Indian Art and Culture Timeline
Indian Art and Culture: A Timeline
Indus Valley Civilization
3300-1300 BCE
Urban planning, drainage systems, and notable structures like the Great Bath of Mohenjo Daro and granaries.
Mauryan Architecture
322-185 BCE
Pillars (Ashokan Pillars), stupas (Sanchi Stupa), and rock-cut caves (Barabar Caves).
Dravidian Style
6th century onwards
Temples with gopurams, exemplified by the Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur.
Nagara Style
6th century onwards
Curvilinear shikhara, with notable examples like the Khajuraho Temples.
Indo-Islamic Architecture
12th-18th century
Fusion of Islamic and Indian styles, including Qutub Minar, Red Fort, and Taj Mahal.
Colonial Architecture
18th-20th century
Blend of European and Indian styles, represented by structures like Victoria Memorial and Gateway of India.
Post Independence
Post-1947
Modern buildings and urban planning, notably Chandigarh by Le Corbusier.
Ancient Literature
1500-500 BCE
Vedic literature: Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda, Upanishads.
Epics
200 BCE-200 CE
Mahabharata by Vyasa and Ramayana by Valmiki.
Sanskrit Literature
4th-5th century CE
Works of Kalidasa (Shakuntala, Meghaduta) and Panini (Ashtadhyayi).
Medieval Literature
12th-17th century
Bhakti and Sufi movements, works of Amir Khusrau, Baburnama, Akbarnama.
Modern Literature
19th-20th century
Indian Renaissance: Rabindranath Tagore (Gitanjali), Premchand (Godan), R.K. Narayan (Malgudi Days).
Post Independence Literature
Post-1947
Arundhati Roy (The God of Small Things), Salman Rushdie (Midnight's Children).
Hindustani Music
Medieval Period
North Indian classical music with instruments like sitar and tabla, artists like Ravi Shankar and Zakir Hussain.
Carnatic Music
Medieval Period
South Indian classical music with instruments like veena and mridangam, artists like MS Subbulakshmi and Tyagaraja.
Folk Music
Since ancient times
Regional variations like Bihu (Assam), Lavani (Maharashtra), Baul (Bengal), Bhangra (Punjab).
Modern Music
20th century onwards
Film music (Bollywood songs, playback singing) and Indian pop and fusion (A.R. Rahman).
Classical Dance
Since ancient times
Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam.
Folk Dance
Since ancient times
Bhangra (Punjab), Garba (Gujarat), Ghoomar (Rajasthan), Yakshagana (Karnataka).
Religious Festivals
Since ancient times
Diwali, Holi, Eid, Christmas.
Harvest Festivals
Since ancient times
Pongal (Tamil Nadu), Baisakhi (Punjab), Makar Sankranti (across India).
National Festivals
Post-1947
Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti.
Ancient Painting
Prehistoric
Cave paintings in Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, Ajanta and Ellora Caves.
Medieval Painting
4th-18th century
Miniature paintings from Mughal, Rajput, Pahari, and Deccan schools.
Modern Painting
19th-20th century
Raja Ravi Varma (fusion of European techniques with Indian themes), Amrita Sher-Gil (post-impressionist style).
Sculpture
Since ancient times
Mauryan period: Ashokan Pillars, Lion Capital at Sarnath.
Gupta period: Classical art with serene expressions (Buddha statues).
Chola period: Bronze sculptures (Nataraja).