles in the project are believed to be hundreds years old.
‘Kaso Mitras’ and women-led ‘Kaso Sakhi’ initiatives empower local communities in turtle conservation through grassroots protection efforts and awareness-driven livelihood activities like turtle-themed handloom weaving.

Wat Pho Temple

Indian PM visited Bangkok’s Wat Pho temple and offered Sanghadana to Monks.

Also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan.

Sanghadhana is the offering of donations to the Sangha (monastic community of Buddhist monks).

Originally built in the 16^th century. King Rama I greatly expanded and restored it in the 18^th century, and it was further enhanced during Rama III’s reign.
It is famous for the Reclining Buddha, built by Rama III in 1832.
Largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand. It is the first public university of Thailand.
Birthplace of traditional Thai massage, also known as Nuad Thai, which has been included in UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.