Indian Art :

A Visit To Archaeological Sites : The past of Indian Archaeological period can be classified mainly as Stone Age, Indus Valley, Neolithic-Chalcolithic, Megalithic-Early Historic and Late Historic periods.

The Stone Age : This Age begins in India with the Paleolithic and terminates after the Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age). The Paleolithic dates back to the geological era of Middle Pleistocene.

Stone Age site : Paleolithic sites abound in Peninsular India, and are found more prominently at Pallavaram in Tamil Nadu, Hunsgi in Karnataka, Kuliana in Orissa, Didwana in Rajasthan, and Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh. The early rock paintings depicting basically hunting and ritual scenes are the period's most remarkable legacies.

Indus Valley Civilization: The Neolithic-Chalcolithic sites of India were not matured enough and considered as civilisations, around the same time, over the Indus and Ghaggar river valleys in northwest India bordering Pakistan, and in Kutch and Saurashtra in Gujarat, flourished a civilisation that is referred to today as the IndusValley Civilisation.

Indus Valley Sites : Commonly well-known Indus cities in India include Dholavira, Kalibangan, Lothal, Surkotda and Rakhigari. Besides, coastal communities also exploited a wide range of marine life for their subsistence. Ample evidence to this effect has been found in Kuntasi in Gujarat.Indus Valley Civilization is know for its unique town planning with well-made streets, oriented almost invariably along the cardinal directions, mud bricks or kiln-fired bricks made house. Agro-pastoralism was the mainstay of the civilisation's economyThe Indus Valley Civilisation was also very well versed in the craft of bead making, ceramics and shell.

The Neolithic-Chalcolithic Phase : The Neolithic-Chalcolithic Phase, was marked by remarkable progress in the techniques of agriculture, and domestication of animals, thus laying down a firm foundation for India 's rural life which followed the Mesolithic culture. These sites represented the IInd and IIIrd millennium B.C.

The Megalithic Phase: Southern India was having the predominance of the Megalithic Culture when the Painted Gray Ware settlements were there in the north. In Kerala, the megaliths are mushroom-shaped stone objects known as Topikal or Kodekal. Excavations conducted at various megalithic sites which revealed a substantial amount of artifacts, indicative of a pastoral economy, warfare and rudimentary trade and exchange between settlements.

Megalithic Sites : Most prominent megalithic sites of South India are found at Brahmagiri,Maski and Rajan Kalur in Karnataka, Bhagimari in Maharashtra and the north and south Arcot districts in Tamil Nadu. Interestingly, the Megalithic tradition has continued in certain tribes especially among the Gadabas of Orissa, Gonds of Bastar, and the Bodosof northeast India . These tribes still erect menhirs (monoliths) as commemorative symbols for the deceased.Excavations at Kosambi, Saranath, and Hastinapura in Uttar Pradesh, Vaishali, Rajagriha and Bodhgaya in Bihar, Chandraketugarh in Bengal, Sisupalgarh in Orissa, Dharanikota in Andhra Pradesh, Arikamedu near Pondicherry, Nevasa in Maharashtra and Vidisa in Madhya Pradesh have revealed fortified cities dating back to this period.

The Buddhist Phase: The early cities attempted to recreate the universe in a microcosmic manner, with large outsized ramparts that served the purpose of symbolic protection. Buddhism enjoyed wide patronage from urban dwellers, including kings and merchants, who constructed numerous shrines (Sanchi Saranath, Ajanta, Kaneheri,Amravati, Sanati and Lalitgiri) through popular and collective donations.Thanks to royal patronage,Jainism (for more, see Religion) also found a foothold in certain areas. To cite examples, Khandagiri-Udayagiri in Orissa and Mathura near Delhi are noted for their splendid Jaina (pertaining to Jainism) monuments.

Buddhist Archeological Sites: Excavations at Kosambi, Saranath, and Hastinapura in Uttar Pradesh, Vaishali, Rajagriha and Bodhgaya in Bihar, Chandraketugarh in Bengal, Sisupalgarh in Orissa, Dharanikota in Andhra Pradesh, Arikamedu near Pondicherry, Nevasa in Maharashtra and Vidisa in Madhya Pradesh have revealed fortified cities dating back to this period. Also tourists charms are Sanchi Saranath, Ajanta , Kaneheri, Amravati, Sanati and Lalitgiri.

The Construction of Temples: In the subsequent eras, as the Buddhism ends as a religious power in India, the emphasis shifted to the construction of Brahmanical temples with distinct regional styles like Nagara and Kalinga in the north and the east, and the Dravida and Besara in the south. Some areas were in Jainism influence, and some of its finest monuments can be found at Sravanabelagola in Karnataka, and Ellora in Maharashtra.