The ancient hill fort of Gwalior, gateway to central India, which stretches 3 kilometers across a 100-meter-high rocky plateau. Its long and eventful history led to an interesting amalgam of Hindu, Jain and Islamic architectural features. The fort encompasses a number of palaces, temples and tanks.
Introduction
The unique geography of India has contributed greatly to its historical and cultural developments. The Himalayas ring the north, while the river basins, desert wastelands and Deccan plateau cover much of the peninsula which is encircled by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Indian Ocean to the south. Landscape, climate and history have all shaped the architecture of India.
One of the most notable of the small steatite seals discovered at Mohenjodaro is the image of the Indian humped bull with its pronounced muscularity and a heavy dewlap. Despite its diminutive size, it still conveys an impression of immense strength and power. Other animals commonly depicted on these seals include the elephant, the bison and the crocodile.
The Vedic (or fire) altar was the first formal place of worship, built more than 3,000 years ago of brick. It represented the cosmic worlds of celestial space, the terrestrial world and the world of air.
The history of the country has its beginnings in the valley of the
