NCERT solutions for सोशल साइंस एक्सपलोरींग सोसाइटी इंडिया एण्ड बिऑन्ड पार्ट २ [अंग्रेजी] कक्षा ८ chapter 3 - A Journey Through Indian Architecture [Latest edition]

What role has architecture played in the Indian civilisation?

What are some of the key concepts behind Indian architecture?

What are some of the key developments behind Indian architecture?

How is the heritage of Indian architecture of relevance today?

Form groups in the class to discuss the following: Imagine you have only hammers and iron chisels. How will you plan the carving of such a huge cave? What challenges might the hillside offer? And once you reach the nave, how will you manage to carve arched beams into its ceiling?

In classical temples, what Indian words would we use instead of ‘nave’?

Looking at Fig., can you work out the horizontal equivalence between a temple and the cosmic being?

India’s classical temples come in distinct regional styles. For instance, note the pyramidal shape of Bṛihadīśhvara Temple’s vimāna and compare with the shapes in Fig. Revisit the pictures of the Angkor Wat and Kandāriyā Mahādeva Temples and note the chief differences you can observe.

Make a list of all the materials we have encountered so far in the carving or construction of structures; make a list of pros and cons for each of them. Did you notice that none of the structures discussed so far use any cement mortar?

Observe the pictures of the four temples featured here. What common features and what differences can you notice?

Identify a temple in your location. Based on what you have read here, what architectural details can you make out?

Try to remember where earlier textbooks showed pictures of the forts of Jaisalmer, Kumbhalgarh, Raigad, and Sindhudurg. Can you point to their approximate locations on India’s map?

In the 1970s, the effect of air pollution on the monument began to be noticed. It was caused by local industries using coal and other fossil fuels, which left a yellowish tinge on the marble. Following the recommendations of an expert committee and a PIL in the Supreme Court, a ban was imposed in the mid-1990s

What could be the advantages of the above design? (Hint: Think in terms of privacy, convenience, rainfall and cooling.)

In Figure, calculate the full width of the house; compare with the length of your classroom. How many staircases can you make out? If the house owners lived upstairs, what might the rooms downstairs be used for?

Form groups of four or five students and imagine you are artisans with just simple tools. Looking at Fig., how would you go about building a dome of bricks? Looking at Fig., how would you carve such a ceiling? Discuss and compare the different groups’ conclusions.

Why should there be so many stairways in fig. (Shringaverpur tanks) and in Fig. (Pushkarini at Vijayanagara)?

Which pillars are easier to sculpt in your opinion, those in Fig. (Dilwara Temple) or Fig. (Terracotta Temple)? Justify your answer.

What are some common features across the different types of temples you have visited in this chapter? 

What are some differences across the different types of temples you have visited in this chapter?

In the houses shown in both figures, the central courtyard will receive a lot of water during rains. Will this not flood the house?

If you had to create a Pan-India Architecture Museum, which ten monuments would you select to represent India’s diversity and why?

Choose an ancient monument in your region. Identify what type of architecture it belongs to and the markers you used to classify it.

Different groups in the class take up examples of different types of architecture in your region. Prepare a small exhibition with brief descriptions. (Hints: Use different sources to get more information. Request your teacher to invite a scholar or expert from your region to interact with you.)

Highlight the biggest threats to our architectural heritage today and discuss how can we protect it.