Gupta Temple, Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh India

The Gupta Temple which dates back to the 5th century A.D. (The Gupta Age) has earned for itself the prestigious epithet of Golden Age. The remarkable progress made by India during the reign of the Guptas in the field of architecture can be very beautifully seen. They are credited with stepping in a new era in the field of Temple Architecture. The Gupta Temple No.17 is emblematic of the resurgence of structural activity in Sanchi. It has made a prominent place for itself in history because it marks the genesis of temple Architecture in India.

Sir John Marshall was highly impressed by the striking simplicity of Gupta Temple and deemed it as one of the most logically designed structures in Indian Architecture. It incarnated all the precepts that were considered important in the construction of an Indian temple. This elegant temple has a simple flat roofed chamber and a pillared porch at the entrance. There is a lot of restraint in its embellishment.