CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Kesariya Stupa, Kesariya, Bihar

One of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in India, Khajuraho in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, preserves the country's largest and most magnificent groups of medieval temples. It is located on the banks of the Khudar Nala, a tributary of the Ken river (ancient Karnavati). The area is surrounded by scenic waterfalls, and the low-lying hills of the Vindhya range, locally called Datla and Lavania Pahads, which provide a lovely backdrop to the temple complex. Today, Khajuraho is a small village. But, between AD 900 and 1200, under the Chandella dynasty, it was a flourishing temple town, called Kharjuravahaka, extending over an area of 13 square east of Jhansi. A tradition records that once there were eighty-five temples in Khajuraho; but now only twenty-five remain in varied states of preservation. (Devangana Desai, Khajuraho, Oxford University Press, New Delhi 2000)

Khan Sarovar, Patan, Gujarat

Khandagiri caves, Odisha

Khangah of Badaruddin, Panipat

Mohammad was named Jalalluddin by Shamasuddin Turk, after he became Shamsuddin’s disciple. Three buildings comprise the Kangah; these include a Masjid, and two tombs. The buildings are located in an L shaped where the tombs are on the north side and the Masjid perpendicular to them. The tomb on the east side houses the graves of Jalalluddin and his two sons flanked by an arcaded (cusped arches) verandah on the front. The adjoining tomb on the west side has graves of his other three sons. Both the tombs are spanned by domes resting on octagonal drums topped with inverted lotus and finials. Minarets are also located at the corners of both the tombs. The periphery of the tombs is lined with crenellations forming the parapet of the tombs while the parapet on the verandah is composed of Jaalis. Masjid has a single entrance and the interior is divided in linear bays, with mehrab on the west side. A dome resting on octagonal base highlights the center of the Masjid. A newly constructed Verandah has come up in front of the Masjid.